This will be my only comment on the Edwards thing: I never should have backed him for the nomination

[bluestateguy]

He was my candidate until he fizzled out in early February. I then promptly endorsed Obama. I am now in the process of removing my Edwards avatar.

While I still believe an extramarital affair is a private matter between the parties concerned, that is regrettably not the way the pack news media treats it, or many American voters. We need to elect a Democratic president this year, and that requires dealing in the world as it is, not as we would like it to be in some counter-factual world.

I shudder to think what would have happened had he been nominated and this story had come out as some sort of September or October surprise. The hopes of so many would have gone up in smoke and the country would be stuck with George W. Bush's heir apparent for four years.

With that said, it is now time to return to the task of electing Obama.

[Avalux]

1. Not just the nominee - what if Obama had picked him as VP?

That's my thinking on this. I am not going to judge Edwards on decisions concerning his personal life. However when the personal bleeds into the public as it often does in politics, he showed very poor judgement.

[bigwillq]

2. Everything happens for a reason.

And usually things work out the way they're supposed to. Edwards is not evil; he just made some pretty poor decisions and didn't use great judgment. I hope he can work this out between his family and gain their trust and respect again. That's the most important thing right now.

[grasswire]

3. you'd better hope there's nothing on Obama

I have no confidence in that after today.

Democratic party leaders have known about the Edwards matter for months. Washington insiders and media knew it, too. And yet the charade continuted.

I have no confidence that any candidate is clean, anymore.

[Whisp]

6. OFFS!

[DJ13]

4. As an Obama supporter from the start Im sorry you feel that way

Why?

Because even though I never supported Edwards (because I knew he couldnt win), I always respected his campaign platform that brought to light the many inequities of the poor in our society.

His message was who he was, not his penis.

[TheDonkey]

5. It is strange to think about how the election would have played out if Edwards never ran

may have HELPED Obama because his supporters were often more open to Obama or HURT our nominee because some say he split some of the more racially minded white voters among hillary. Hmm.

[Buck Rabbit]

8. He borrowed a great progressive platform when Hillary announced

and took the center away from him.

He could argue passionately about anything whether he believed it or not. It made him a multi-millionaire suing doctors and health care specialists for "causing cerebral palsy" using pure junk science and an ability to emotionally sway juries.

He could line his pockets with a half million dollars of hedge fund money he didn't even need while he was running for President, knowing it would become public but apparently confident he could charm his way through it.

His affair should not be a surprise to anyone who followed his Elmer Gantry-ish career.

[carolinayellowdog]

7. Glad he withdrew before the VA primary and I voted for Obama

DUers questioned the suddenness of that move back then, and now I suspect a connection with the affair. I'd have voted for him if he'd stayed in, but am now glad my vote helped Obama take Virginia in a landslide.

[PresidentObama]

9. It's time to move on, let the family sort out it's own business, and work towards electing Obama

That's my focus.