First, I am told that I am letting my blog go to the weeds, so I will try to post more regularly.
Now, on to the post. So, I don’t normally give a hoot about politicians’ sex scandal, and John Edwards was really no exception. That was until I read some analysis that pointed out the fact that this is the starkest contrast between the private and public persona of any politician we have seen in a while. Although he always came off as almost too polished, it still seemed like his heart was in the right place. The truth revealed by Andrew Young’s account reveals that Edwards is really a terrible person.
The quotes listed in the WSJ post speak for themselves, so there is only one point I will make. As always, cynicism is the easiest—and default—response. It’s easy to roll your eyes and say “He’s a politician. What do you expect?” It’s easy to roll your eyes and not shed too many tears. However, there are victims of this situation that deserve our sympathy. Elizabeth and the kids are, of course, are prime examples, but that is not actually about whom I am thinking.
Again, people can mock supporters’ devotion for their candidate, but you must understand the intimacy that develops over time. You spend hours upon hours, canvassing neighborhoods, getting blisters on your feet. You feel the heat against your ear from holding the phone against it, call after call. Whether or not you supported Edwards’ policies, I can speak from experience and say that my friends who supported him genuinely felt they were fighting to end poverty. To hear quotes from your candidate about “fat rednecks” and referring to himself as “the people’s candidate” in such an egotistical way makes you feel that all those blisters were in vain. And that should not be shrugged off in a jaded, blasé fashion.
So, go hug an Edwards supporter. It’s been a rough couple of months.
…And then come back, look at this link, and gawk at how much of a dick Edwards really is.
As always, you get to the link by clicking on the title of this post….
