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.
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Sorry Arianna, you're wrong. On most things I agree with you and I always enjoy reading your column. You're a smart, articulate lady. But on this issue I just don't agree. I abhor the media frenzy over this kind of stuff and HuffPost was out leading the pack on it. Your nuance of the difference between an infidelity and lying about it is just silly. EVERYBODY lies about infidelities. That's what you do when you have an infidelity. Your nuance here is wasted on most people. People respond to sex scandal, most often drummed up by the media to sell papers, or in HuffPost's case, to sell traffic. When are we going to stop destroying some of our best public servants over sex in the interest of ad dollars?
Absolutely right. Exactly what I was going to say.
the internet would have made life more difficult for many politicians over the years
Due to the loss of public support, John Edwards will be forced to open a church with Larry Craig. It will have lots of bathrooms and blondes with video cameras. The usual pattern of a person who gets in trouble will be followed: Enter rehab and/or find Jesus (maybe he's in the bathroom).
Meanwhile, the most impeachable president in history will continue to slouch toward the end of his second term, unimpeached.
It's a stupid, crazy, ridiculous world we've made, isn't it.
No. Clinton was impeached.
Since the next president will remake the Supreme Court for the next generation of Americans, I think it's appalling that we waste time on this matter. Too much is at stake to be deflected from what really counts.
I've read many comments about this issue during the last few days. Although I think people's personal lives should be private, it gets a little fuzzy when that person is a public figure.
Several things that bother me about Edwards (and I supported and contributed to his campaign): 1.) His ego and arrogance jeopardized the entire election by running for the nomination. How could he have believed this would not become public? What if he had received the nomination? The Dems would be screwed at this point. 2.) The issue of campaign contributions being used to hire this bimbo and pay her off. Not much honor in that.
I am extremely disappointed in his actions. It is a shame that he will most likely NOT hold an important position in Obamas's administration. He might have been able to do some real service as Attorney General. Also, his interview revealed a man who is STILL arrogant, narcissistic and ego-driven.
I am in shock with you Arianna, for I understand the betrayal many of us feel from being deceived. Your comment of "I've long pushed for a giant border fence separating public life and private lives." I fully agree with. My only problem with your blog on this subject is, that in turn, you yourself are adding to the media hype on the affair. His affair should be a closed issue between Mr. Edwards and his family. From reading your book, On Becoming Fearless, I can see from the problems you yourself encountered with your ex husband, and the media portrayal on it, you should realize any further discussion on the topic is just that much more burdensome.
"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."
Also true ma'am, but please keep in mind, EVERYONE will make mistakes, and yes he was caught in a Lie. But admitting you have lied about something really is an enormous task. I just ask for you to please look inside and realize that everyone messes up at times in their lives. Forgive his indiscretions and disregard his infidelity. For only Mr. Edwards knows what he must do to redeem himself and bring respect back to his own name.
Thank you,
A True Fan
TB
I think this view of yours Ariani is a bit contradictory. In the same way as when it was applied to Clinton.
On the one hand, you don't belief in a sexual purity test for leaders, but you think they should air all the details if they get "exposed".
I believe it's no one's business, least of all the media's, so why should public figures be "truthful" about their private business? They should just insist it's no one's business and they aren't goint to participate in the frenzy.
I don't believe they should lie, however, but hold ths view sheerly as a matter of political expediency. I myself would lie if that would successfully keep you from knowing details of my private behavior that is none of your business, but not if it could be exposed as such. What Clinton should have done was say "this has nothing to do with the nation's business and therefore I won't answer your questions". He shouldn't have denied it and then later retracted his denial; nor should Edwards have. But only because it was politically harmful and the certainty that their lie would be found out.
I believe a public figure would gain more respect if he confronted the snooping media by just stonewalling them.
"But the issue here wasn't Edwards' infidelity, it was his lying directly to the American people. "
Just like Bill Clinton, right? This is exactly why Hillary lost the bid for the nomination.
The dems did not want Bill anywhere near the White House again.
Well when will we hear more about John McCain being married to two women at the same time, that is against the law, oh forgot , it's o.k. to break the law if you are a Bush,Cheney or McCain, why is Arianna not talking about this, I know the MSM is not going to touch it, David Gregory has already stated, how will this hurt Sen. Obama, who has nothing to do with this.
Gregory also said that Clinton's tepid response to a question in his ABC interview of what kind of a president he thinks Obama would make, was suspect as well. Clinton essentially said that "no one is really ready for the Presidency...blah, blah, blah" -- but Gregory interpreted that to mean that Obama is not ready -- no mention of McCain.
The fact is, I was upset with Bill Clinton for the tone of his remarks. I know he's still reeling over the primary results. But if he doesn't get onboard 1000%, he can forget about a political future for him or his wife. People won't forgive him, or by association, his wife, if they perceive that Obama's loss can be attributed to some extent to the degree of the Clintons effort, or lack thereof. This election is far too important to be muddled by sour grapes. Get a grip, Clinton!
I love every entry in this topic, but am surprised to see no mention of Jeff Gannon at the White House 200 times per the logs and Laura is still standing by her man..
I have to be disgusted with the MSM on this, I think relationships are about commitment and fidelity and politicians are no better than the rest of us.
I am all for public financing so we can have more choices, instead of all these millionaire candidates who have benefited from the income tax reduction from 90% in the 50s when the economy really kicked but to the ridiculously low rates of 17% that Warren Buffet talks about.
When do you know a politician is lying? When he/she opens his/her mouth. Why the insistence that politicians be raised to some level of behavior higher than the others? When are we going to stop electing these narcissistic self-serving people to office? We put them in office even when we know of their shortcomings and when these are revealed we're aghast and shocked. This goes for all politicians of every party and political leaning. They are human and will make mistakes. I would hope the Huffington Post puts this in perspective and relegate it to the basement of newsworthiness. There are more important things going on right now that deserve the space than an affair from someone who is not in office and who ran an ineffectual race for president and a failed run for vice president. Please Arianna stop the presses and post on something that matters not on the scandal of the day. We get that from the tabloids, fox and the msm.
Good points. When will HuffPost editors take a deep breath, stand back, and recognize that they're playing this story too big? It's one thing to do the liberal-guilt self-critique about candidates who lie and take money from the lied-to public; it's another thing to pretend that any of this means spit to the ocean, amid the real suffering created in our names around the world by, guess what -- a mess of lying, election-stealing and economy-bashing war criminals.
in a week when Ron Suskinds' book documents more treasonous crimes by this administration....and another avoidable war breaks out in Georgia....we are saturated with media coverage of an irrelevant smarmy southern boy (Clinton Lite)....and "The Games" in the land of thugs....
The Edwards story is self evident...Arianna, not worth your time to comment.
Lies are lies. Lies that start wars. Lies to cover up affairs. There is a huge difference, of course. Lies that are deadly and destructive to human life and property are worthy of public discussion and the we strive for the hopeful promise of decent people to prevent them from being used as a matter of policy. That's why we have laws. An affair that matters little to anyone other than the pair and their spouse/relatives/friends are nothing worth talking about.
I do disagree with the comments made by Arianna that we should erect a fence between private and public lives.
Private lives have a very bad way of influencing - mostly adversely - public lives. Consider this scenario:
1) Senator has an affair with someone say X - gender not important. X is a plant. X blackmails the Senator to:
Possible Consequences:
1) Vote in a particular manner to favor a company, an industry, etc Does this help the people who the Senator is supposed to represent?
2) Vote to pardon a spy from another country.
3) Vote to abstain in an important vote.
4) Vote NOT to impeach a President.
5) Vote NOT to subpoena Karl Rove, Miers et al.
Now go figure out more such scenarios.
So, when you enter Public Service, do you have the right to Private Secrets?
IMHO, NO!
Cheers!
Pat
That scenario is about blackmail, not sex. It would work equally well driven by any action the public deems "unacceptable". Yet, in this era Senator X caught in that trap couldn't come forward a say, "I made a mistake and now I'm being told to do things I think are wrong or the fact of my mistake will be broadcast." The immediate cry would be "What is he/she hiding?" "What really happened?"
I need some help with this one: Does anyone remember the Congressman from California whose career and family were destroyed after being accused in the press of having an affair with and then murdering an intern? As I remember it someone else was found guilty of the murder, I don't remember whether the affair was disproved. I'm having trouble placing the time frame, late 1990's no later then early 2000. I'm embarassed that I don't recall his name.
Congressman: Gary Condit
Deceased: Chandra Levy
Case: Unsolved
Parents: Highly distressed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/07/25/DI2008072501404.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Condit
Lost in the mulch pile of dishonesty, infidelity, arrogance, narcissism and hypocrisy is the misuse of $114,000 donated by supporters who believed that John Edwards was fighting for a better America.
John Edward's actions constitute embezzlement - a criminal action.
He must be compelled to offer a full accounting of campaign funds spent to finance his affair. Rielle Hunter's expenses: plane fares to Africa and elsewhere, the hotel and meal charges, cocktails, etc. were, I am sure, picked up by the campaign.
The total amount embezzled might approach a million dollars.
John Edwards spoke of "Two Americas" and now we are learning that there are two John Edwards. The hypocrisy of the real John Edwards is staggering!
And yet one current presidential candidate led "two lives," was involved in stealing from little old seniors and lied about it until trapped. Should I go on?
He's a multimillionaire. Remember? He has his own money.
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