How is John McCain's Affair Different from John Edwards'?

We have this weird notion in America now that if a politician is caught in an affair that his career is done. We seem to be saying that what he did in his private life effects his policies or how he governs. But we all know that isn't true. We know that because almost all of our great presidents, and great leaders throughout history, have had numerous affairs. Obviously it didn't hurt how they governed at all.

I love the idea of someone saying Alexander the Great can't lead his empire because he's cheating on his wife (by the way, doesn't Alexander's bisexuality single-handedly destroy the idea that gays can't serve in the military). How about Genghis Khan? He had so many affairs that nearly 1% of the entire world population has his genes. Not fit to lead? And there have also been men of great compassion who led noble fights while still doing ignoble things in their private lives. We are all human at home.

We have now heard the stories of JFK receiving sexual favors after speeches in his limo and partying with several women on a yacht while his wife was delivering. But those are all in the past -- so they don't count. But John Edwards is caught having an extramarital affair and the overwhelming assumption is that his political career is absolutely over. How does that make any sense?

Does John Edwards care less about poor people today than he did yesterday? Would his affair lead him to change his position on NAFTA? How would it alter his policy on Iran?

Some will claim, as they did with Bill Clinton, that it's not the affair but the lies that went along with it. Really? Did JFK come out and tell the American people - or his wife - "by the way, while my wife was in the hospital I was having an affair with not one, but several women at the same time"? No, of course, he lied too. Every man that has ever cheated on his wife has lied (and so has every woman who has ever cheated). It is part and parcel of the affair.

Now, we get to the most relevant question - if John Edwards' political career is done, why isn't John McCain's? John McCain had a well-documented affair on his first wife, with his current wife. He has admitted in the books he has written about his life that he ran around with several different women while still married to his first wife. And don't forget that he left her for a younger, richer woman - multi-millionaire Cindy Hensley who is now Cindy McCain - after she had been severely hurt in a car accident.

So, why are McCain's actions any more excusable than Edwards'? Because it was thirty years ago? Does that wash it away? Will we be fine with Edwards running for office again in a couple of years because then it will all be in the past? What is the statute of limitations on an affair?

Remember Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan and Ross Perot were so upset with how John McCain dealt with his first wife that they didn't forgive him for a very, very long time. Perot still hasn't forgiven him. In fact, he said recently about McCain dumping his first wife for Cindy, "McCain is the classic opportunist. He's always reaching for attention and glory."

So, I want every pundit who condemns John Edwards today to tell me what the difference between him and McCain is and why John McCain shouldn't also be run out of politics for his adulterous affairs and what he did to his first wife.

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Comments

[shelleybear]

John McCain.
When the going gets tough, the tough leave their wives.

[netdiva]

I hate to say it, but I think there is a difference. I'm very sad about this - I caucused for Edwards in Jan '08 (Iowa) because I truly believed he was the best candidate.

I agree... Edward's blatant lies when confronted with the so-called "rumors" are very disturbing. What's worse is that Edwards stated he had told Elizabeth about the affair shortly after it happened (or at least, quite some time before he threw his hat in the ring for the pres. election.) I believe this was a serious error in judgment - how could they think this story would NOT come out? I shudder to think of the consequences had Edwards been the presumptive dem. nominee.

[Cherubim]

Oh please, give me a break. John Edwards didn't start a war in Iraq based on lies and cause
the death of thousands of people.
Why don't you shudder to think about the consequences of the many lies the Bush-McCain administration has told the American people?

[RB23885]

I think it's pretty clear what the difference is, McCain is a Republican. Remember Newt Gingrich and his first wife. Diagnosed with breast cancer, she was still in the hosital recovering from surgery and he asked her for a divorce - so he could hook up with his girl friend. No damage to his political career. How about Henry Hyde and Bob Livingston leading the impeachment hearings against Bill Clinton, while both had admitted to extra - marital affairs. Then there's old 'wide stance' Larry Craig.

So maybe the difference is that Edwards feels some shame about what he did, and McCain and his Republican brothers are shameless.

[alltrue]

Exactly, these shameless people don't deserve to be nation's leaders coz they're shameless as they lied and evil as they bear false testimonies about other people. They are black goats in sheep's clothings. So, how can we expect these shameless people to govern the country for the people's welfare? Of course not, its only for their own vested evil interest. They do everything they can to give hardships and keep us all poor so we will be all busy to survive from shameless man-made hardships and won't have chance to notice their wrongdoings. Also a reply to shelly bear, cherubim & cmarmonhalm. Tough,thick-faced left ailing wife for skinny with fat WALLET. Noticed? while she was coming down the stairs to be w/ the tough (as if) husband to greet the crowds, very ungentleman not to hold her. Also using his being a captive five years ago, but he's not the only captive, there were many others and this does'nt mean he will be a good choice and deserve to be president, he who 100% does'nt care about the consequences, the sufferings and hardships of the people are having now because of their lies. LET NOT BE TAKEN FOR A RIDE AGAIN. NOW, WE ARE 100% AWARE THAT WE WILL ONLY SUFFER MORE TO BE RULED BY A SHAMELESS ADMINISTRATION.OBVIOUSLY, SHAMELESS PEOPLE ARE VERY GOOD AT FABRICATING LIES, MAKING UP STORIES, PUTTING WORDS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S MOUTH AND VERY GOOD AT TRAINING UP-COMING SHAMELESS PERSONALITIES.(OBSERVED THEIR SPEECHES)?

[cmarmonhalm]

The awful part about all of this is that John McCain has emerged unscathed from all of this. No one is really talking about the fact that he cheated on his first wife and then upgraded for the rich stepford wife that he has now.

The media is so horrid that they've taked to blaming Elizabeth Edwards for not coming forward about the affair. It's not bad enough that this poor sick woman was cheated on by her husband but we should blame her for his decisions.

Sometimes the MSM really makes me sick.

[CM-W]

At last it is coming to the attention of many of our citizens that as long as a Republican does it then everything is ok - doesn't matter what "it" is. But if a Democrat does "it" - impeachment, ruin his/her career, etc. Look at the group of Republicans that hurried to impeach Clinton - check out their "dirty laundry". Look at the group of Republicans who are involved in the outing of a spy just to punish her husband - TREASON!!!!! But of course that is ok, because the Republicans did it. Keep up the "sinning" Republicans - it won't be long before anything goes! Don't talk to anyone about being the party of Christian morals and family values.

[Collette777]

The one winning point to Edwards is that he is staying with Elizabeth and not sprinting off to marry the girlfriend (applying for a marriage license while still married) like McCain did. Because John Edwards is standing by his wife, I can wish him grace and healing after a quick slap across the face. However, I would never vote for Edwards in any capacity again. I wish all people (McCains too) involved peace and healing, I just wish they'd both choose a less visible way in which to serve the country. Our leaders should expect more from themselves personally and publicly.

[SaddieMcCall]

John McCain is a maverick - and mavericks can do anything they want.

I remember when Governor Patterson of NY immediately announced that he and his wife each cheated on each other years earlier when they were having problems in their marriage. They then decided to go to counseling and work on their marriage. At that time some people were saying it was too much information - but in the long run, it protected him from being blackmailed later.

Paula Jones was wanting to bring a lawsuit against Bill Clinton before he became President - that didn't seem to hurt him much. I remember people attacking Paul Jones and Gennifer Flowers as if they were worst than Bill.

[Doofus]

'How is John McCain's Affair Different from John Edwards'?'

Because somehow, John Edwards' is going to cost Barack Obama votes.

[sunshyne]

Two years ago or thirty -- both Edwards' and McCain's actions were equally despicable. They both had wives who were fighting for their life -- and, when things got tough, both men abandoned their wives in favor of a romantic tryst with someone younger, healthier, and more fit than their spouse. I think both men exposed a significant flaw in their character. Frankly, I'd like to see the media treat these guys equally -- either trounce McCain on this issue in the same way they have Edwards, or simply drop their weapons and leave Edwards be, as they have McCain.

[NU81]

First of all, that John McCain repeatedly cheated on his first wife DOES matter to me. The reason I'm not voting for him is entirely political, but it disgusts me that he cheated on his first wife to marry a wealthy woman.

However, as far as I know, journalists didn't repeatedly drill John McCain (as they did Edwards), asking him over and over again on multiple occasions if he was having an affair and if he had a love child. He had an affair, but no one asked him about it at the time, right?

I suppose that's the slight difference, although both lack integrity in my opinion. John Edwards had the arrogance and complete lack of judgment and integrity to repeatedly and explicitly lie each time he was asked if he had an affair and if he had a love child. He denied it emphatically over and over and over again. The height of stupidity and arrogance when running for President.

That, I believe, is the difference. That being said, I still wouldn't vote for John McCain. In fact, the idea of him being President terrifies me. Just pointing out the difference between two jerks who cheated on their wives, probably more than once.

[samlu1]

John Edward's lives a Christian life extolling the virtues of Christian morals and only has to abide by 10 laws.....one of them being "NO DAMN ADULTERY". He is a liar to his own GOD....or as he calls it "a mistake". Hypocrisy is what this is about...not sex.

[eggman]

McCain is a Republican. Edwards is a Democrat.

Duh.

[Princeton]

Subconsciously, people don't want to know about John McCain and sex. It's just something that would turn one's stomach.

[lungfish]

So what you are saying is that cheating on your wife and lying about it to her and your constituents, and trying to obfuscate it when it becomes public has no real bearing on integrity, honesty or dependability... trustworthiness of an elected official... since they all lie we should just overlook some of the lies since their most common lie involves sexual infidelity with a spouse they took a vow to be faithful to....

We are asked to vow our honesty before God on a few occasions in life... when taking witness during trials, when taking a spouse and when assuming a political office. Apparently you seem to think that those vows and promises aren't important to public trust and credibility.

They are to me. Cheaters and liars are cheaters and liars. What are we going to say next? Oh, its ok if he stole a little bit of money, it just shows that he is ambitious, all politicians lie. Its ok....

Or as Mukasey claims, not all violations of the law are crimes... especially if you are a politician and you can wail "mia culpa" loud enough while hiding emails and denying everything and claiming "executive privilege" ...

We try to trust these people and affairs and dishonesty are a sure sign that our trust is misplaced. I hope you never end up in court worrying about how seriously the witness is taking his vow of honesty....

[JohnUmana]

Has Senator McCain not done the same thing that former Senator Edwards is criticised for -- lying about a romantic affair in order to protect his candidacy? Whether an adult chooses to have a romantic relationship with another is likely not the proper subject of scrutiny in a presidential campaign, except perhaps in a confessional. But lying about the relationship certainly is the proper subject of scrutiny, because it makes the man out to be a liar, something we've already seen too much of in the White House. It is better to say nothing than to lie to the American people. On February 21, 2008, the New York Times published a story asserting that during Senator McCain"s first run for the White House eight years ago, some of his top advisers became "convinced" he was having a "romantic" relationship with a female lobbyist (whose high-profile clients the Arizona senator was helping), and intervened to protect the candidate from himself. Senator McCain and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, both vehemently denied that they had an affair. The Senator described her as a mere "friend." This was hardly the truth. He was protecting his run for the White House. How is this any different from what Edwards did?

[bongogirl]

I agree, and I am hopeful that the truth will surface in the near future. But we must the remember that the GOP owns the media.