The American Spectator

p>I read Lawrence Henry’s piece this morning and, pondering the observation of the Boston DJ, was caused to wonder if what he is saying is “Trollops being trollops, it’s just fine to lower one’s self to their level,” which strikes me as a variant on the old (and, I thought, discredited) “She was asking for it” excuse. It seems to me that what is revealed in this tomcatting are failures of respect and discipline; beginning with the self and rolling outward. br> — Reid Bogie br> Waterbury, Connecticut /p>

Mr. Henry writes about Rielle Hunter, “Rielle Hunter is 43 years old, not particularly attractive, and sprouts all the signs of trouble: She’s a New Age goof. She has no particular talent. She worms into the good graces of accomplished men. She would get pregnant, and she did. She would stick like snot on suede, and she’d pry money, which she has done.”

I must take issue with this particular passage, as it seems to be filled with all sorts of speculation about Ms. Hunter, and has the tenor of an excuse for Mr. Edwards’s (no relation) behavior. Personally, from the pictures I have seen, I find Ms. Hunter to be more attractive than Elizabeth Edwards in her healthier years…but that is simply a matter of opinion that has no bearing on the issue at hand. As for her “worming” her way into the good graces of an accomplished man, getting pregnant and “prying” money from the man, that all sounds a bit harsh to me.

No one forced John Edwards to let this woman into his life, yet he willingly chose to do so; I don’t see that as “worming” your way into anything. People will only be let into your life if you open the door, and obviously Sen. Edwards was more than willing to do so. As for her pregnancy, it would have never happened if Sen. Edwards had simply honored his wedding vows. Ms. Hunter did not force herself on Sen. Edwards, he willingly engaged in behavior that could result in pregnancy, so I fail to see how all of this falls on Ms. Hunter’s shoulder. And as for the money, from all appearances the money seems to be more about Edwards trying to keep Ms. Hunter silent, than a ploy by Ms. Hunter to “pry” money from him. From an interview one of Ms. Hunter’s friends gave on television the other day, it seems that Ms. Hunter is in love with Sen. Edwards, and Sen. Edwards expressed that same sentiment to her, and all she wants is to be with him. It doesn’t seem that she went after his money, but after him…period.

p>And to answer your question, not all powerful men engage in this type of behavior. I would wager that most men, powerful or not, who have married a woman takes their vows seriously and vigilantly honor those vows. The problem is that when a high profile person, such as Sen. Edwards, who has what looks like an ideal marriage strays, it calls the fidelity of all men into question. But just because one high profile person acts like a cad does not mean “they all do it.” br> — Eric Edwards br> Walnut Cove, North Carolina /p>

“Do they all do it? Let’s start asking the reporters how much tomcatting around they do when they’re on the road on assignment.”

p>Oh, I think that’s why the deafening silence to these exposed pols. Be it from the press or fellow pols, those in glass houses — well, you know the rest.