When are Americans going to get it? They're politicians, for chrissakes, not saints. I honestly don't care about their private life as long as they're not outlandishly hypocritical, and if they do the freaking job they're paid to do. Of course, they don't, though Edwards was better than most. Maybe not as good when serving, but better now that he's left, IMHO.
If you want a freaking saint in Congress, vote for Mother Teresa. Oh wait, she's dead. But in that state, she wouldn't do a worse job than the current crew. Maybe a priest? Oh wait, many of them have their own ethical challenges. Or maybe Pope Benedict? Oh wait, there's the issue of his past in Nazi Germany. Oh well, we're stuck with the fact that they are all fallable human beings. Live with it.
As a European I cannot help but agreeing 100% with the all of your words.
I luckily know enough of American history (and American "symbolism") to understand why in the 21st century such irrelevant events (because it is politically irrelevant if someone, is having an affair) are looked down with (fake) contempt in America. They will never get it, they will keep being unable to divide the private life of a politician from his professional life.
Do Americans ever wonder why their reactions towards such facts (Clinton, Edwards, many others...) are often ridicolized by Europeans? We basically cannot understand why do not you mind your own business...
Luckily in Europe a President (Sarkozy) can still be free to dump his wife and get married with a model, increasing both his own popularity and his partner one.
Vera, does make you vomiting that a politician has an affair? are not you overreacting?
