Records and rules are made to be broken some say. I guess it is my wish that the records broken are ones of high human achievement and the rules that are broken are ones foolishly conceived and recklessly applied. Records can be set on the negative side as well and today marked a new low in the political realm.
John Edwards took the opportunity to assemble the news media to announce publicly that his wife was terminally ill and that "The campaign goes on. The campaign goes on strongly." This was wrong on so many levels that I don't know where to begin.
This was not major news conference type information to begin with. Had he announced his intention to withdraw that might have merited a cattle call for newsman. Otherwise this was a simple press release. Instead Edwards duped the throng and they became part of the show.
It is more than just a cheap publicity stunt in that it shows the depth of John Edwards. Is the man's ambition so strong that he could not derail his presidential ambitions to devote himself to whatever time his wife might have remaining even if she is lucky and it is years? If there is not a wit of consideration for his wife how about his two youngest children? How on earth can a man fulfill a grueling presidential schedule while his children are dealing everyday with the sickness of their mother?
The event also borders on hubris. Has Edwards convinced himself that he is so important to the national political scene that he can put everything on the back burner including the welfare of his wife and children for the benefit of all Americans? John, get a hold of yourself, you are a former senator, trailing badly in the polls and your chances are slim that you will ever be on a national ticket again. However, if you want to improve your chances or more importantly if you want to be admired instead of loathed, give up this foolishness and take care of your personal business in a caring and loving manner.
