The Edwards scandal... How common is this stuff?

I don't think scandal is limited to politicians. I think that there are many women who are attracted to powerful men and that many of those men choose to take advantage of the many opportunities that present themselves. So, no, I'm not surprised that politicians have affairs. John Kennedy was the first president I paid attention to because I was a child when he was in office. When I first heard about his (alleged) affair with Marilyn Monroe I was shocked but, when I think about it as an adult, I realize that he was more than just a president...he was a flesh and blood man so, when the sexiest woman in the world presented herself to him, he did what most men would have done in his shoes.

They say that half of the marriages or relationships have adultery at some point so politicians of course are not immune to this. What I have more of a problem with is that they're always screwing around with their employees or their interns which I think is more of a moral problem than adultery in general. Don't get me wrong, adultery is bad but when it's someone you have authority over that is worse. And as a third bad point for Edwards, his wife is dying and he's off having affairs with a 27 year old girl who happens to be his employee. Could this get any worse? I feel so sorry for Elizabeth Edwards who I met in person once and seems really nice. If I were her, I don't care if I'm sick, I'm changing locks!

I'm certain that it happens more than we hear of it, but it's not really possible to say if it happens more often among politicians than the general populace. It might occur more among young, charismatic politicians like Edwards, though.

I posted in another discussion sort of similar to this one and I think this is something we'll never really have the correct answer to. I don't know how any kind of poll or survey of people to find out how many of us in or out of the public limelight cheat on our spouses or what makes us do it. (Note: I said "us" and "we" as a general term; I've never cheated on my husband!) I think if we did the actual math and figured out what the percentage of politicians who have been caught in an affair we'd probably find out it's on par with the general population. It's just that when it happens we hear about it - over and OVER again - and there have been quite a few but there are quite a few more politicians in total. That having been said, my rather mixed view of this is on one hand, with all the scrutiny anyone in politics gets from the media and their opponents I can't imagine why they'd ever think they'd get away with it but on the other hand I think it's a bit like what Edwards said - they come to think they're so special and I think they may actually believe they can get away with anything. Why they'd still think that when they've all seen these same scenes played out over and over again, I'll never know. Annie

John Edwards said he thought he was invincible, and that nothing could take him down. Well, he's certainly learned that lesson! We've always known that power corrupts, and the power a politician has is not just huge, it's totally in the public eye. They become stars, and they seem to think it's OK for stars to do anything at all -- as if it's coming to them. I don't think "ordinary people" have as many weaknesses, but there are many who think whatever they're into is enormous power, and they ride that power for all it's worth. Corruption among regular folks can certainly result in any number of affairs and other improper behavior, but most of us, thank God, are happy to remain in monogamous relationships. Loving somebody doesn't require power or riches or anything else -- and love is really all that matters! How Edwards could do this when his lovely wife is going through torments is beyond me, but I guess he's pretty callous!

I think it happens to many people but often people with money and some power. people who travel a lot and are away from their families like politicians and athletes and even people in entertainment seem to get themselves in trouble more often. I don't think this should be an excuse. true they might have more temptations but it should be a chance to prove they faithfulness not give into temptation. Society is very forgiving of these types of things, maybe because so many people do it. I think it shows a general lack morals in our society.

This is very common among politicians. They are away from their families for long period of times. They work late hours especially during campaigns. I think they get caught up in the excitement and the pumping adrenaline, etc. That being said, should we excuse it? Most certainly not! I think there is no excuse, I find it sleazy. I do not think it is a democrat or republican thing. There are plenty from both sides that do this. On the same token, there are plenty that never do! These are the politicians I am more interested in.

I think so. I believe it happens when they realize I have some Power here. It has been pretty common. Kennedy and Marilyn. That was the 1st real look at this kind of thing in front of the media. I don't think it is limited to piliticians though. We just hear about them because they are in the spotlight.

I believe some of it is like you say media coverage, and that we fuel this by wanting to know more. I do not believe we should be surprised by "morally bankrupt" politicians. Especially on elections days when each party seems to be in a dirty laundry quest.

The last study I read was what 60% of marriages experience infidelity. I would imagine that some of those 60% are not politicians, some are Christians and other relatively good'ish people. I think what it means is that MOST (60%) of people at some point are stupid enough to think that infidelity is a good idea. Man, politicians are not so morally bankrupt as any of us, think about it. They ARE us. It's just that it is their job to go around lying to everyone and we only have to lie to ourselves and a few other people when we do something stupid. Edwards hair and crappy grin pissed me off more than his affair. Lame just lame. I think that looking at who they are screwing in bed rather than who pays their bills, ie, who they are in bed with, is a distraction from their real sins. For example, Cheney's Haliburton ties paying him 10 million bucks after he became VP and gave them all those NO BID contracts. Who's screwing who my friend?