John Edwards indicted

Politicians and their zipper problems. Many an otherwise good man has been brought down from pinnacles of power and influence by that one little item of modern clothing.

Rarely have I been so wrong about a politician I strongly supported for high office, and I am monstrously disappointed in John Edwards and angered by the danger he put our country into with his affair. Suppose he had been nominated? The affair would inevitably come out during the general campaign -- and today Sarah Palin would be Vice President of the United States.

Unless she quit half way through, that is.

It's not just that Edwards had an affair, nor that he fathered a child with his mistress. After all, John F. Kennedy was no paragon of monogamy. That was a different time, however, before the intense scrutiny and 100% squeaky-cleanness was demanded of our politicians.

No, it's more the betrayal of a mortally ill wife, while pretending to be the devoted family man and making that a center piece of his campaign, and the betrayal of those of us who supported his presidential candidacy. That behavior -- the danger he put our country in -- to me, speaks to far more serious character deficits than the zipper problem.

So, now he's been indicted for illegal campaign contributions, conspiracy, and making false statements. His defense has been that the money from wealthy donors to silence and keep hidden his mistress and child was for the purpose of keeping his wife from knowing, not to keep it from affecting his campaign -- which it undoubtedly would have.

If it's the latter, which the grand jury believed, then it's illegal campaign contributions. Edwards and his lawyers tried to negotiate a plea that would allow him to keep his license to practice law; but the prosecutors insisted on a felony plea.

So now there will presumably be a trial, which he could win, but all the sordid details would be aired. Or he pleads guilty and loses his license.

Either way, John Edwards is paying a very high price for his deception to cover up his fun. As he should, in my opinion.

Was there something we did know about him that should have tipped us supporters off to his hubris and recklessness? The 20/20 vision of hindsight does say: there was just a whiff of it in the 'pretty boy' image; but I thought that was minor and that underneath he was sincere about his commitment to helping the disadvantaged, to promoting democracy and equality.

A near miss -- but a good lesson for all.

Ralph