John Edwards yesterday admitted he’d had an extramarital affair even as his wife battled cancer – and that he’d lied about it.
Yet Americans didn’t have to hear that to know the man is a despicable sleaze.
His entire presidential campaign was based on hypocrisy and deception. Indeed, nearly every word out of the former trial lawyer’s mouth dripped with insincerity and falsehood.
Now even the most gullible folks know it.
“In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment,” Edwards said, acknowledging his relations with 44-year-old Rielle Hunter, who worked for his campaign.
He admitted he hadn’t been fully honest when he denied reports of the affair.
“When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it,” Edwards said. “Being 99 percent honest is no longer enough.”
He had lied, in other words – but only by 1 percent. Which, we suppose, is like being just a little, uh, pregnant.
Speaking of pregnant, by the way, Hunter did give birth this year to a baby girl. Edwards denies being the father; it’s his business, of course, and maybe he’s not.
But why should anyone believe anything this guy says?
Want hypocrisy? Consider what the two-timing former senator had to say about Bill Clinton’s philandering:
“I think this president has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter. It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen.”
Capt. Renault couldn’t have been more “shocked” about gambling in Casablanca.
Meanwhile, Edwards’ campaign (and maybe career) have essentially been one big con. He played the role of champion for the poor – while raking in mammoth legal fees and spending on himself and his family like a pampered prince.
Who can forget his two $400 haircuts last year, paid for by his campaign?
His home is a 28,000-square-foot estate, sitting on 102 acres, “surrounded by trees and defended by no-trespassing signs,” AP reported.
An addition contains handball and basketball courts, an indoor pool and a stage.
Not that anyone should begrudge him that, of course. But it sure makes his rants about income inequality and “the two Americas” sound just a wee bit hollow.
The good news is that Edwards – who once was even being considered as Barack Obama’s vice presidential running mate – may be at the end of his political career.
We can only hope.