Statement From Texas Blogger Regarding TX-SEN
Maybe I'm in a small minority here, but I don't see any class in launching attacks on people while they're in the hospital. So I won't.- Greg Wythe
www.gregsopinion.com
Over the span of a few days, I've done one thing that I rarely ever do ... pull a post. My reasoning for doing it in the case of a post on Friday was out of respect for the person ultimately jabbed a bit harder than I might otherwise prefer (and in spite of how tempting he makes it for me to cast that respect aside). But one point remains, if nothing else: the actions of several Democratic bloggers is a negative reflection on one candidate for Senate and a disappointing reminder of the low levels that we all occasionally stoop to when the opportunity arrives.
I've made my points with regard to Tony Snow and what I view as his level of professionalism as White House Press Secretary. That stopped the day it was announced he's dealing with cancer again.
I may have any number of problems with John Edwards' politics, but I won't be among the people labeling him negatively in light of the battle he and his wife have.
And regardless of what candidate is ultimately nominated for Senate here in the Lone Star State, I refuse to use that battle as an opportunity to go after someone while he's in the hospital.
Seriously, when did such decorum become so out of fashion?
I first started giving this matter some thought when Chris Bell ran for governor, because his wife was fighting breast cancer. I thought I disapproved of his decision, but over time I realized that was not the decision I truly disapproved of: I just thought he had no business running for governor, period, because he had exhibited no prior interest in state government; he is a perennial candidate.
Seeing this same dilemma occur in the Edwards campaign clarifies the matter. The fact is, we all have our own lives to live, and it is up to each of us to determine what we do to give our lives meaning. No one else can do that. Few of us get to choose how we die, but given that chance, how we die is how we give our lives meaning.
If Ms. Edwards wants this campaign to be what she spends the rest of her life doing, more power to her. I do wonder about how all this affects the kids, but only John and Elizabeth can sort that out. My father died of cancer when I was 18 and my youngest sibling was 9, so I can only say that great comfort comes from having a lot of caring people around. In that sense their kids will be as comfortable as anyone can be.
Here's another touchy question, though: would President John Edwards be an emotional basket case after the death of his wife? Would that cause problems for the country? Would it put us at a diplomatic or overseas disadvantage? The last time that happened was on the eve of World War I, when President Woodrow Wilson's first wife died. Anticipating that occurrence, do we really want to see it happen?
I'm not sure it qualifies as decorum if you call such grandstanding attention to it.
Besides, you take so many personal shots at politicians, local reporters, bloggers, and public figures so regularly on this site that it's hard to take your very rare attempts at decorum as such.
How many of those attacks come when the target of them is in the hospital?