Or, that if they do, we should be understanding and tolerant of their moment of weakness? I’m referring to John Edwards’s admission that he cheated on his wife Elizabeth.
“In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic.” ~-John Edwards, as quoted from an article by Pete Yost, AP, published on AOL News-~
Apparently he confessed the whole mess to Elizabeth and the rest of his family long before it came out in the media. But now it’s out. Now not only him, but also Elizabeth, have to face the public embarrassment.
Yet, he was hoping it wouldn’t come out. That no one except him and his family would have to deal with it.
Why is it politicians forget they’ve chosen lives of public service? That everything they do is subject to scrutiny and lack of privacy? That this even extends into their bedroom behaviors when they’re extramarital?
They’re very good at attending certain events, especially ones that will convey a desired image. They’re also master wordsmiths with speeches and statements, again in an effort to project a certain image.
But when it comes to their bedroom activities, they seem to forget they’re politicians. That the very nature of their profession breeds enemies (i.e. political rivals) and that the competition will always have spies about. They sure wield the righteous sword when someone else’s naughty no-no’s come out, but when it’s them? Suddenly their lives should be private and they shouldn’t be judged for their bad behavior.
But why do it at all? Why take the risk and expect they’ll never get caught? Or that if they are, why do they feel they’re more deserving of forgiveness than someone else who acted thusly before them?
And why don’t they think about the consequences? Not only what it will do to their careers, but how their wives will feel not only finding out, but having the whole darn country know?
It’s made even worse because Edwards’s wife has incurable cancer. Good grief, man, enjoy the time with your wife while she’s here. It’s never enough as it is, and he has the heads up that the clock is running out. Yet he wastes what precious little he’s got left. Not only on the affair itself, but now on dealing with the fallout. Shameful.
I’ve often said I’d stand by Wayne through thick and thin, but I’m really starting to wonder about the kinds of wives that stand by such selfish and inconsiderate husbands. Ones who apparently have extra time for extramarital affairs.
All I can say is, I hope as part of their forgiveness process, the wives hold the husbands to never again using the line, “But I don’t have time to/for [fill in the blank].” Clearly that’s not true.
What better way for a husband who’s strayed to show he’s sorry and really means it than to use his time wisely going forward? A good way to start would be to make his wife feel as she should: like the only woman in the world who can ever hold his heart. Not to mention his interest in the bedroom.
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The Psychology of Why Married Men Cheat, Part 2
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“When Good People Have Affairs”
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