JOHN EDWARDS, the one-term senator from South Carolina announced his candidacy for president over the holiday. On Sunday he appeared with his wife ELIZABETH on THIS WEEK, and when asked about gay marriage, an issue he has had some trouble with in the past, he blew any chance of gaining support from supporters of the movement.

He was asked about being booed in New Hampshire about the issue, a fact he initially denied, conceding later he might not have heard the jeers. Recall during the Vice President's debate when the question came up he gave some rambling answer about DICK CHENEY'S love for his daughter, completely avoiding the issue and creating an uncomfortable moment with little positive impact for EDWARDS.

Sunday he was asked why this is the single most difficult issue for him:

EDWARDS: "Because I'm 53 years old. I grew up in a small town in the rural south. I was raised in the southern Baptist church. And so I have a belief system that arises from that. It's part of who I am. I can't make it disappear. And what I said when I was asked about this in Portsmouth, New Hampshire//

JOHN EDWARDS (in New Hampshire: I personally feel great conflict about that. I don't know the answer, I wish I did. I think from my perspective it's very easy for me to say civil unions, yes, partnership benefits yes, but it is something that I struggle with.]Do I believe they should have the right to marry? I'm just not there yet, me, I'm not there yet.

STEPHANOPOLOUS: Are you?

ELIZABETH EDWARDS: Well, it's not particularly important whether I am, but I guess I come from a more eclectic background and so it's less problematic, I think, probably for me. But I think both sides of this argument understand the desire for equality and equal treatment. I don't think there is anybody who is for or against it who doesn't understand it and I don't think there's anybody who is for or against it who doesn't understand the trouble people have, because it just seems something that they've not been around.

Of course, they haven't, because we haven't had it in this country.

JOHN EDWARDS (in New Hampshire): My daughter who is 24 and goes to school in Cambridge --- her generation and all of her friends believe this issue will completely disappear with their generation.]

ELAZABETH EDWARDS: And I have to say she's talked to children on both sides of the aisle who are her age, the children of our senators and politicians on both sides of the aisle and people who are her age, regardless of the political affiliation of their parents, all believe exactly the same thing. This issue will not exist when they are the people who are sitting in these seats.

STEPHANOPOLOUS: So you can imagine changing your mind, but you're not there.

EDWARDS: I'm not there."

Somebody please tell the ex one-term senator with limited to nill foreign policy experience, and no public service in the military, that running for president requires more than just great hair.

He'll never be there.

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SCOTT McCLELLAN came to Los Angeles on June 16th, 2008 with his book tour for “WHAT HAPPENED” insisting his goal for writing the book was to restore candor to the political process in Washington D.C. He relayed his life in the political spotlight, born into it as he tells it, as his mom was elected to political office when he was 4.

McCLELLAN would have us believe he was “taught the importance of speaking up and being involved, doing what is right to make a difference.” Yet his actions in his years as Press Secretary for the President would certainly belie that upbringing. As one who watched many of his sessions with the media, the same media that is now somehow to blame for not more aggressively challenging the lies and deceptions perpetrated by the BUSH administration(and Mr. McCLELLAN), it was not a candid do-gooder who spoke up about the obvious nonsense he was channeling to the press. He was constantly on the ropes, in large part because the chum he was shoveling in the Press Room was incomprehensible. Yet he continued to shovel every last bit of it, many times to laughs and open disbelief.

Where was the “do the right thing”, “make a difference” SCOTT then?

But anyway, you’ve seen him do the rounds. Here’s another shot, with some fine citizen journalists doing the questioning. You be the judge. If only the book really answered the question.

Many thanks to John at BARNES & NOBLE on the 3rd Street Promenade. As you can see, it is so much more than a bookstore. It is a real community service and an invaluable asset.