I was just reading this piece at Slade, by Christopher Beam, indicating that the

Edwards Effect may not be as damaging to Obama and the Democrats as many

are speculating this weekend, and in fact may hurt McCain the most.

Democrats can’t be pleased with John Edwards’ confession that he had an affair

with Rielle Hunter. It tarnishes the Democratic brand just as they’re gearing up

for their quadrennial coming-out party, and the only thing more conspicuous than

Edwards’ presence will be his absence. And Edwards could have a Mark Foley-like

trickle-down effect in down-ballot races, where negative/positive party

associations matter most.

But the news is not all bad for Democrats. First, Obama is pretty much soaked in

Teflon when it comes to family matters. Second, it could be a lot worse: What if

Edwards had actually won the nomination? And third, it introduces marital infidelity

back into the conversation.

Recall: John McCain returned to the United States from Vietnam in March 1973.

His wife, Carol, had been in a near-fatal car accident while he was gone. She

was overweight, on crutches, and 4 inches shorter than when McCain had left.

McCain ended up divorcing Carol for Cindy Hensley, his current wife. Carol has

remained mostly silent on her marriage to John, except for one notable comment

to a McCain biographer: "John was turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again."

There were legal complications, too. The Los Angeles Times reported in June that

McCain obtained a marriage license while still legally married to his first wife.

McCain suggested in his autobiography that he divorced Carol months before marrying

Cindy. In fact, that period was about five weeks. He also said that for the first nine

months of his relationship with Cindy, he still "cohabited" with Carol. Social

conservatives were never McCain’s base, but yes, it could get worse.

For the most part, the media have politely skirted around this episode of McCain’s

life. (Not to mention other unflattering moments.) For one thing, it’s long past. McCain

has since developed a reputation for credibility and transparency.

(Post-Keating Five, that is.) And, unlike Edwards, he told the truth about his deviance.

"My marriage's collapse was attributable to my own selfishness and immaturity," McCain

wrote in his autobiography. "The blame was entirely mine."

But with Edwards’ infidelity front and center, that could change. In recent weeks,

McCain’s ads have taken a turn for the personal, comparing Obama to vapid celebrities

like Paris and Britney. Now Obama is coming under increasing pressure to retaliate. The

Obama camp has never publicly raised McCain’s marital issues, nor would it. But insinuation,

coupled with euphemisms about "trust" and "commitment," can go a long way. In an

environment filled with personal attacks on both sides, you can bet McCain’s past will become

fair game. The Edwards news even gives McCain’s detractors a convenient pretext to raise

the subject. So you heard about Edwards ditching his sick wife? Wait till you get a load

Seems there may be a "silver" lining to this story for some, who want to cut McCain "off at the knees".