"Why do we find John Edwards so particularly loathsome?"
Why, indeed? And, by the way... who's "we"? You got worms in your pockets?
There are a number of underlying issues in the Edwards case... but first and foremost, the reason the Left and the Democrats HATE the guy and most of us that do not identify ourselves in those groups do not is simply this:
John Edwards had a baby instead of having an abortion.
That's it. No more, no less. It is the same problem that Arnold is having.
Most men (and women) cheat at some point in their lives... and, for better or worse, they tend to cheat at the point of their greatest appeal - wealth, fame, position - because "men are as faithful as their options" said Chris Rock - and their options increase exponentially at these times in their lives.
We are forever hearing of politicians sexual indiscretions - but only 2 of these sexual affairs, out of THOUSANDS, resulted in a pregnancy? NAFC!!! The OTHER affairs resulted in pregnancies, only instead of doing the RIGHT THING those scum bags killed their unborn child for CONVENIENCE. Arnold and Edwards and their lovers brought those children into the world. In the era before technology this was the NORM. Now it is normal to end a child's life to save face.
These children, Arnold's and Edward's, were meant to be! And Oprah & Co. doesn't like it.
And that's the way it is...