Three observations on the John Edwards "affair"

Late Friday afternoon - after Obama left for vacation, and most of the world was paying attention to the opening of the Olympics - John Edwards finally admitted what had been rumored (and he had denied) for over a year...that he had been having an affair with a former campaign aid.

There are so many things you could comment on about this, but 3 really stand out to me:

1) The ego on this guy. By his own admission (for what that's worth) he started up with this gal back in 2006...about the time he was starting up a presidential campaign. In other words, he was running for president either just after - or while - messing around on his wife. What can possibly be going through your mind? What convinces you that "no, this won't be a problem"?

This is the same guy who, when Clinton got busted with Monica, said:

"I think this President has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen."

Sounds about right in his case too.

2) The hypocrisy of the media. These guys knew about it for over a year, but went through all sorts of contortions in order to avoid discussing it...even after eye-witness accounts came out that backed up the National Enquirer's story. The only reason they reported it was because he admitted it...and the only reason he admitted it was because he was going to be conspicuously absent from the Democrat's convention...which would only make people as "why?".

And the "he was no longer a candidate" thing doesn't fly. This was a guy that, until insiders got word, was on the list of potential VP picks..and the list of potential cabinet and/or Supreme Court picks. So there's no excuse for not checking it out. Glenn Reynolds asks the excellent question: "What else are they not telling us for fear it will hurt the Democrats' prospects?"

This is the same media that rushed a much "thinner" rumor about John McCain to the front pages earlier this year.

3) What he "didn't" say. Yes, he admitted to having "made a mistake". But when did he stop "making mistakes"?? Meaning, was he "making a mistake" three weeks ago when he got cornered in a Beverly Hills hotel bathroom by National Enquirer reporters at 2:00am?? Not answering that question, since it's so obvious - or at least not denying it - pretty much confirms the obvious. Which takes you back to point number 1.

Oh, and Hunter has now rejected taking a paternity test on the sixth month old baby...despite the fact that Edwards said he would. Now there's a gal who know's what's good for her.

Somewhere Bill Clinton is probably chuckling to himself, ("what an amateur!").

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Related:

• CBS's Harry Smith suggests Hunter "targeted" Edwards
• Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson believes Edwards cost Clinton the nomination
• Hunter didn't care for Edward's wife (Fox)

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