A Contrast in Losing
Two heavyweights, John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani, got out of the ring today and left behind different modes of fighting for the presidency and being beaten.
Edwards, who began his campaign in New Orleans a year ago, ended it there and symbolically went to work building a house with Habitat for Humanity. He worked hard on the campaign trail, basing his claim to the nomination on an honorable Democratic tradition of fighting for the poor and dispossessed.
Giuliani, on the other hand, all smiles and guile, tried to ride the 9/11 wave that made him rich all the way to the White House, disdaining the early primaries and expecting to be anointed the Republican candidate with even less exertion than lackadaisical Fred Thompson, who at least showed up for the early contests.
Typically, Giuliani is trading in the fruits of his minimal effort by endorsing John McCain in return for who-knows-what if McCain gets to the White House. Edwards may eventually attempt to convert his delegates and supporters into leverage, but for now is pushing Clinton or Obama toward greater emphasis on the issues he raised.
Their personal stories are a contrast as well. Edwards made a run despite his wife’s cancer and with her spirited support. Giuliani was brought down, in part, by revelations of his misuse of New York Police to run errands for his third wife-to-be while he was still married to his second.
Running for President is a brutal trial. Edwards is being carried out on his shield. Giuliani leaves without a scratch, except to his ego.
Cross-posted from my blog.
4 Responses to “A Contrast in Losing”
[...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… added an interesting post on A Contrast in LosingHere’s a small excerpt [...]
[...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on A Contrast in LosingHere’s a quick excerptA Contrast in Losing January 30th, 2008 by Robert Stein Two heavyweights, John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani, got out of the ring today and left behind different modes of fighting for the presidency and being beaten. Edwards, who began his campaign in New Orleans a year ago, ended it there and symbolically went to work building a house with Habitat for Humanity. He worked hard on the campaign trail, basing his claim to the nomination on an honorable Democratic tradition of fighting for the poor [...]
The quote, via Plutarch fromHerodotus, that Spartan women made was referring to the dishonor of their sons returning from battle merely injured and being carried home on their shield. I don't think they would have recognized the honor in returning to a multimillion dollar mansion in Chapel Hill with all those poor people that Sen. Edwards claimed to represent still poor. I think the fragment attributed to the poet and soldier Alcaeus is more apt.
I had a fine shield but I threw it away,
I know where I can get another one.
I fail to see how Giuliani's decision to endorse McCain makes him morally worse than Edwards.
Indeed, one could argue that Edwards' decision not to endorse either Obama or Clintonn is designed to give him the chance to be king (or queen) maker.
The approach of either Edwards or Giuliani is fine, I think, with no immorality or cynicism to be attributed to either.
Mark Daniels