The Politician: A Book Review

THE POLITICIAN

By Andrew Young

I read The Politician so you don't have to. I hope you appreciate it.

This is the amazing story of the rise and fall of John Edwards from someone who was with him at virtually every step on the way up and then on the way down. You may have heard that Edwards had an affair with a blowzy blond, got her pregnant and then spent the 2008 presidential campaign hiding her from the press (most of which happily looked the other way). That's a big part of this book, but only in the second half. There's also plenty of information about Edwards' meteoric rise to power (his Senate run was his first campaign), his lightning-in-a-bottle 2004 presidential campaign, and subsequent 2004 vice presidential run. There's also plenty of info about the Edwards' genuine family tragedy, the death of one of their kids, which the Edwards never really recovered from, and which inspired his political career.

Of course, the real action starts when Rielle Hunter hits the scene about half way through the book. If Edwards had simply had a one-night stand with her, I'm sure she would remain obscure and Edwards may have become Attorney General. But, Edwards actively pursued the relationship and - at least as it appears through Young's eyes - had a real love affair with Hunter. It wasn't even that big a secret. One of the most amazing moments the book comes when Edwards brings Hunter back to his house (his wife was on a book tour) where she spent the night, hung out with two of Edwards' kids(!), hung out with some of Edwards' friends, and (apparently)had hot sexxx in Edwards' marital bed. There's also a dramatic moment (also early in their relationship) when Rielle and Elizabeth run into each other at a fund raiser. I actually gasped when this happened.

Some might say Edwards was reckless. I say he just didn't give a hoot. His relationship with Hunter began after his wife's cancer diagnosis. While many people might be put off by this, the fact is that there are plenty of middle aged men out there who check out of their marriage vows after their wife receives cancer (or any terminal disease) diagnosis. What Edwards did was unique in the history of recent political sex scandals, but is not unique in the war between the sexes. That's not to excuse his behavior - and getting his girlfriend pregnant was monumentally stupid - only to say that there are a lot of people who have followed this path.

In addition to chronicling the Rielle-Edwards relationship, Young also gives us a glance into high level Democratic politics. This is actually the most interesting part of the book precisely because it is so inadvertent. Young, through Edwards, is able to sit in the room with high rolling Democratic donors (like Hootie and the Blowfish!) whom guys like Edwards tap to fund their careers. The vast wealth Edwards is exposed to should put the lie to the notion that Dems are some sort of Party of the Common Man. In fact, they are the party of what even Edwards calls the "really rich." (before meeting a donor, Edwards would ask "Are they rich like me, or really rich?")

For a political book, there is surprisingly little politics. Oh, there's plenty of talk about strategy and tactics, but there's little about policy. Young, for his part, is politically shallow; he's one of those guys who thinks we need universal health care because his daughter had to wait a couple hours for a procedure. He also whines about George Bush's tax cuts for "millionaires," which "squandered the surplus." Young had obviously been watching too much Crossfire. There's a lot of talk about Edwards' "two Americas" speech, but we never know what he plans to do once in office. He and Young spend a lot of time on the road together, but there is a notable lack of spitballing solutions to the problems that Edwards claims to see in American society.

The most bizarre part of the book is, of course, the months that Young and his family spent on the lam with the pregnant Rielle. They stayed in a revolving series of luxury resorts before landing in Santa Barbara where little Quinn (b/c she's Edwards' fifth child. What, you thought Rielle was stupid?) was born. The trip was bankrolled by Edwards' lawyer buddies who were funneling money from "Bunny" Mellon, a billionaire dowager who gave Edwards six million dollars for his campaign.

As Mellon was 95 years old and much of this money ended up with Rielle, I think you could make a very good case for fraud and elder abuse against Edwards and his cohorts, not to mention campaign finance violations. I mean, how is it OK that someone gives John Edwards six million dollars for his presidential run, which he uses to bankroll his mistress, while Sarah Palin is saving receipts from Neiman Marcus (and still gets accused of "stealing" from the GOP campaign)? Oh, wait, I forgot. Edwards is a Democrat and Palin's a Republican. 'Nuff said.

The portrait of Edwards that emerges is, of course, unflattering. But, the people who should really be embarrassed are all of those left-liberals who bought his act and thought he was some kind of noble progressive. Edwards had four things going for him: he was rich; he was good looking; he had a great (for a liberal) stump speech; and he was from the South. That's it. Before he entered the Senate he had no political career to speak of. Four years later he was on the 2004 presidential ticket. If it seemed too good to be true, it probably was; but everyone wanted to believe that he was the latest good looking liberal politician to come out of nowhere and win the presidency. There is no sign whatsoever in any part of this book as to what kind of president he would have been (besides a philandering one). All of those sophisticated leftists who donated money to Edwards, volunteered for him, - and then convinced themselves that these crazy stories about a pregnant mistress hiding out in Santa Barbara were not true - should be doubly embarrassed, but they were able to drown their sorrows in Barack Obama, so it's all good.

Edwards and his few remaining supporters have declared this book to be trash. It is in that it describes a lot of trashy behavior by everyone in the Edwards camp, including Young and St. Elizabeth. But, it's also a fascinating portrait of how someone can rise in American politics, and how quickly they can fall.