2008 Woodie Awards
Democratic hypocrisy
But then Edwards wasn't the Messiah
J.D. Lewis
Issue date: 8/14/08 Section: Opinion
Oh, where to begin? Johnny Reid Edwards, North Carolina's own boy wonder and former U.S. Senator, has been caught with his pants down.
Was I surprised? Yes, frankly, I was, because despite his being a liberal wimp, his image as a loving family man was quite convincing.
I've long admired the way he has stood by his wife Elizabeth since her cancer reoccurred - though he obviously wasn't standing too close - and even the coldest heart can't help but thaw when reading accounts of Edwards' son, Wade, who died in 1996. Edwards was understandably devastated, and the father's love for his son is so evident in his writing. I believe this flawed man genuinely loves his family, despite his shortcomings, and I respect that.
Politically, however, I have never had any use for John Edwards, and now, it would seem, thanks to his affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter, neither do his fellow Democrats. Edwards, the third highest vote getter in the recent Democratic presidential primaries, will be noticeably absent from the upcoming Democratic convention in Denver.
"He's damaged goods." "He's finished." "His political career is over." "No one in the Democratic Party would want to be publicly associated with him." These are just a few of the things that Democrats are now saying about Edwards, and my question to them is why?
Edwards was a lousy senator for North Carolina. He was running for president almost from day one, and it was doubtful that he would even have been reelected had he chosen to run for his Senate seat again. He lost two bids for president and one for vice president. Those reasons alone should be more than enough to kill Edwards' political career, not the fact that he had an affair and lied about it.
Surely, I'm not the only one who remembers turning on the television set 10 years ago and hearing these immortal words: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman…" Despite finally confessing the affair and admitting that he looked into the eyes of the American people and lied, despite impeachment, Bill Clinton carried on in the Democrats' eyes as the next best thing this side of Jesus Christ.
Was I surprised? Yes, frankly, I was, because despite his being a liberal wimp, his image as a loving family man was quite convincing.
I've long admired the way he has stood by his wife Elizabeth since her cancer reoccurred - though he obviously wasn't standing too close - and even the coldest heart can't help but thaw when reading accounts of Edwards' son, Wade, who died in 1996. Edwards was understandably devastated, and the father's love for his son is so evident in his writing. I believe this flawed man genuinely loves his family, despite his shortcomings, and I respect that.
Politically, however, I have never had any use for John Edwards, and now, it would seem, thanks to his affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter, neither do his fellow Democrats. Edwards, the third highest vote getter in the recent Democratic presidential primaries, will be noticeably absent from the upcoming Democratic convention in Denver.
"He's damaged goods." "He's finished." "His political career is over." "No one in the Democratic Party would want to be publicly associated with him." These are just a few of the things that Democrats are now saying about Edwards, and my question to them is why?
Edwards was a lousy senator for North Carolina. He was running for president almost from day one, and it was doubtful that he would even have been reelected had he chosen to run for his Senate seat again. He lost two bids for president and one for vice president. Those reasons alone should be more than enough to kill Edwards' political career, not the fact that he had an affair and lied about it.
Surely, I'm not the only one who remembers turning on the television set 10 years ago and hearing these immortal words: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman…" Despite finally confessing the affair and admitting that he looked into the eyes of the American people and lied, despite impeachment, Bill Clinton carried on in the Democrats' eyes as the next best thing this side of Jesus Christ.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Ron
posted 8/14/08 @ 3:31 PM EST
Perhaps you are to young to remember the indiscresions of Newt Gingrich asking his wife for a divorce as she lay in a hospital bed dying of cancer, or Dan Burton railing about President Clinton, even calling him a "scumbag" until it was revealed that he fathered a child with a mistress while married, or Henry Hyde who had a long term mistress while spearheading character attacks on then President Clinton. (Continued…)
LOL
posted 8/18/08 @ 9:37 AM EST
Don't leave out their current nominee for President, John McCain, who by his own admission had a multitude of affairs during his first marriage, leading to its failure. (Continued…)
Justin
posted 8/22/08 @ 4:11 PM EST
Those without sin, cast the first stone. I think none of us are worthy of that. Besides, you people are judging politics and political parties on the indiscretions of few. (Continued…)
anon
posted 8/26/08 @ 11:50 PM EST
Politicians aren't moral. They just want you to think they are. Most of our presidents have had mistresses or affairs. Even FDR had affairds, and he couldn't even walk. (Continued…)
Mr. Jones
posted 9/03/08 @ 6:49 PM EST
And the alternative would be a Republican that falsifies a CIA report before the American public and Congress to take us into an unjustified war. We've got another one that might become our Vice President who is under investigation for illegally earmarking hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Continued…)
jimbo327
posted 9/05/08 @ 1:19 PM EST
Not mention the Messiah himself whose wife was promoted and given 160% pay raise by UofC hospitals within months of husband's election to U.S. Senate;
the her employer received $1,000,000. (Continued…)
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