John Edwards Affair/Love Child

[Anonymous]

Will this story ever really break? Apparently he was busted last week, unfortunately by the National Enquirer, entering a hotel where Rielle Hunter was staying with her/their child. The story was then confirmed - again unfortunately by Fox - through a hotel security guard. It seems like it has legs but nobody is touching it. Is it because cheating on your dying wife is so abhorent?

[Anonymous]

Or maybe because he is a private person and its no ones business but his spouse. This would be totally different if he were still a presidential candidate.

[Anonymous]

Well, it's a shame because I think he would have made a good vice president. And I think it certainly IS newsworthy because Elizabeth was basically his mouthpiece just a few months ago when he was running for president.

It's very sad - enough to make you sort of lose your faith in people. I always thought he was a decent man and husband. I won't even get into the cancer issue.

[Anonymous]

Oh this is sooooo disappointing. I really admired the man.

[jsteele]

I was skeptical of the Edwards love child story when the Enquirer was first pushing it back in December. There is another man who is claiming to be the father of the child. The follow-up still has some holes in it.

The major media outlets are likely avoiding it because it comes from the National Enquirer, which has reported any number of outlandish stories (for instance, it has repeatedly reported that George and Laura are on the verge of divorce -- another story the majors haven't picked up). While Fox claims to have confirmed the story, I am taking their confirmation with a grain of salt at the moment. For instance, their story says, "Edwards did not say anything while he was escorted out, said the guard, adding that at times the reporters on the scene were "rough on him," sticking a camera in his face and shouting questions." If there was a camera in his face, why have we not seen any pictures from that night?

As for the point about cheating on a dying wife, I believe Newt Gingrich cheated on his first wife while she was being treated for cancer and actually delivered the divorce papers to her while she was in the hospital. McCain's first wife, while not dying, was permanently disfigured when he cheated on her. So, apparently this behavior is not abhorrent enough to get you to the upper tiers of the Republican party. If the Enquirer story turns out to be accurate, Edwards may have to change parties to further his ambitions.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I was skeptical of the Edwards love child story when the Enquirer was first pushing it back in December. There is another man who is claiming to be the father of the child. The follow-up still has some holes in it.

The major media outlets are likely avoiding it because it comes from the National Enquirer, which has reported any number of outlandish stories (for instance, it has repeatedly reported that George and Laura are on the verge of divorce -- another story the majors haven't picked up). While Fox claims to have confirmed the story, I am taking their confirmation with a grain of salt at the moment. For instance, their story says, "Edwards did not say anything while he was escorted out, said the guard, adding that at times the reporters on the scene were "rough on him," sticking a camera in his face and shouting questions." If there was a camera in his face, why have we not seen any pictures from that night?

As for the point about cheating on a dying wife, I believe Newt Gingrich cheated on his first wife while she was being treated for cancer and actually delivered the divorce papers to her while she was in the hospital. McCain's first wife, while not dying, was permanently disfigured when he cheated on her. So, apparently this behavior is not abhorrent enough to get you to the upper tiers of the Republican party. If the Enquirer story turns out to be accurate, Edwards may have to change parties to further his ambitions.

I agree with everything you said, but in the meantime it does knock him out of the running for VP, don't you think?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I agree with everything you said, but in the meantime it does knock him out of the running for VP, don't you think?

Probably, unless Edwards can come up with ironclad proof the story is wrong. For the truly conspiracy-minded, the Enquirer is owned by a Clinton supporter. Maybe this was an attempt to further her VP ambitions? That may be even beyond the conspiracies I'm willing to accept.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree with everything you said, but in the meantime it does knock him out of the running for VP, don't you think?

Probably, unless Edwards can come up with ironclad proof the story is wrong. For the truly conspiracy-minded, the Enquirer is owned by a Clinton supporter. Maybe this was an attempt to further her VP ambitions? That may be even beyond the conspiracies I'm willing to accept.

It's too bad, either way....

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I was skeptical of the Edwards love child story when the Enquirer was first pushing it back in December. There is another man who is claiming to be the father of the child. The follow-up still has some holes in it.

The major media outlets are likely avoiding it because it comes from the National Enquirer, which has reported any number of outlandish stories (for instance, it has repeatedly reported that George and Laura are on the verge of divorce -- another story the majors haven't picked up). While Fox claims to have confirmed the story, I am taking their confirmation with a grain of salt at the moment. For instance, their story says, "Edwards did not say anything while he was escorted out, said the guard, adding that at times the reporters on the scene were "rough on him," sticking a camera in his face and shouting questions." If there was a camera in his face, why have we not seen any pictures from that night?

As for the point about cheating on a dying wife, I believe Newt Gingrich cheated on his first wife while she was being treated for cancer and actually delivered the divorce papers to her while she was in the hospital. McCain's first wife, while not dying, was permanently disfigured when he cheated on her. So, apparently this behavior is not abhorrent enough to get you to the upper tiers of the Republican party. If the Enquirer story turns out to be accurate, Edwards may have to change parties to further his ambitions.

If Republican men could get pregnant-there would be as many abortion clinics as 7-11s.

[Anonymous]

The Europeans are all over this story, not surprising. They love their gossip over there especially when it's juicy and comes with pictures.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I agree with everything you said, but in the meantime it does knock him out of the running for VP, don't you think?

Probably, unless Edwards can come up with ironclad proof the story is wrong. For the truly conspiracy-minded, the Enquirer is owned by a Clinton supporter. Maybe this was an attempt to further her VP ambitions? That may be even beyond the conspiracies I'm willing to accept.

While I agree that Edwards can "prove" that he is not the father of the child with a simple DNA test, how exactly does he come up with "ironclad" evidence that she did not have an affair with the mother. I think the rumor is enought to take him off the VP short list - I cannot see an scenario under which Obama picks him.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
While I agree that Edwards can "prove" that he is not the father of the child with a simple DNA test, how exactly does he come up with "ironclad" evidence that she did not have an affair with the mother. I think the rumor is enought to take him off the VP short list - I cannot see an scenario under which Obama picks him.

I'm thinking more along the lines of is proving that either he or the woman were not actually at the hotel that night. Or, coming up was a very persuasive excuse for why they were both there. Obviously, you can't prove a negative so he can't prove they've never had an affair. Unless the Europeans are seeing photos I'm not, I have yet to see any photographic evidence to support the story.

[Rich]

A quick Google got me this quote: "Recent statistics suggest that 40% of women (and that number is increasing) and 60% of men at one point indulge in extramarital affairs". Although it is widely thought that Edwards would not necessarily carry NC, if he could swing a significant percentage of the infidelity vote, he might be the best choice for VP. His supposed mistress, Rielle Hunter, used to be Jay McInerney's girlfriend (then called Lisa Druck); perhaps the literary crowd would also be attracted. GQ (giggling quietly)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Europeans are all over this story, not surprising. They love their gossip over there especially when it's juicy and comes with pictures.

The Europeans or the British?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Europeans are all over this story, not surprising. They love their gossip over there especially when it's juicy and comes with pictures.

The Europeans or the British. Continental Europeans don't seem to care about this sort of thing as much as the tight-lipped Brits.