By Lanny Davis
Former White House Counsel/FOX News Political Contributor

The following piece also appeared The Wall Street Journal on July 31.

Picking a vice president is obviously Barack Obama’s decision to make. He must be comfortable with who he picks. Comfort level between a president and vice president may be the most important factor of all.

So I can only offer my argument, based on some facts and subjective impressions, as to why I believe it would be in Sen. Obama’s personal and political interest to select Hillary Rodham Clinton as his vice presidential running mate. Not just to enhance his chances of winning—but, more importantly, to help him be a more effective president.

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By Father Jonathan Morris
FOX News Religion Contributor

This jumbo jet is en route to Damascus, the world’s oldest, continuously inhabited city. As I review the history of Syria and its surrounding lands, and compare it to that of my own Western and American homeland, I must once again recalibrate my reference points for what is old, complicated, beautiful, tragic, and sacred. Syria, of course, is the cradle of civilizations. It boasts Aramaic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influence.

It is the birthplace of the first alphabet, the Biblical land of Cana, Abraham’s “land which I will show you,” and Paul of Tarsus’ “road to Damascus.”

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By Betsy Newmark
High School History and Government Teacher/Blogger

It’s now been five days since the National Enquirer broke a story about John Edwards supposedly slipping into his girlfriend’s hotel room late at night while their purported love child was being watched in a hotel room down the hall. When he emerged and was confronted by National Enquirer reporters and photographers, he ran into a bathroom where he held off the reporters until a hotel security guard could come escort him out. Two days later, FOX News confirmed the story with the hotel guard. The story has appeared in several foreign newspapers and has been all over the Internet, but it just can’t seem to break through to the major news media. Not only has it not appeared in the print copies of any major newspapers or the network news, but shows on the news media aren’t even discussing why the MSM isn’t reporting this story.

What gives? There are several hypotheses out there.

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By James P. Pinkerton
Columnist and Writer, “The American Conservative”/FOX News Political Contributor

So there I was, watching TV coverage of presidential politics, staring right at the screen. Of course, there was news of John McCain’s faltering campaign, and of Barack Obama’s post-Europe-trip surge. The usual.

But then, something happened as I pressed my nose up against the screen. Strangely, the glass was beginning to melt away, just like a bright silvery mist.

And thereafter, nothing was ever the same…

As the TV news images flickered on, I saw a press conference: It was John Edwards announcing his declaration that he was going to withdraw from public life. He told a small band of supporters at a news conference in Raleigh, “The New York Times will now finally get its wish. From day one, The Times and other media, including The Washington Post and CBS News, have been out to get me. They never agreed with my politics, they never gave me a break.”

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By Ellen Ratner
Bureau Chief, Talk Radio News Service/FOX News Political Contributor

The press is mum about Senator Edwards being seen in a hotel where his rumored girlfriend was staying. Either there is no basis for the story, the mainstream press is currently doing their homework or press members identify with Elizabeth Edwards who has been treated for cancer and don’t want to focus on the story.

Assuming the story is true, I think it is a good time to look at some of best presidents and their extra-marital affairs: Roosevelt, JFK and Clinton are known to have had affairs. Others, including a couple of Republicans have certainly been under suspicion.

What does that tell us? Power is a great aphrodisiac but perhaps having a high sex drive might mean that you have the kind of people skills and energy to make a good politician and president. Perhaps Senator Edwards has that special knack.

By Tammy Bruce
Radio Talk Show Host/FOX News Political Contributor

Just a couple of days ago Ann Coulter chimed in about John Edwards’ Beverly Hills romp, referring to the philanderer-in-question as “faggy.” GLAAD, aka The Gay Gestapo, predictably blew a “we have no sense humor” gasket (not that anything else, oh, like the murder of gays by Islamist regimes, should be occupying their time). Ann, irreverently funny, is also slightly wrong. Edwards isn’t “faggy;” he’s a smarmy, disgusting, unfaithful metrosexual. I have a tiny feeling, though, they’re going to have trouble raising any “Coulter Cash” on that one.

Recent events centering around a morally superior politician’s adulterous affair and love child offer us an age-old reminder: those who claim to be better than everyone else, who point their arrogant, prideful finger away from themselves, want you to look away from what they’d rather not have you see–themselves. A timely reminder on both the establishment media and political fronts.

Last week a major American newspaper issued a censorship order for its bloggers related to the story of the John Edwards cheatfest at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and Barack Obama ended his liberally triumphant Obamessiah World Tour by shunning our wounded troops and apologizing for America’s actions.

With Edwards, The Los Angeles Times could learn a few things from The Hartford Courant.

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By Betsy Newmark
High School History and Government Teacher/Blogger

In an interview with George Stephanopolous yesterday, John McCain took a new stance on the Ward Connerly referendum that supporters have succeeded in getting on the Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska ballots this November. That referendum would ban race and gender preferences in university admissions and government hiring. As ABC reports, this is a switch from a position that McCain had taken a decade ago. Needless to say, Barack Obama opposes the referendum. It figures that the guy seen by some as deserving a preferential quota of his own in this election would oppose efforts to ban such preferences.

This could play out quite interestingly. While Arizona and Nebraska will probably be solidly for McCain, Colorado is shaping up to be the new Ohio of political swinginess. The Obama campaign has serious hopes of turning Colorado blue this fall. But this will throw an interesting kink into the campaign in Colorado. When the initiative has been allowed to appear on ballots in California, Washington, and Michigan, it has won with decisive majorities. People seem to like the idea of a color-blind society. Imagine that.

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By Lanny Davis
Former White House Counsel/FOX News Political Contributor

For the purpose of full disclosure, I must tell you that I am a liberal Democrat and a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Mr. Obama’s positions on the major issues are virtually identical to mine, and I believe he will make a fine president. His successful tour of Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe should answer many voters’ questions about whether Mr. Obama can act, talk and look like a president.

However, as I stated in my first column two weeks ago explaining the theme of “Purple Nation,” I believe this nation needs a vigorous and open debate on the issues between Mr. Obama and Sen. John McCain — between the liberal and conservative approaches to solving our problems — with no predetermination about who is correct but, rather, a chance to allow the American people to focus on the facts and solutions that work.

For that crucial debate to occur, there must be two presidential campaigns going on, not one. Unfortunately, I have seen, in effect, only one campaign so far: Mr. Obama’s.

Where is the “Straight Talk Express” John McCain of the 2000 campaign who won so many admirers across the political spectrum? Then, he was smiling and optimistic, sometimes taking on his party establishment, always voter friendly. In the following years, he courageously defended comprehensive immigration reform, rejecting the xenophobic and demagogic voices on his far right; challenged his Republican colleagues in Congress to stop feeding at the trough of hidden earmarks and bridges to nowhere; and worked with Democrats, when necessary, to get things done with minimal partisan posturing.

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By Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist/FOX News Political Contributor

My first reaction is how sad…for his wife, for his children and for himself and his reputation. After bravely posing with his wife, Elizabeth — herself a tower of strength as she deals with breast cancer — we learn of these shocking allegations.

If they are true, it is a personal tragedy for all concerned, including the baby, who has a right to a father in a stable marital relationship.

But the story and reaction to it is the payment hypocrisy makes to virtue. If there is no God who sets the boundaries for human behavior and we are all evolutionary accidents subject to nothing but our lowest nature, then why shouldn’t he do what he wants, when he wants and with whom he wishes?

And look at what we flaunt in culture. See what attracts our attention. Culture not only gives permission, it also encourages such behavior. As C.S. Lewis wrote: “We laugh at honor and are surprised to find traitors in our midst.”

If true, Edwards is a traitor to his wife, his children and to all of those voters who once placed their faith and trust in him.

By Betsy Newmark
High School History and Government Teacher/Blogger

Ed Morrissey highlights this bit of Chris Matthews on Jay Leno.

I hope for one thing when people go to vote: that they look at Barack’s background, that they look at the age of the two candidates, that they look at their abilities and really open up their hearts and say “what’s really good for my kids,” who don’t have any color awareness.
Kids don’t think about race.
Think like your kids for once.
Think the way they think.
It would be great if the older people in the country, the 70 year olds, the 80 year olds who are suspicious of change to say, “you know, why don’t I think the way my kids are thinking and think about the future.”
Whatever they decide, just open up your heart to this prospect of something different.
That’s what I hope we do.

Of course, as Morrissey points out, what Matthews is really saying is that he wants us to vote for Obama because he is half-black. He’s saying that people shouldn’t care about race and they should just vote for Obama because he’s so clearly better qualified. But how is he better qualified? That is continually unclear except that he does better than John McCain at sending shivers up Matthews’ leg.

But isn’t voting for someone because he’s black demonstrating that race is the most important characteristic to you?

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