A Tale of Two Johns Part One

Although the media focus has been on Sarah Palin, the Beer Summit, and health care recently, there's a story...hell, there's two stories just as compelling and with far more sex, money, hushing up, hypocrisy, and falls from grace. A look at the Decline and Fall of two politician's careers. Both are ambitious, and both will have a long climb back up, if at all.

It's a tale of questionable ethics.

It's a tale of romance and intrigue and scandal.

It's...a Tale of Two Johns.

John Edwards

We'll start with the first "John", former one-term North Carolina Senator, two-time Democratic Presidential Candidate ('04 and '08) and two-timing husband of author, activist, and cancer fighter Elizabeth Edwards. Johnny Go-Lightly, in 2006, was hit up by a woman named Rielle Hunter, an actress and film producer, to do a series of "webisodes" for the upcoming 2008 Presidential Elections. He liked the idea, and signed on. His PAC, the "One America Committee" (which sounds a bit jingoistic and fascist, but maybe that's just me) paid $100,000 for the documentaries, plus another $14,461 later on.

Apparently, he liked more than just her film making skills. The affair lasted for a few months, and mention of it first appeared in one of the many tabloids, The National Enquirer, in October of 2007. Both Candidate Edwards and Ms. Hunter initially denied the allegations. The Enquirer publishes a follow-up story with a picture of Hunter, pregnant, and the allegation that Edwards is the father. (Some Maury Povich-like shit right here...)

After months of speculation (speaking of political speculation... ;) ) and coverage, it all came to a head in August of 2008, when Edwards finally admitted he had been unfaithful, but that he had not fathered the baby.

Why his affair matters

Now, those of you who might lean Libertarian are probably thinking "Why the hell does it matter? Isn't it a private thing, between him and his family and the other woman?"

Well, no. Johnny Go-Lightly made family values and that sort of shit a part of his campaign. His hypocrisy deserved to be exposed. And, quite frankly, a public figure, regardless of how they feel, is going to be under more scrutiny. Did I mention the hypocrisy?

Political Prospects

His political career doesn't look so good, to put it mildly. American voters are notoriously fickle and unforgiving, especially in regards to marital infidelity. To compound his problem, his wife had cancer. And the lingering questions about the baby's father will haunt him unless and until he takes the test. Now, although he has some good ideas and politics, his little friend has cost him any chance of having a future in electoral politics. He could potentially receive an appointment to some position, but nothing major or dealing with the law, for obvious reasons.

Edwards is, as it appears, consigned to the political dungheap for now.

When we next meet...

I'm working on the next entry in "A Tale of Two Johns", which will deal with Republican Senator from Nevada John Ensign, whose story is so much more interesting than Edwards. I'll also provide a comparison of the two at the end.