Like many Americans, I was both shocked and disappointed to hear about the John Edwards sex scandal. I had just met Edwards in 2005 and admired his efforts to address some of our nation's most urgent concerns, particularly poverty and the broken healthcare system. As I was watching the CNN headlines on Edwards, I experienced a momentary déjà vu, recalling my sentiments a couple years back when Clinton also admitted to having extramarital affairs. I also had and continue to have deep respect for the former president.

While there is certainly no excuse for infidelity, in both the Edwards and Clinton cases, I did have to ask myself, why does this matter to me?

Cathy Renna over at Bilerico Project has a post about the work GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and others did to keep the Catholic Church from blaming the child abuse scandal on gay priests. That work paid off, among other places, in the Pope's talking points yesterday.