I just gotta add in my 2 cents. When JE was running for president and made the statement (not verbatim) - I don't want anyone to vote for me because my wife has cancer, I don't want any sympathy votes.
My hubs looks at me, rolls his eyes, and says, "what a flake".
It was obvious that was looking for the sympathy vote. Then, of course, the spiff hit the fan.