He's 99% Honest—Really!

Edwards falls short of any standard of truth-telling
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 12, 2008 11:41 AM CDT
He's 99% Honest—Really!
John Edwards leaves Town Hall Penn Center in St. Helena Island, S.C., after a campaign event in this Jan. 11, 2008, file photo.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Every sex scandal has a defining sound bite, and John Edwards’ declaration that “being 99% honest is no longer enough,” is destined for the hall of fame, writes Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post. The thing about honesty is that last percentage is a killer. Given the size of Edwards’ “1%,” it’s pretty hard to imagine he’s reached the 100% promised land now.

We’re to believe that Edwards is happy to take a paternity test, but that his mistress conveniently won’t? That his top money man paid her $15,000 and he knew nothing about it? After spending years telling us that character matters, while trotting out his mystifyingly supportive wife, Marcus finds it’s hard to believe Edwards is even capable of 99%. (More John Edwards stories.)

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