Fmr. Sen. John Edwards admits to having affair in 2006

[Alex]

McCain's affair was the reason he divorced his wife (not because she found out but because he decided he wanted to marry Cindy).

[scaeagles]

Ah. Putz.

But, I suppose we could all just say these are personal matters and it should only be between them and their families.

Nah, can't do that. They're all putzes.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Are you suggesting that all men suck and are prone to cheat?

Maybe not all. Most, though. It seems tempting.

A lot of women also cheat.

So I guess what I'm saying is that a lot of people suck and cheat.

[Alex]

I actually don't much care about the affairs themselves. Like I've said, it is more that the circumstances of them call into question their current decision making priorities.

McCain's affair happened while he was a private citizen (and not long after spending five years in a prisoner of war camp). Not good, but I completely don't care (and his ex-wife is actually somewhat supportive of him and they remain on good terms). If he is now, while running for president cheating on Cindy McCain then I'll care in that way.

John Edwards private citizen, I don't give a damn who he's doing. John Edwards presidential aspirant I do care to the degree that it shows such poor judgment in relation to the goal sought.

[Tenigma]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I agree on McCain, MBC. Only difference is the length of time ago it was. Though I don't know if he had an affair or just divorced his wife. Either is lame and despicable. (not that I am saying divorce in and of itself is despicable, but his reasons were)

Keep in mind this is what I read from his ex-wife's Wikipedia page. Basically, the ex was very loyal to him during his captivity, but she had a life-threatening car accident that left the former swimsuit model no longer physically attractive (according to the entry, she'd gained weight). McCain finally came home but instead of having a young, swimsuit model of a wife, he had an older dumpy woman for a wife... so he proceeded to have numerous affairs.

They stayed married throughout it all, but then when McCain started dating Cindy (read: young, pretty, blond, and independently wealthy), he pressured his first wife into a divorce, which she reluctantly agreed to.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Alex

Also, I do admire the timing of the admission.

It's a Friday.
The Olympics start today.
Georgia invades Russia, or vice versa.
It's in August when reporters go on vacation anyway.

Of course, he should have waited until 7:30 for the NBC coverage to begin, but nobody's perfect.

Then again... it's only "news" for the short period of time between the announcement and the start of the Olympics. If he'd waited till after 7:30, it would have been tomorrow's "new" news. So maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Gets reported today when people don't care, and is shortly trumped by discussion of how good/bad/amazing/ridiculous the opening ceremonies were. In other words, by coming before the ceremonies, the ceremonies render it old news very quickly.

[Tenigma]

Originally Posted by Alex

McCain's affair happened while he was a private citizen (and not long after spending five years in a prisoner of war camp). Not good, but I completely don't care (and his ex-wife is actually somewhat supportive of him and they remain on good terms). If he is now, while running for president cheating on Cindy McCain then I'll care in that way.

I don't know how you define "not long after"--McCain had started having affairs not long after his return, but if I recall correctly there were about 15-20 years between the time he returned home, and the time he started having his affair with the current Mrs.

I don't really care, either, that it was an adulterous relationship.

I think what eats my craw though, is Mrs. McCain's stubborn refusal to discuss financial matters. The two of them file their taxes independently but I highly doubt they don't co-mingle their home finances in some way. That they refuse to file jointly, that they won't release their tax records, I don't like that. Cindy McCain says she is a private citizen who shouldn't have to release her tax records, but if she's going on the campaign trail with him and stumping for him, then I say it should be an open book.

That tells me something about John McCain as a person. If he can't get his home financial situation straightened out I hardly doubt he could handle the country's. He needs to have people whisper into his ear, as it is. The man is 72, for god sakes. He probably forgets his glasses are on top of his head.

[Tenigma]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Then again... it's only "news" for the short period of time between the announcement and the start of the Olympics.

Yeah it's pretty dead news-wise this week if it's not related to the Games.

One reason why Obama decided to take his vacation now.

...although my friends in Hawaii tell me it's just a complete madhouse there. Even on "vacation" he's still scheduling public events. People just absolutely adore him there, since he's their hometown son.

[Alex]

Yes, I had misremembered the timeline on when he started dating Cindy. Regardless it was still while he held no position of public trust or confidence (other than being a military officer) and he wasn't seeking one. So I don't care.

I also don't care about the tax releases because I don't think JOHN McCain should have to release them (or be pressured into it by the press). I don't see how not releasing those records is any indication that he doesn't have his home financial situation straightened out.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Are you suggesting that all men suck

Only about 10% of us do.