Now we know it’s true. I’ll repeat what I said before, in part, “What is a private life? Being a member of a hate group is a necessary piece of information to know about a candidate. Religion is not. Some of our founding fathers were agnostics and atheists, and it was no impediment to their political performance. Sex life? Not relevant.” I stand by my opinion. Not relevant before, not relevant now. To quote Beth, “Peace and grace.”

He has admitted now to the affair, but denies being the father of the child- who knows- half truths? We’ve been there before with good old Bill C., but what’s worse is once again, the people are hit with the question, “how trustworthy and honest our any politicians”? Are they all egomaniacs, so self centered, persuing the public trust with hidden agendas and hypocritical values? Yes, I feel sorry for his family having to face his trangressions and the man disgusts me.

I don’t think the relevance is so much that he had the affair. at least not for me. it’s that he denied it. And… he made public comments about other mens morality and integrity based on their affairs. It’s the arrogance of standing before millions of people and lying. It isn’t the sex. The sex is a sound byte at best. Had it been an early on disclosure he may have weathered it if his candidacy campaign had gone well. Had he addressed it head on. But the arrogance of the lie, and worse for me anyway.. the stupidity of the cover up is what pisses me off. I don’t automatically think that a man or woman who has an affair is a liar or immoral. Life is tough. we all deal with it the best we can. But to stand in front of millions of people and have bullshit leave their mouth…. THEN it’s an issue. JB - wow… what a trip that would have been. Like I said… it just amazes me that these guys think they will get away with it in this era. Maybe the Kennedy era. when there were three tv stations all owned by people who could be played or bought… when the newspapers were also owned by people being played or bought… but in an era where there are over 100 channels and the internet??? Get real people. If you’ve bopped and lied SOMEONE is going to find out about it!

Most of the stuff written about Edwards has been wrong. Maybe he had an affair—two years ago, hardly a new event, but he does not have a baby with this women, he is not sending her money, and he did not have a tryst with her last month in Beverly Hills. I am so sure it is not our business who John Edwards sleeps with. But I am very sure that it IS our business when the press tries to manipulate political decisions by timing stories like little bombs. Here the evidence points to the editor of the NE timing the stories on Edwards to coincide with the Veepstakes and the Democratic Convention. Never mind that most every detail of the story printed by the NE was wrong.

Well he finally admitted it was true! The affair that is, truth about the paternity is still out since he hasn’t taken a paternity test. And when did he decide to break the news? On Aug 8th, when the public’s attention is on the Olympics and it is a friday. The best time to dump news is on a friday, the public is busy with their lives and hopefully aren’t watching t.v. and by Monday it is old news and the press is no longer covering the story. And especially this weekend as we will be wrapped up in what Olympian won what medals or failed a drug test.

Oh John! How stupid for such a brilliant man, but I seem to remember saying that about Bill Clinton who broke my heart as well. Normally I cast these things off as “none of our business”. I don’t believe that a public figure’s personal “affairs” are a barometer of their ability nor should their human flaws be a part of the judging process…til they lie to us. My anger with Clinton was not because of what he did, talk about stupidity not to mention really bad taste,but that was between Bill and Hillary not the nation. It only became an issue for most of us who believed in him when he lied and dragged this country through Tabloid Hell while paralyzing such a promising presidency. In his interview with Bob Woodruff on Nightline last night John Edwards was prepped to take the hits. He basically used the same rationale that Clinton had-he did it because he could, he had reached a point of ego that allowed him to feel invincible. I didn’t feel,however, satisified by what was an extraordinary admission of vanity. I was left feeling there is more and of course now he has the whole world watching and looking for more, and it will all come out at a time when the Democrats do not need the distraction. We are left simply not trusting a man who framed his whole political career on a higher ground. John Edwards if you remember was one of the most outspoken critics of Bill Clinton’s behavior. More importantly,however, than all the tabloid trash talk is that John Edwards in his public life stood for something truly important and had the opportunity to continue that message and create action to bring change, perhaps even in an Obama administration. His voice for the disenfranchised was a powerful one and that message,that promise,may now be silenced forever—not because of his actions but because of his efforts to cover it up while campaigning as the honest moral candidate. I did not hear in the interview with Woodruff, who I thought did a good job,any apologies to the people who worked for him and believed in his candidacy, that troubled me as well. He said he didn’t think he had a future in politics anyway or that the Veep job was ever his to have, but we know he wanted it. Elizabeth’s absence from the interview was like the elephant in the room. She released a statement that took my breath away… “Although John believes he should stand alone and take the consequences of his action now, when the door closes behind him, he has his family waiting for him…Admitting one’s mistakes is a hard thing for anyone to do, and I am proud of the courage John showed by his honesty in the face of shame… I ask that the public, who expressed concern about the harm John’s conduct has done to us, think also about the real harm that the present voyeurism does and give me and my family the privacy we need at this time.” A definition of grace indeed. I wish for the remarkable Elizabeth and for her children that her request be granted, I know,however, that this story is not going away and for that there is only one man’s vanity to blame.

Oooooo, and Lindsey Lohan may be a lesbian, too. What a week for investigative journalism! Anybody got a copy of “The Weekly World News?” I heard there’s been another Elvis sighting…

Its not the affair… for me its about being truthful. Was Mr. Edwards truthful? No. According to him… Mrs. Edwards knew about the affair. Did she know he was coming to LA to visit the woman and baby at the hotel recently? Did he say… “Oh, by the way, Honey, I’m going to LA to see my ex-lover. I’m sure you won’t mind.” That would be hard for me to believe.