26 August 2008

Lay (off) the guy already!

Since John Edward's extra-marital affair was revealed some weeks ago, he has endured much criticism -- anew from critics and afresh from former allies. I thought the whole discussion tacky and irrelevant and tried to ignore the whole controversy. However, I will remain silent no longer now that Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the former Tarheel Senator, is suffering criticism for what's described has her "complicity" in the cover-up of the affair from the time John confessed it to her in 2006 until it hit the fan this year. (See this article in the 26 August 2008 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer.)

Enough, already! This whole business is not worthy of discussion! Edward's affair has no relevance in the political sphere. The fact that this man was unfaithful to his wife is the business of no one but the people directly involved -- John, Elizabeth, Rielle Hunter, and their immediate families. We, the general public, have no business delving into such matters.

"But he deceived us!" "We believed in him!" "We thought he was such a good man!" So what if he lied! Given all of this reaction, wouldn't you have? It's not like he stole money and lied about it. It's not like he was actively questioned about an affair in front of Congress and actively lied about it! (Don't get me started on the Clinton-Lewinsky debacle.) If one believed in Edwards' political message before news of the affair came to light, why shouldn't one believe in it now? If Edwards was a good man before, he still is. The point is that he's a man -- a human -- like all of us. :J