Unrealistic expectations of Leaders? We are all human beings...and flawed.

The Edwards revelation saddens me in the same way that hearing of the Catholic Church scandal saddens me. Or the Roger Clemens implosion. Or learning of Bill Clinton's Monica issue.

When we put people up on pedestals, when we hero worship, when we blindly follow, we all set ourselves up for disappointment. Every human being on this earth is fallable.

I guess that it is the lie, rather than the act, that is the true disappointment. We are all taught since children not to lie - yet the hope for power, popularity, the thirst for domination, for authority eventually leads to lies in so many cases.

I guess I don't really have a point - just another day of bad news, just another day when it seems as though each day forward is going to be another slog through bad, or disappointing, or horrific news. I am so sad for Elisabeth Edwards, just as I was sad for Hillary, for McCain's first wife, for all of the victims of sick, demented priests.

If our world society is on a particular trajectory, it is surely not a positive one. Or, maybe this is the way it always has been, and always will be.

It's not that difficult to keep one's dick in their pants.

But in realizing that certain people you look up to disappoint, it doesn't mean you have to necessarily shun them entirely.

As a practicing Catholic, I, too, was horrified by the Catholic priest abuse scandal, but I still go to mass every Sunday--it's my religion that I believe in, and besides, I still respect the many priests who would have never dreamed of laying an improper hand on a child.

I was disappointed when Bill Clinton admitted to his affair and that he had lied about it to us, but I still am incredibly inspired by his life story and his dynamic persona.

And yes, I am very disappointed in John Edwards. But what the man has done in terms of raising awareness for poverty is absolutely incredible and worthy of the highest level of praise.

To many people right now, Barack Obama looks as he could do no wrong. But we never know--he could have some personal failings that we don't know of right now which could come to light down the road. And if that comes to play, as long as it is something not outrageously offensive or harmful, it wouldn't cause me to think less of him.

Heck, I think there are certain times in our lives when we've seen our own parents in a very human light. And it's a sobering experience, but it is a very human experience.

I guess what I'm saying is that we can expect the bathwater to be dirty at times, but we shouldn't necessarily throw the baby out with the bathwater.

You really think that abusive pedophile priests = philandering husband? Huh?

Seriously consider editing that first line. Makes no sense at all. The rest of your examples, sure. But not that.

Whether it be an extramatarial affair or sex abuse. Not to equivocate the two.

As a practicing Catholic, I understand where the OP is coming from. Many people look up to their parish priest as being beyond reproach. And for those who learned their priest was abusing children, it is a sobering experience to watch one's hero fall from grace like that. (I also think it is wrong to automatically think that every priest was engaging in this behavior, which is absolutely not true, but that's neither here nor there as it relates to this.)

I guess I can sorta see that.

But you can understand why I was rather horrified at the comparison, myself.

Just the reaction to this is a sign of the hair trigger of people to written words. Few take the time to read, reflect, and understand any more.

Can have it's way with men AND women... sometimes I think human beings were never meant to be in the limelight.

There is also The Groupie Effect to consider... some women will do anything to sleep with a rockstar. The pressure must be intense. These are all still human beings no matter how high we build their pedestals.

Expect them all to be lying egotistical assholes. Just vote for the ones that will do some good while being lying egotistical assholes.

Gee, millions and millions of people manage to stay lovingly faithful to their spouse, day in, day out. I don't think that being famous is any sort of excuse to stop doing that, especially given the condition of Edward's wife.

Sorry, but fame doesn't give you a free pass to go forth and multiply.

marriage and keeping my dick in my pants has been easy and a no brainer. My wife is everything I would want in a friend, lover, person, companion. I feel very fortunate, since many of my friends do not experience such wonderfully good fortune.

it is very easy to be holy when you have never experienced any temptation

types of groups, both with work and in various hobbies....and wonder why you are such a flaming asshole?

all of them, no exceptions

i'm amazed that there is such little knowledge of basic human biology among adults

the male drive is what it is

people who are bothered that edwards had an affair, when ALL male politicians have affairs, on both sides of the aisle, bewilder me

do they truly not understand that a basic motive for men to get involved in careers involving the accumulation of money and/or power is the ability to attract women? if you don't like it, don't take it up with me, take it up with mother nature

THIS is why the republicans win, when they screw men, women, or child, no one cares and nothing is done on their side of the aisle, while we demand a ridiculous and unrealistic standard of perfection that no man of high drive can attain to

testosterone is a hell of a drug, would you prefer that we only have neutered and unmotivated men in our party?

we need to stop paying attention to tiddle taddle about sexual picadilloes

when bush explains why victor ashe is ambassador to poland, which is using taxpayer resources to put the guy out of sight, then i'll worry about edwards partying with some fan on his own dime

i've learned that in cases where we think there's an exception, nope, there isn't

it's just the way of the world

Sorry, but I've know a fair number of people who've been rich and/or famous, and many of them manage to remain faithful to their spouse just fine, thank you very much.

Besides, you are basically writing off men as nothing more than walking, talking sacs of hormones. Thanks for the sexist analysis, but men are a little more complicated than that, and gee, can and do use our higher brain functions on frequent occaisions.

There is no excuse for screwing around on one's wife, neither fame, nor money, nor high office. I heard this same sort of shit spewing forth during the Clinton years, it was bullshit then and it is bullshit now.

complicated enough as it is, why make it worse?

bullshit.

It wasn't unrealistic for me (as an Edwards voter) to believe him when he said he would fight 'til the convention. He lied.

It wasn't unrealistic for me to believe his denials of the affair. He lied.

It wasn't unrealistic to give him money that I intended to go toward the campaign (that he quit) and now there's an allegation that some of the money may have gone to this woman.

That liar can kiss my ass.