Will Edwards’ political career survive?

Politicians and politicians’ advisers…just as susceptible to the sins of lust as the rest of us. Perhaps more so. The question that Jack Cafferty poses is: Is John Edwards’ political career over? Well, we certainly have a range of precedents by which to judge. Bill Clinton’s career survived. David Patterson’s career survived. Dick Morris’ career survived. Rudy Giuliani’s career survived. Deal Hudson’s career survived. John McCain’s career survived. Adultery, despite the knee-jerk repulsion it typically generates, is a forgivable offense in politics. So will Edwards’ career survive? It is likely, though it may mean that he will have to accept a more marginalized role. Adultery is a forgivable offense, but it is not a forgettable one within a marriage. And in politics, little is ever forgotten. Those who commit adultery and are involved in politics will be dogged by their sin for as long as they remain in the public eye. It seems to be the unfortunate exchange for remaining in public service.

Is it our business? Yes, it is important to know the moral choices of our political leaders and their closest advisers, especially as it pertains to family life. If family is the basic unit of society and if we want our leaders to protect that basic unit, then it only makes sense for us to desire to know if those leaders have jeopardized the wellbeing of their own families. Does this mean that we cannot forgive them if they have committed egregious sins against their families? Of course not, especially when they beg us for our forgiveness. If we forgive them, then do we have to trust them? No.

Do we need a full scale media investigation beyond breaking the news that an affair has occurred? No. Knowledge of the fact is enough. I do fear, however, that the Edwards affair will play out in the media for quite sometime to come. McCain, when asked for a response, was admirably terse and to the point: “I don’t have any comment on that.” Likewise, Barack Obama simply responded to media questions that it was a “personal matter” for Edwards. This is a difficult time for the Edwards family, and it is to McCain’s and Obama’s credit that, so far, they are not adding to the hyper-attention.