Elizabeth Edwards

News that Elizabeth Edwards' cancer has returned, this time in a "treatable but incurable" invasion of her bones and one lung, gave me pause yesterday, all the more because she and her husband John firmly rededicated themselves to his campaign for the White House.

I've never believed that John Edwards will be elected president in 2008, for the sad--probably shameful--reason that he's too substantive in his politics and too shiny in his appearance. Edwards' positions ring too sincere, too true, too deeply rooted in solutions. In politics, there's something off putting about that.

Edwards '08 is the candidacy that says we're not going to play the back and forth games anymore. Like the way that the GOP opposes abortion but can never ban it. If abortion was banned, the argument would be over. The GOP needs legal abortion in America so it can valiantly oppose the immorality of it.

I don't get the feeling that Edwards is interested in playing politics with poverty or healthcare, two of his signature issues. He wants to provide solutions of the sort that would invariably be tweaked over the years, but which would inevitably solve a lot of problems for a lot of people. He's a policy guy, a solutions guy, and a true believer in the ability of sound government approaches to make life better for the people who live under that government.

And his sincerity doesn't just extend to these core policy beliefs. My admiration for the family that he and Elizabeth has built is unparalleled. They survived the death of a child and have thrived. Moreover, they never turned it into a weepy-eyed vote grabber in 2004, when he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination before being the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket. They are equal partners in an incredible journey that they have made together. It is warming and wrenching all at once to see the two of them side by side.

They are a stunning example of the very best of what America has to offer, and because of this, he will never be president. He's not tarnished enough, not tawdry enough, and not bendable enough to convince anyone and everyone that he'll do their bidding.

And in a nation held captive by the faux moralists of the family values crew, you'd think that the amazing resolve and love they demonstrated yesterday would be remarked upon by the sanctity of marriage crowd. All I see is radio silence from James Dobson and Tony Perkins. Hypocrites, both.

I don't know if John Edwards will ever be president, or how he would do if elected, but it seems like the man has already won life's lottery in spades. Even in this moment of uncertainty and fear, the strength of the love that he and Elizabeth share simply shines through all of it. They have more than any two people could ask for and they know it, so they run on, giving voice to the substantive issues that America should, but won't, address.