Testy Elizabeth Edwards

The headline over staff writer Anne Blythe's story in today's paper, on 1B, read: "Edwards stays in public eye, guards her privacy."

Elizabeth Edwards was at UNC on Wednesday talking about her book. When Blythe wanted to ask her questions about the 800-pound gorilla in the room -- her husband's mistress going to the grand jury, the possibility that her husband John would be tested for paternity of the mistress's child, etc., etc. -- Edwards didn't want to talk. In Blythe's words, she got "testy."

She said: "Attention to things like this as opposd to the serious issues is one of the things that contributes to the dumbing down."

What are we supposed to do?

Absent John Edwards' globally notorious affair, absent the grand jury investigation into his campaign spending, the narrative would be exclusively about a courageous Elizabeth Edwards as she battles cancer. She has done some remarkable things. She is writing books and opening a furniture store and making public appearances despite her illness.

Here's her problem. Elizabeth Edwards is famous not because she has been an accomplished lawyer, a terrific mom, a writer of books and extraordinarily courageous in the face of a deadly disease. She is famous because her husband ran for president. And she may be more famous because of her husband's romp with That Woman. Her husband's national ambitions put her in the spotlight and his extracurricular activities have kept her there.

She now wants to continue being in the spotlight, but she wants to control where it shines. And she gets peeved when she can't control it.

Frankly, I'm OK that she got testy. I kind of like Elizabeth Edwards because she seems to show her real self. I'm not wild about political spouses, who, when their husbands' bimbo eruptions make headlines, smile through clenched teeth and talk about how this has all "made our marriage stronger."

Who wouldn't be testy? You feel awful and you have to deal with your husband's scandalous behavior. You still have things you want to accomplish, but these questions keep coming to step all over your message. (Although she poured a little gasoline on the fire the other day when she said on Larry King that she expected John to take a paternity test at some point.)

I sure couldn't handle it the way she's been handling it. If I were talking to her, I'd say, it's OK to show your displeasure in public when asked about scandalous matters. The reporters have to ask about it; it's their job. Your husband is the one who bears the major responsibility here for the dumbing down of the public dialogue. Anne Blythe had to point to the gorilla and ask: "What about that big hairy creature?" It's fine if you want to say, "Just ignore it." Do it testy, for all anyone cares. You're entitled.