This is why I never engage in "hero worship"

[maxrandb]

Edwards screwed around on his wife. As a man married to a woman who lost both of her breasts to cancer, let me tell you how easy that is. It's selfish, it's self-centered and it's also horribly insensitive to the person you've pledged your life to.

I'll not judge John Edwards, but I will tell you that you can have the most perfect life, the most perfect family, the most joyful career...and cancer can come and drop a concussion grenade right in the damn middle of it.

What he did in inexcusable, but it's only inexcusable to his wife. No matter how disappointed we are, no matter how much we "rooted" for our side...it's important to remember...he is on our side.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that the wealth gap in this country has grown to the largest level since the Great Depression.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that the policies of the "right wing" have turned the Middle Class into modern day serfs.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that labor laws are skewed so far in favor on employers, that average Americans are supposed to "just be thankful you have a job"

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that Republicans overwhelming honor wealth, but not the labor that helped create that wealth.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that College Education is increasingly becoming available only to the wealthy and well-connected.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that our government is bought and paid for by only 1% of it's people.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't change the fact that the top 5% have seen their wealth grow by four-fold, while Joe-Six-Pack's wages stagnate.

He cheated on his wife, but that doesn't mean that all politicians cheat on their wives.

None of us. Not me. Not you. Not the bloggers, nor the pundits, nor the "gleeful wingnuts" have a clue as to what went on in that quiet moment in the bed he shared with his wife...AND IT REALLY IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS

If we look at ourselves, we're really only upset because we made this man out to be more than he really was. He's no hero. He's no savior. He's just a man.

The "wingers" who will gleefully try to use this as a tool to "tar" us all, do so because it's the only way they can win. For 30 years they've argued that "everyone does it", "all politicians are scum", etc They do so, so that when one of their own turns out to be scum, they can say..."see, it doesn't matter who you vote for, their all the same".

Well they're not all the same and who you vote for does matter. I wouldn't be unfaithful to my wife, but that doesn't mean my neighbor will be faithful to his.

Obama has a golden opportunity here. To fix the serious problems that we have, it's going to take a majority of the people moving toward the same common goals and aspirations. It's going to take a majority of the people to say "enough is enough" and really change our country...and if there is one thing we definitely need....IT'S CHANGE.

Our problems won't be solved by a Knight riding in on a White Steed.

We'd do well to stop looking for ordinary men to be our savior, and realize that it's gonna take a collective majority to do the job.

<rant off>

[NightWatcher]

1. you can follow a message without worshipping the man who delivered the message

excellent post

[maxrandb]

2. Thanks!

I get sick of the "hero" worship. I firmly believe that what we need in this country is to empower ourselves, not the people with the message.

We are the message!