What Happened to Character?

Last week 20/20 aired a one hour program interviewing Andrew Young, a trusted Aide to former North Carolina Senator and presidential candidate, John Edwards.It was a sad example of betrayal of trust I have seen on TV recently. The fact that it was not fantasy but reality TV, frightens me.

John Edwards is a flawed man, no question about it. He had an affair with a woman on his staff, Rielle Hunter and fathered her child. He was hormone driven and stupid when he did that, but he was a coward when he tried to hide it from his ailing wife, Elizabeth and the public. He went out of his way to orchestrate an elaborate hoax to hide the affair and the pregnancy from the public.

Enter Andrew Young and his wife. Andrew Young was star-struck by the young Senator that he went to work for him and became his most trusted aide. He was Edwards' alter ego for many years. He knew everything about John Edwards. That information was gathered in the context of a trusted relationship. To turn around and share that information with the public, both in print and on TV is just disgusting. If Andrew Young had any sliver of character left in him, he would not have dished dirty secrets about his boss to the public.

Andrew Young and his wife co-operated with John Edwards and his minions to perpetuate a lie on the public. He took money from them for that favor. Mr. Young and his wife lived in style in exotic locations carrying the 'baggage' of Edwards' sin for nine months. And when things did not work out for him the way he expected, he turned on his boss.

I am not excusing John Edwards for his lying and his cowardice, but I am chastising Andrew Young for his betrayal and hypocrisy.

Character is defined as "behaving in accordance with one's values, regardless of the circumstances." Andrew Young showed no character when he wrote the book about John Edwards and dished the dirt in public.

I don't see any redeeming value in sharing this information with the public at this time, except financial gain for Andrew Young. There is a Zen principle that before we speak, we should ask three questions: Is it true, is it necessary and is it kind?

What Andrew Young is saying may be true, but it is neither necessary nor kind.