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March 22, 2007

'Prayers For The Edwards' (Updated)

Topics: Political News and commentaries

John and Elizabeth Edwards announced today that Elizabeth's cancer has returned (hat tip - DJ Drummond at Wizbang). The biopsy results have confirmed that despite surgery and radiation treatment, the Edwards will once again have to fight cancer.

As with DJ, I have very strong political differences with John Edwards, and like DJ, have had my own bouts with cancer, in my case - said to be terminal both times. Indeed, as DJ suggests, not everyone is lucky in their fight, and everyone who must go through this battle deserves the prayers and support of others. However, although I'm putting my nose where it doesn't belong and at the risk of sounding judgemental, I strongly believe that John Edwards is putting ego ahead of the life of his wife, even though he surely has her support in moving forward with his candidacy.

When I read the incorrect report earlier today by Politico's Ben Smith that former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) would suspend his presidential campaign so he could tend to his wife as she battles breast cancer, I was pleased - not because I'd like to see Edwards out of the race - he has no chance anyway - he's way too liberal to come back to center for a general election, and win. No rational mind would believe him to be anything but far left of center. Instead, my feelings were due to the unnecessary stress a run for the presidency places on a candidate and his/her family, and particularly the stress it is going to put on Elizabeth Edwards.

Fighting cancer is not easy, and yes, having something to help keep one occupied on other than one's battle for life can be helpful. But I just can't believe that going through a presidential campaign will do anything but make a tough battle for life, tougher. Stress in cancer is a killer.

Yet, even though I think John Edwards is making a big mistake, it's the Edwards decision, not ours. God bless them and their children, and let's all hope Elizabeth gets all the luck she needs. I'll be praying for them.

Update: I just read Captain Ed's updates on his post about Edwards decision to stay in the race. It appears that I'm not alone in my perspective - Captain Ed shares similar feelings:

... All I can offer is my own perspective. My wife has had a number of chronic illnesses and acute crises, such as the one ongoing now, and one simply cannot stop living life or making a living. That being said, it usually helps to stay closer to home and family, just for one's own peace of mind. Edwards might find himself distracted on the campaign trail, and nagging issues might get blown out of proportion as he gets frustrated with the stress.

There's much to be said about the idea of staying home, embracing life and enjoying the family and the moments together, and dealing with life-threatening disease with as little unnecessary stress as possible.

Again, stress in cancer is a killer, and one can manage malignant disease much more effectively by eliminating it to the extent possible while embracing life - real life and the things that really matter. Politics fits in neither of these categories.

As is pointed out by Jay Carney at Real Clear Politics, Edwards' supporters, and surely many average Americans, have to be wondering at what point Edwards the candidate will decide that his duties as husband and father to three children, including a 6 and 8 year old, trump his duty to his country and the cause of winning the White House (as though he's going to save America, defeat poverty world wide, ad nauseam ). Furthermore, Edwards' claims that by soldiering on while his wife has incurable cancer, he would be proving that he could deal with the pressures of being president. Like Jay Carney, I wonder how voters will react to that sentiment.

Posted by Richard at March 22, 2007 7:18 PM

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• 'Prayers For The Edwards' (Updated) - Mar 22, 2007