The Edwards family announcement today was indeed touching, and inspiring, and challenging, and all those silver lining things that come out of earnest discussions of family illness. Both Obama and Clinton’s responses were certainly heartfelt, especially the charming pictures of Elizabeth they each prominently posted to their campaign websites earlier this afternoon.

I’m trying not to be cynical, Barack, I really am. You’re teaching me. But I can’t for the life of me figure out why Edwards really had to call a prominent press conference in order to make an announcement about his wife’s continuing struggles with cancer. We’ve all faced illness in family, a difficult and trying time and one which warrants support and prayer. But this situation doesn’t call for a press conference; your PR folks should be as far away from these personal matters as humanly possible. I could see a press release, yes, a couple of public statements at previously-scheduled events. Certainly you don’t want this type of situation to be drawn out into the political rumor mill. But a well-hyped press conference? It’s unnerving.

To echo Andrew Sullivan, Elizabeth Edwards is a pretty remarkable person, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family. But I don’t want to see someone’s illness deliberately turned into a publicity gathering media circus, and no matter how much I try to curb my cynicism (I’m trying, Barack, I want to, I want to) I can’t help but feel as if this afternoon’s press conference was really nothing more.