Exit John and Elizabeth -- Please

"Goodbye Mr. Edwards, and good luck in obscurity, if we are all lucky."

That was one reaction to Sunday's article in the Charlotte Observer on the federal investigation into whether any of John Edwards' presidential campaign money was used to keep his affair quiet. It seems a pretty common sentiment here in North Carolina.

Now, Elizabeth Edwards takes her story to Oprah Winfrey's audience. As the wince factor on the Edwards' saga has climbed into the stratosphere, the sympathy that most everyone had for Elizabeth Edwards has gone in the other direction – seriously.

No one knows what goes on in a relationship. So in her new book "Resilience," Elizabeth Edwards is going to tell us, even if we don't want to know.

At first observers understood the answer to the question: Why didn't she leave him? She's sick. She has young children. They need a dad, even a far from perfect one.

Time moves on, but John and Elizabeth have not. Their prolonged time in the spotlight is understandably raising questions, such as Bonnie's: what about young Frances, the little girl with the uncertain lineage?

When Strom Thurmond's black daughter – Essie Mae Washington-Williams – told her story, you could see and hear the young girl in the face and voice of the older woman, acknowledged at last. To those who said, "Well, at least Strom paid her some money over the years," I would ask, "Is that enough? Would that be enough for you?" It's only fair to give Frances some answers before she – as Melinda puts it – writes her own story.

When John Edwards, with the support of his wife, decided to continue his presidential quest, I defended the couple's decision. They should do whatever they want, I said in print and on television.

When Edwards played grown-up while Obama and Clinton drew blood in the tit-for-tat Myrtle Beach, S.C., debate between Democratic presidential hopefuls, I praised him.

When the scandal of the affair hit the headlines, I wrote that there were more important issues.

But it's getting ugly, there are children involved and it's time for everyone to heal – in private.