On March 22 former North Carolina Democrat Senator, failed 2004 Vice Presidential nominee and current contender for the Presidential nominee John Edwards revealed that his wife Elizabeth had stage IV breast cancer. The Edwards stated the cancer had metastasis to the bone and possibly had spread to her lungs. The cancer was described as incurable but treatable.

The big media machine had spun the announcement so that it suggested that if Senator Edwards won the 2008 Presidential election that his wife may actually die while he would be in Office. A moral debate began asking the question ‘should Edwards continue his Presidential campaign?’. Opinions over the issue were divided, some suggested Edwards should bail out and care for his wife, foregoing his own professional desires while others suggested the Edwards were braving it all and were committed to their supporters. Something that did occur but has received little mention is that following the announcement contributions to the Edwards’ campaign had skyrocketed. By some estimates donations increased the existed funds by 50%, placing their total at over one million dollars. Prior to the announcement the Edwards’ campaign had been described as ‘languishing’.

Today in a snippet that is not receiving enough coverage from the media machine is that Mrs. Edwards’ doctors have estimated her life expectancy of at least 10 years. Your author does not wish to appear callous but the reader should pause when assessing the events surrounding Edwards and his wife. If what the doctors stated is indeed true why was the media so consumed with the previously mentioned moral debate? Why didn’t the Edwards wait and release the life expectancy estimation when they first stated the her medical condition? As always the reader should ponder such implications and drawn their own conclusion.