We should be aware by this point in time that men in positions of power often cheat on their significant others. Earlier this year Eliot Spitzer’s political career came to a halt when it was revealed he was Client #9. Long before the bitter divorce scandal, Jim “I’m a Gay American” McGreevy resigned after it came out he was having an affair with a man he put on the state payroll. It wasn’t that long ago that Bill Clinton was getting serviced by Monica Lewinsky right in the Oval Office. John F. Kennedy was widely speculated to have more than just a passing fancy in Marilyn Monroe. Hell, if you want to really stretch it back, we already know about the infidelities that Thomas Jefferson had, and now there are a lot of African Americans who are related to him. The point is that men in power often feel compelled to sleep with women (and sometimes men) who are not their spouses.

I’m not trying to say that what happened here is right. I’m just trying to say that this is outrage that is highly misplaced. I think a lot of people take offense to the fact that his wife had cancer and he cheated on her. That’s bad business, to be sure, but again, that’s a personal issue between him and her. And, yes, he lied about it. Of course he lied about it. These things take down politicians. Think about it this way though: in the end he got what was coming to him.� His life in public service is over and he’s going to be branded as a cheat and a bad man. What else is left?

Things are bad enough for that family right now. Let’s just let sleeping dogs lie and understand that Edwards is more than paying for his sins.

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