A politician is a public servant. They are provided with fame, luxuries and a substantial paycheck in return for influencing public policy and laws affecting the lives of countless people. Although some of those served are hardworking, some not-so-much, politicians do what's best for the most. It's an extremely difficult job but important for the continuation of order and, although often criticized, is the best way of governing. Yeah, it's a lot of people putting their lives into the hands of one but it's the best thing we got. Politicians do the best job with what they have for the most people, that is, if they aren't a complete piece of crap.
So, when I see news like that of John Edwards being indicted for violating election laws by accepting almost $1 million from supporters to cover up an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter (and an out-of-wedlock daughter) during his 2008 presidential campaign, according to USA Today, I get a bit angry.
If word got out about Hunter and his child with her, his political aspirations, especially for president, would be done. He was thinking about himself and his future only, not about the American public or his wife who was suffering from an incurable form of breast cancer -- yes it was in an incurable form when the affair began, according to The LA Times. He copped to the affair in 2008 but only copped to the kid last year, days before the release of a tell-all book by ex-campaign aide Andrew Young.
So many things to be cynical about, not enough time.
Edwards wanted to fight for the disadvantaged. He wanted to end poverty and provide healthcare for all. His platform depicted him as one of the good guys trying to help those who are helpless, aka the little people. It's the ultimate hero, going back centuries. I felt sorry for him because his wife, who was a courageous and amazing role model, had breast cancer and his son died at 16 in a car accident. How tragic. I believed him to be a good person but isn't that what politicians do? Work out an image and stick to it whether they mess up or not? They have an image to uphold so you believe in them because don't we all want something to believe in? Especially when politics come into play, when they deal with stuff you don't want to worry about because, honestly, you don't have the answers. So, if they fuck up, you can blame them. With problems this large -- poverty, homelessness, crime, unemployment -- there are no perfect answers. No answer to any real-life problem is ever perfect because life isn't perfect, whether we believe it or not. So, we put our hope in the lesser of evils, i.e. John Edwards with his tragedies and his nice hair and smile.
So, he had an affair (maybe more, who knows? But Hunter got preggers with his kid so we know about this one). Turns out Edwards wasn't such a good guy after all. Shocker! I'm not mad, so much, about the affair. Yeah, he's a sleaze who didn't have enough courage, wasn't man enough, to divorce or separate from his wife, (who was battling cancer!!!!!!) probably because that would look bad for his public image. So, he had his fun with this woman on the side to keep himself satisfied while keeping the look of family man, $400 haircut and all, until he couldn't cover it up anymore. Hunter was pregnant and the ex-aide knew all and was planning to tell the world the real side of John Edwards. Now it's time to fess up before the shit hits the fan.
Think of this as a big math equation. What keeps coming up? John Edwards. He didn't think about his wife, his family, his career. He didn't think about serving the public he so wanted to help (at least the public he said over and over again he wanted to help. Actions speak louder than words Johnny Boy.). He didn't take his role as public servant seriously because all he was interested in serving was himself, literally and figuratively.
All of this makes me angry, appalled, disgusted but what makes me the angriest is politicians abusing power. Maybe Edwards went in to office trying to help the little people, I don't know for sure, but whatever the case, the power went to his head. He forgot about the little people, about serving his country, doing what's best, and instead focused on himself. Doing what he wanted and covering it up so he could still have a chance at the presidency. Because in his world, it's all about him!
And of course, his answer to these charges is he's not guilty. He's sorry for all he's done and will always regret the "pain and harm" he's "caused to others," but he never broke the law or thought he was breaking the law when he was given money to cover up the affair and love-child, even though he knew it would tarnish his reputation and chances in the political arena.
Whatever.
I don't have any answers on how to fix politics, how to make politicians less greasy and greedy. Of course not all of them are ... maybe we hear so much about the bad ones and not enough about the good ones. I don't know. I do know something has to be done to clean it up because if the government doesn't work on cleaning up politics, it's going to get worse instead of getting better. So many people want something to believe in so more John Edwards are going to come along, with their tragic pasts, sick wives and forked tongues, spouting off just want the downtrodden want to hear.
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