Sam Smith is the Editor of The Progressive Review............Scott
http://prorev.com
SAM SMITH - The televised news announcement of Elizabeth Edwards'
recurring cancer was one of the most moving political events I've seen
in a half century of journalism. I had earlier shifted from being quite
cynical about Edwards to being convinced that of the choices, he offered
the best combination of positive intent and competency, a conclusion
aided by a sense that Edwards was one those rare politicians who had
actually learned something from life, in part thanks to two earlier
tragedies: the loss of a son and his wife's cancer. Like many
politicians, he had talent and attractiveness before, it was the pain
that gave it meaning and decency.
The integrity, emotion, common sense and lack of manipulativeness in the
Edwards' discussion of the cancer was a stunning exception to the
contemporary political norm. I felt like I had come home to America
again.
But then I'm a native of a Washington that was still a southern town,
had prostate cancer 14 years ago and have been married for four decades
to an exceptionally strong woman. The story and the characters ring a
few bells.
I'm not sure, however, much of the liberal elite will feel the same way.
The Edwardses are not northern urban sophisticates, they speak an alien
dialect from that of most campaign contribution heavy zip codes and
Elizabeth Edwards lacks the gloss many liberals have come to expect from
modern women. But the truth is, she's clearly one of the strongest women
in political life and a model for anyone facing a similar crisis.
Further, the audacity of the Edwards' hope is not just a book title; it
is the story of their lives.
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recurring cancer was one of the most moving political events I've seen
in a half century of journalism. I had earlier shifted from being quite
cynical about Edwards to being convinced that of the choices, he offered
the best combination of positive intent and competency, a conclusion
aided by a sense that Edwards was one those rare politicians who had
actually learned something from life, in part thanks to two earlier
tragedies: the loss of a son and his wife's cancer. Like many
politicians, he had talent and attractiveness before, it was the pain
that gave it meaning and decency.
The integrity, emotion, common sense and lack of manipulativeness in the
Edwards' discussion of the cancer was a stunning exception to the
contemporary political norm. I felt like I had come home to America
again.
But then I'm a native of a Washington that was still a southern town,
had prostate cancer 14 years ago and have been married for four decades
to an exceptionally strong woman. The story and the characters ring a
few bells.
I'm not sure, however, much of the liberal elite will feel the same way.
The Edwardses are not northern urban sophisticates, they speak an alien
dialect from that of most campaign contribution heavy zip codes and
Elizabeth Edwards lacks the gloss many liberals have come to expect from
modern women. But the truth is, she's clearly one of the strongest women
in political life and a model for anyone facing a similar crisis.
Further, the audacity of the Edwards' hope is not just a book title; it
is the story of their lives.
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