Politics is so canned, predictable, and sound-byte driven these days that when you see a human moment - perhaps especially a tragic one - it stands out in a fairly significant way. Watching John and Elizabeth Edwards discuss news that her cancer has returned and that they'd continue his campaign together was one of those moments, and I thought they handled it with remarkable grace given the circumstances.

It's easy to fall into the cynical trap of the parlor game, speculating about all of the various ways this might impact his presidential campaign. But first remember this is a family that has already been through an unfathomable tragedy as well as a previous struggle with cancer. Remember too that Elizabeth Edwards is a mother of two small children who's just been diagnosed with an illness that may not allow her to live long enough to see them graduate high school or college. It's heart wrenching.

At the National Press Club last year, someone asked Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter about his bout with Hodgkins and what advice he'd give to others who've been diagnosed with cancer. He said he'd tell people, if I may paraphrase, to just keep doing what they've always done, keep marching ahead toward their goals and pursuing their passions every single day.

The Edwards's have decided to do just that. Good for them.

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