Why is This Any of Our Business?

You guessed it. I was browsing again and of course I found something to write about. Throughout the past few weeks there have been a lot of reports about the affair John Edwards had back in 2006. I realize that most people think it is wrong to cheat on a spouse and I realize that the affair coming to public attention in the heat of an election would have been quite a problem for the Democrats had John Edwards won the nomination. While I understand all of these things, there is a question that still looms in my mind. Why is his affair any of our business? It is not because I like John Edwards that I say this (and I do like him), but rather this is how I feel about any politician that has an affair or smoked pot in college or whatever stupid reason people may choose to demonize someone in the public spotlight. I don't think we can ever judge what someone does in their personal relationships. None of us were there and we don't know what was going on in their minds and in their hearts. I realize that some things done in the personal lives of these people reflects the kind of person they are (i.e. illegal acts, cruelty, etc.); however, in matters of the heart, what makes us so ready to judge? John Edwards has many great ideas that would benefit a lot of people. Even if he didn't love the woman and it was just sex, he's only human and makes mistakes just like you and I. His ideas and his ability should not be dismissed based on this incident.


It goes back to something I have said before. We expect politicians to be without flaw and then act shocked and disappointed when they don't live up to impossible standards. I'm not giving them a free ticket to just do whatever it is they feel like doing without consequence; however, we have to realize that the push to make these people into demigods only makes us vulnerable. We need to realize that these are men and women just like the rest of us. They don't have super powers and they aren't perfect. What they should have is a desire to help this country and it's people and a strong will to stand up for what is afforded to us all by the Constitution. There is nothing wrong with them being "elite." I don't mean in monetary terms, but in intellect and drive.


I think it is a shame that this situation with John Edwards occurred. It's not good that he had an affair. It isn't good that he kept it from everyone. However, the point in all my rambling is that we should not judge since we have no real way to know what he was thinking or feeling when he started the affair. Now on top of it all there are those who would chastise Elizabeth Edwards for not letting the public know of the affair. Why would she want to invite the public into the personal pain of the situation? How can anyone blame her for trying to keep it a secret so as not to have to live it day in and day out playing on television and in print and pictures in the newspaper and Web? I think that people have developed much too much of a holier than thou attitude.