I'm confused- are we supposed to care about poltician's sex lives?

Posted: 8/10/08 at 1:28pm

Cause we weren't supposed to before, when it was Clinton. Now it's Edwards it seems like we do? And I KNOW that if we can ever get to the bottom of that McCain "love child" then we certainly will, right? So what's the procedure? Incumbent Democrats nay, ex-candidates and Republicans at all times yay? Can anyone help me out here?

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 1:42pm

As long as they're not boinkin' little boys, right? I mean, 'cause gay sex is just so wrong.

(says the little gay boy)

[romantico]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 1:54pm

Seems like the Republicans scandal of choice is corruption and insider trading. (Enron, Oil Contracts, Outing CIA agents, lying about war intelligence, etc.)

The Democrats scandal of choice are sex scandals. (Cheating on your wife,paying for sex,etc.)

Since sex sells, the media and people in general find sex scandals steamy and fun where corporate scandals such as insider trading is just boring. The Edwards scandal is not going to go away, unless the McCain love child turns out to be true(The National Enquirer also broke that story as well)

The best chance the Edwards Scandal has of going away is if Obama announces his VP choice this week or if something really bad happens at the Olympics.

I have said I am surprised the Edwards scandal did not break while he was running for President this past February or March. But now that I think of it I am more surprised it did not break sometime this October or a day or two before the election.

Updated On: 8/10/08 at 01:54 PM

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:11pm

But why is it a scandal? Didn't we say that sex is a private thing and has no impact on a public official's ability? Why would it have been worse if it came out while he was running for office? Who cares about his private life, right?

And what does Obama's running mate have to do with any of this?

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:19pm

Joe, I think he is just saying that the VP announcement would take the focus off of Edwards. Actually, I think it has already started to go away. I went for drinks yesterday and all everyone was talking about were the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. A few people didn't even know about Edwards. I noticed, at least here that the Edwards thing came out after the pictures of the opening ceremonies came out. Everyone was already talking about them before they came on at 7:00 on Friday evening.

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:21pm

I think Obama has a LOT more to think about than taking the focus off Edwards- a failed candidate who will never run for anything ever again.

[romantico]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:28pm

My hoping Obama picking his running mate this week will, I hope, draw attention away from Edwards. Oh, and the convention is 2 weeks away. He should be announcing his VP choice anyway.

People put politicians in a very high standard. I think they bring it on themselves as being moral and good and will fight for you and the underdog. So, when they are caught being like the rest of us its kind of like they are now down to our level. In Edwards case his hypocrisy was exposed not to mention his true character. He made himself out as the guy who helped people. Instead he turns out to be the type of guy who cheats on his dying wife and then lies about it while running for office and endorsing candidates.

We care about the private lives of those we elect into office. There are some things that for me, really don't matter.If Elizabeth came out when this story broke and said she wanted John to have someone for when she died and knew about the affair all along, I would see this very different. I would say then yes, it is a private affair. There would have been no lying to his wife or cheating involved. Thats not what happened though.

Movie stars getting caught is more humiliating then anything. I still like Hugh Grant and other stars who have been involved in sex scandals but politicians sell themselves as something much higher.

Sex sells.

Updated On: 8/10/08 at 02:28 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:35pm

I'm confused too.

George Bush Senior and Junior have had long-term mistresses, George Bush Junior snorted cocaine in the governor's mansion in Austin, and John McCain came back from 'Nam and cheated on the woman who waited patiently for him.

These stories are not reported, but the Edwards story is.

I'm confused.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 2:43pm

I am sure that is not what Obama is focusing on and isn't worried about his announcement taking the attention away from Edwards. The press will jump on it if he does, of course and that is what may take the attention away. But it seems that it is already not the "big" story. Some people speculated that he made the announcement on the opening day of the Olympics so that it would not be as big a story as it might have been before the start of the Olympics. I don't know anyone who watched his big interview on Friday night about it. Everyone was watching the opening ceremonies. Even my friends that didn't watch the ceremonies didn't watch the interview. I can only speak for here, but people seem to be over these "scandals". Just my thoughts!

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 3:34pm

Never use logic or common sense when trying to figure out the double standards that Republicans have. You'll give yourself a headache.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 3:39pm

We cared about Larry Craig's.

Personally, I don't care what Edwards does or did. It's not like he's been out there trying to pass anti-adultery legislation.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:01pm

I care! I want to know ALL the details!

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:06pm

Larry Craig had a homosexual encounter in a bathroom.

That's much worse than sleeping with another woman. Unless you're a woman, too.

(God, wouldn't the world freak if Hillary was caught in a lesbian scandal?)

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:31pm

back in my day, it was ASSUMED that politicians cheated, both Federalist and Whig parties. and don't get me started on those Tories.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:32pm

edwards lied to the media. lied to them and ridiculed them while lying to them. they believed him and now they are pissed. the story will last until they feel they've gotten their pound of flesh.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:34pm

Both Bushes lied to the media. McCain lied to the media.

The media lies to us every day.

Why Edwards and not the Bushes?

[romantico]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:46pm

Because the Bushes are better at hiding secrets than Edwards is. Edwards was arrogant and felt only "other people get caught". Again, I know his wife is ill and all but I thought she was his Jiminy Cricket. The one who watches over him and, as she said in 2004, keeps him honest. She is just as guilty knowing about his affair and letting him continue to run for President and endorse a presidential candidate. Its too bad this all happened, but they both deserve it as far as I am concerned.For him to deny that his political career is over again shows the man's arrogance and denial. You KNOW he is paying this woman off. I am certain he said he would gladly take a paternity test because he knew he paid the woman off to publicly say she would NEVER allow to have a paternity test.Again, how is this woman able to afford a 3 million dollar home?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:51pm

I would like to find a wealthy benefactor who will exchange unlimited financial support for me for occasional hot sex and witty banter.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 4:56pm

PJ - no offense, but aren't you (and by 'you', I mean we) at an age where you'd have to be the benefactor providing the financial support?

Posted: 8/10/08 at 5:06pm

Larry Craig wasn't caught having sex in a bathroom. He tapped his foot and ran his hand along the bottom of the partition.

And for the gazillionth time- VP nominations are made at the convention.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 5:09pm

There are more things on heaven and earth that are dreamt of in your philosophy, Madbrian.

Posted: 8/10/08 at 5:11pm

I've heard of the mythical "Sugar Baby" but have never seen one- if you find one, do tell, PJ!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/10/08 at 9:20pm

Here are two.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 12:24am

I'm confused - are we supposed to care about politicians?

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:06am

We're supposed to care about their sex lives because we need to constantly be reminded that our country was started by Puritans.