The American Spectator

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(Page 4 of 11)

br> -- John Nelson br> Hebron, Connecticut /p>

I normally agree with and admire just about everything Ben Stein writes. Regarding his "Whacked Priorities," however, I have to disagree, vehemently. He is right in that Edwards is no longer a viable candidate for the Presidency nor sits in high elected office but he did hope to play a role in the upcoming Democratic convention, have influence within the party and a future Obama administration. And his detestable acts took place while he was running to lead our nation through perhaps it's most perilous times. Times that will demand clear-eyed understanding of good from evil. Most of all, Edwards billed himself in seeking our support as a holier-than-thou moralizer sermonizing from the pulpit of the Left's Church of What's Happening Now on everything from "global warming" to America's evil warmongering to how we tend to our "poor."

Besides, it is always gratifying to see his ilk, left or right, get their comeuppance. The Left does it to our guys of the same type all of the time making the Edwards case especially sweet for it exposed the double standard hypocrisy of the leftist media, which is to say "mainstream" media. Perhaps if they had taken on the story earlier it would not have devolved into the screaming tabloid blitz that it did. A surprising lapse on their part, for they are generally more astute as to whether news damaging to their team is better managed or ignored. They made the wrong call this time and so watching our adversaries hoist themselves on their various petards makes it all the sweeter. And, unmasking their indifference to the wrongdoing by one of their own, yet again, is no small reminder of their priorities nor morally inconsequential.

The other major difference here is much of our side is truly dismayed and chagrined by our bad boys' hypocritical behavior and more often than not the miscreants are drummed out of our ranks or shunned at the least. The Left, on the other hand, the "smash monogamy," "open marriage" and "alternative values" crowd, really doesn't mind at all but rather cries crocodile tears for such waywardness as a cynical sop to normal Americans whose votes they hope to win. If they have any regrets at all it is for themselves and their electoral chances but unfaithfulness, double dealing, betrayal, untrustworthiness, lying, scheming, duplicity and all the sins of omission and commission that conspire in pursuit of "doing your own thing" troubles them not. After all, is that not what they are about these 40 past years and are they not the "means justifies the end" folks, especially regarding sex? But I would certainly expect such private means of a public man to whatever ends to trouble Ben Stein.

p>Lastly, out of his great and generous heart, Ben signs on to the oldest moral obfuscation of the secular and atheist Left, to wit, conflating judgment of the behavior with judging the man. God will judge John Edwards the man and mete out His final justice. Ben is right, that is not for me, Ben or any other in this world to presume. But Edwards' behavior is rightly condemned by any decent person who can put themselves into Elizabeth Edwards' and their daughter's shoes for even a split second. No Ben, cry not for John Edwards for the public consequences he suffers here and now are a sort of rough justice guaranteed to transgressors in this world that is as old as history. It's all in the same book you quote at the end, you can look it up. br> -- Mark Shepler br> Jupiter, Florida /p>

Were we deprived of news of the Russian invasion by editors, or by the calculated choices of Edwards?

How is it Hunter and Edwards were noble in not aborting a baby, when it is far more likely this was no accident at all; rather the calculating laying of hooks into power and wealth by a woman passing her prime for that game. Abortion was never an issue, and Edwards never had a choice to make.

That Elizabeth Edwards would be caused distress in her marriage and terminal cancer is a cause indeed for Sam Adams maxim that the public can never be to cautious about the character of public men. Is there nothing this man will not do?

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