First of all, before anyone thinks otherwise, this is not Matt Hurley. This is Mark Garbett. I have been VERY busy working and getting some other ducks in a row for some opportunities, and have had to leave the blogging to Matt.
This week, we were given examples of how the media will politicize anything. We had two key people in politics have issues involving cancer or possible cancer. Tony Snow, White House spokesperson, is having a procedure Monday to get a growth in his abdomen removed after the tests came back. Snow had his colon removed due to cancer and has been doing well. Reporters immediately begaen focusing on the political issues, some even insinuating that Snow is tired of dealing with the Bush White House and is looking for a way out and this might be it. Snow quickly said he would return and that it was a minor issue.
The other one involves Presidential Candidate John Edwards, or more accurately, his wife, Elizabeth Edwards. Mrs. Edwards has been diagnosed with incurable but treatable bone cancer in her rib. John Edwards used the announcement of this to say he would not get out of the race and that his wife would continue campaigning for as long as she could. Tomorrow night, Edwards is looking to get some press when he and his wife discuss the recurrence of cancer with "America's Sweetheart" Katie Couric on 60 Minutes. Couric, of course, lost her husband to cancer a few years ago.
The Breck Girl really, in my opinion, has shown how desperate he is. He has turned his wife's illness into an opportunity for sympathy votes. By making the statement, we are "both going to continue the race for the country we both love", The Edwardes are now politicizing this disease. Edwards should get out of the race. Hillary and Obama are killing him in the polls, and in head to head vs. Rudy OR McCain, he is beaten soundly. With the issues given his statements about the environment and fuel consumption vs. his palatial estate, he has shown himself to be hypocritical. Then of course there was the racist comments made by bloggers on his payroll.
Here is what is going to happen. With the frontloaded primaries, Edwards wants to see how the cancer issue is going to play out. He is going to continue the campaign and may go all the way if he gets a big enough push of positive energy from this. In other words, he is trying to channel sympathy for his wife into votes for him. To me, this is disgraceful, shameful behavior. While I do not think we should shut in Mrs. Edwards or just write her off, neither should she have to go through the stress of a campaign just because her husband has an ego the size of Tar Heel Nation.
Mrs. Edwards and the Edwards family need their husband and father, not a candidate. It woiuld be different if he was leading the polls or was the favorite, but he is nothing more than auditioning again for VP. Is his wife's life worth the Presidency? In my opinion, Mr. Edwards has shown he is what the caricaturists say he is, a heartless and conniving trial lawyer ambulance chasing huckster who cares more for his own advancement than his family.
Matt's Chat - 3/28 Update
This really is Matt Hurley now and not Mark...Eric at Plunderbund makes some sense (for a change - just kidding!), we really do have an opportunity to show that we understand that we are all still human beings. To that end, I don't believe that Edwards is using his wife's cancer as a tool to generate sympathy. I think he's been running for president for a decade and doesn't know what else to do... I also don't think Tony Snow is looking for a way out of his duties at the White House.
I think the point that Mark makes above is that the media will continue to invent these stories to sell their their product. Those of us in the activism "business" need to not fall for it... As one of my Wide Awakes Radio buddies, GM Roper, always says, "Cancer sucks" and I don't think it really matters what party you belong to for that to be the case.
We do have an opportunity...so let's take it. My prayers go out to both Elizabeth Edwards and Tony Snow for a speedy recovery and a long, healthy life.
UPDATE 2: Thank you BackStreetBoys for ruining my bi-partisan buzz... Yeah, I'd love to see the Ohio GOP do something differnet on their website too...but turning the Edwards' cancer drama in to a political issue is NOT what we really need. Instead of taking the high road, we can always count on the leftysphere to be obnoxious...so, yeah, BSB, thanks for harshing my mellow...
UPDAE 2A: In fact, BSBers, get back to me after you condemn these people, the subject of this story, and the "pros" at the HuffPo... Feel free to take on this guy too...
