Sunday Roundup

This week brought us the latest twists in the John Edwards infidelity story -- a story with many inconsistencies, which HuffPost began to explore last September. Edwards told ABC that he will have no more to say on the matter, but so many loose ends remain -- the incomplete birth certificate, the money paid to Edwards' mistress by his campaign's finance chairman, that blurry pic of Edwards and the baby he claims isn't his -- that more revelations seem inevitable. I've long pushed for a giant border fence separating public life and private lives. But the issue here wasn't Edwards' infidelity, it was his lying directly to the American people. The last thing we need is a sexual purity test for our politicians, but we desperately need political leaders whose word we can trust.

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[lifeinfullcolor]

I think the American public would like to start with the premise that they can believe their politicians are looking out for their best interests. Why is it that Bush is portrayed as a good old boy when he really was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Whereas, Obama's father left him and he was raised by his grandparents, while his mother pursued a career, to raise her children with some intellectual dignity, but Obama is the elitist. The puppet masters look for the stories, create the stories, mold the stories. Edwards had a lot of power but not the power to leave his wife, because she's part of his story. Certainly we all make mistakes, but you don't compound those mistakes with more lies, because then your political viability is finished. Edward, like Clinton, chose to be reckless, knowing that they wanted to run for the highest office.

[flamingokicker]

Answer me this, Arianna -- if this has ended Edwards' political career, why is it that admitted adulterer John McCain has had a long Senate career and is the presumed Republican nominee? I believe McCain lied in print about not meeting Cindy until after his marriage was over -- why isn't that as bad??? Anyone???

[RedSt8r]

If you could prove it, then you'd have a story. Maybe.

[artsandminds]

Please, its not the truth that drives corporate media, they will cover who ever will perpetuate their control of the public (that’s McSame if you were wondering). And if you are in denial and need proof, one need only look how ineffectually the media coverage was of Phil Gram (McCain’s financial advisor and co-national chairmen). We get 24/7 coverage about Obama’s pastor, a guy that will have little effect in an Obama administration, compared with Phil Gram who would be a pivotal character in a McCain administration, the media says nothing. When Phil Gram was in the senate he was the main architect of the deregulation of the backing industry, which lead to the housing and credit crisis, once leaving the senate gram went to work for USB (a real nice pay back for his service to the banking industry). Among many other legal problems USB is having, USB now is being investigated for sheltering American millionaires. Oh yea, the media is about the truth, wake up!

[RedSt8r]

"we desperately need political leaders whose word we can trust."

I am shocked that you 1.) get the point of this story, and 2.) have the intellectual honesty to publicly state it. I am spine-jarringly impressed with your approach to this issue, Arianna.

Thank you.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

THIS is your Sunday roundup..... Edwards' affair? Come ooooooonnnn!!!!

[Mildmannered]

ditto

[Raven]

Ah yes, this week in scandals. As an Edwards supporter, I'm as disappointed as anyone. But Arianna, you know a distraction when you see one.

The real story of this week is splashed right now across your very front page. It is the only story that really matters right now. All else is simply distraction.

This week the endgame of this century's repeat of the Great Game began. And while the fighting continues, the game is over. We lost.

Now with Kazakstan signaling its support of the Russians, the whole gig is up. The longstanding battle for Caspian Sea oil is over, despite the heavy-handed war that will continue for a good while.

We lost.

The decade old pissing contest between Cheney and Putin has pawned another war. A war that is already lost, even as it is just beginning.

Now we can only wonder what Cheney's reaction will be to Putin's newfound power.

But I can tell you this much for sure: it won't be good for any of us.

Meanwhile, prayers for the folks of Georgia are being offered around my house. Before this is all said and done, we'll all need prayers I fear.

Cheney has invested all of our good will and blood for this game for too long to go quietly into the night.

But watch, there's a shiny new scandal somewhere, isn't there?

[serenity450]

Obama should invite Elizabeth Edwards to speak at the Democratic convention. Not John. Just Elizabeth. Hers is a voice that should be heard in the health care discourse. Elizabeth's husband's shame is his--NOT hers. Convention attendees and Americans would welcome her with open arms. Besides, Barack needs the over 60 demographic. Hillary had it.

[rgille]

Elizabeth knowingly went along with John's lies about the affair to the media. She participated in the cover-up that could have severely damaged Democratic chances for winning the election if John had been the candidate. Was her silence a trade-off for the chance to be First Lady? We probably will never know for sure. But one thing is for sure - she doesn't deserve to speak at the Democratic convention.

[johnnynyc]

"But the issue here wasn't Edwards' infidelity, it was his lying directly to the American people. "

Newt Gingrich and Bob Barr didn't say it any better back during the Clinton impeachment debacle.

Edwards has admitted to the affair.

What more do you want from him?

Any further explanations should be between him and his family.

[minxmix]

"What more do you want from him?"

To know that not one cent of campaign money went towards covering up his "mistake."

Edwards destroyed himself, no one else did, and doing so he makes himself as the motivation Americans need to raise the much needed standard which other possible Presidential candidates should look into their own characters before presenting themselves to voters as something they're not.

[RedSt8r]

"What more do you want from him?"

For him to disapear forever from public life. And his word won't do.

[Hufferton]

One principal reason Edwards’ lies are important is that perhaps future public officials might *think* twice before they make such a “mistake”, as Mr. Edwards called his tryst, if there are real fundamental consequences.

There are many wise and witty comments by HuffPo readers regarding why the story has legs and why news agencies should run with the story. Huffington Post Blogger Mr. Gordon Marino provides a cogent and succinct reasoning why Edwards’ lies are important to denounce:

“Those who take these private matters seriously on a political level do so on the premise that character, which as Aristotle taught has everything to do with judgment, is manifest in our private lives. So far as these folks are concerned whether or not you cheat on your spouse does in fact speak to your ability to govern.”

Since I am an atheist, religion and/or Puritanism have nothing to do with my comments. I am also a father who, even though I am divorced, never once considered “cheating” on my spouse during the difficulties of a divorce, although opportunities for a tryst were present. As a matter of character, there are just certain activities with which a decent person must not participate.

Given all the detrimental personal and professional consequences, Mr. Edwards demonstrated his lack of character, honor, and empathy for his wife and young children.

[RedSt8r]

Sounds like YOU need to speak at the Democratic Convention.

[minxmix]

The internet is now a tool to keep people who would be President or Atty General or other elected offical, honest. Americans don't expect much from their Hollywood celebs but have a right to expect better from their elected officials who'll make or break their lives.

Certainly there are people who are beyond reproach in existing now in elected office, to think otherwise is to think that every man is a liar or corrupt and the the idea that someone else from another party is doing it to proves only to further dumbdown the office of Presidency. In today's atmosphere where there's no hiding from the public eye the standard is raised and shouldn't that be what Americans want, instead of simply being relegated to picking the "best of the worst?"

It is irrelevent to keep saying that "back in the day no one would know." Well that was then - this is now. There are two entirely seperate issues with Edwards. Sex, which is his and his wife's headache. And Lies which are the American voter's headache.

[teresa h]

It's not the affair. It's the cover-up.
We have some real information here as to a network of cover-up, the inner workings of our "democratic" system. Fred Baron needs to be investigated. The power of plaintiff lawyers like Edwards and Baron, in the Senate, needs to be investigated. That's the story.

[hkochii]

Why exactly is this crap about Edwards considered news worthy?

[RedSt8r]

Because he would have been a serious contender in the unlikely event of an Obama cabinet, and he's a self-serving liar. Now we all know, and that's the purpose of journalism.

[lifeinfullcolor]

I sometimes think that whether we like it or not, whether it's relevant or not, in this country politicians have to be God loving Judeo Christians, abide by the rules. Edwards knew that, knew that he was positioning himself to run, yet made a choice to participate in an affair. He then went on to ask for donations for his campaign, while his campaign finance director was funneling money to his mistress. We've all made our mistakes, but unfortunately those mistakes would preclude the majority of us from being able to run for public office, because of the way our system is set up, right or wrong. What do we do, we comment, we donate to those we feel stand for our views, we vote, we protest, but we don't run for the highest office.

[craig56]

John Edwards is a private citizen, the press coverage of his affair is not a public service, it is harassment.

[ramper]

He put himself in the public arena on his own. He then lied to everyone while asking for the trust of the public. He asked, for and soaked up, media coverage of his positions and qualifications for the two highest posts in the government. This is not harassment. This is getting what you asked for.

[notthistime]

I came to the conclusion that the media is riding this subject because Obama is on vacation. No one wants to focus on John McCain. I searched the web yesterday and today and found nothing new on McCain. Why is that do you think?

[notthistime]

The last thing we need is a sexual purity test for our politicians, but we desperately need political leaders whose word we can trust.

There are two people running for president at this point. John McCain and Barack Obama. Apply that statement in all reporting on both Obama AND McCain and provide America the facts to help in the decision on elect ing our next POTUS.