Non-partisan well wishes please

In the comments of the news story today that NDP leader Jack Layton is stepping aside to battle yet another round of cancer, I rolled my eyes while reading remarks like this: "I'm not a supporter of the NDP, but I wish Jack a speedy recovery." Seriously, was the first part of that sentence even necessary? Does anyone really care if you're not an NDP supporter in this context? It's as if they're embarrassed to be wishing someone well whose political agenda they don't agree with. I think the country will excuse your Conservative-ness or Liberal-ness while you put your partisanship aside to wish the guy well. Holy crap people.