Aug 08 2008
Edwards acknowledges affair
I think there is one person we can safely scratch off the list of potential speakers at the Democratic National Convention this year…
Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential Candidate
John EdwardsJohn Edwards repeatedly lied during his Presidential campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker, the former Senator admitted to ABC News today.
In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he did not love her.
Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter’s baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test.
Edwards said he knew he was not the father based on timing of the baby’s birth on February 27, 2008. He said his affair ended too soon for him to have been the father.
A former campaign aide, Andrew Young, has said he was the father of the child.
According to friends of Hunter, Edwards met her at a New York city bar in 2006. His political action committee later paid her $114,000 to produce campaign website documentaries despite her lack of experience.
Edwards said the affair began during the campaign after she was hired. Hunter traveled with Edwards around the country and to Africa.
Edwards said he told his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family about the affair in 2006.
It’s a shame, really. I kind of liked the guy. You know the right is having a field day with this. While I in no way condone the actions of Senator Edwards, I’ll close by saying let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Elizabeth and John Edwards
See: “Statements from John and Elizabeth Edwards.”
15 Responses to “Edwards acknowledges affair”
The real story here is how the media covered for Edwards and refused to investigate this story. The press undoubted knew, or strongly suspected, that he was lying yet they declined to pursue the allegations. The LA Times is especially open for ridicule on that score.
That glee you’re seeing from the right isn’t due to Edwards’ having had an affair. Like you said, he who is without sin should cast the first stone on that regard. The glee is at the exposure of the blatant hypocrisy of the press in the face of overwhelming evidence of his affair.
Why is everyone acting surprised about this? I thought cheating, fornication and lying were all prerequisites to become a democrat.
@Chris : Kind of makes you wonder how many more there are out there, on both sides of the aisle, doesn’t it?
@James : Yep. The Republicans are just squeaky clean, aren’t they? Come on, James, I expected better than that… Even from you.
he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Bwahahahaha!
Leftists are such weak-asses. Your boy is scum. Take your medicine.
@Warden : Wanna get down in the mud? Okay. Your “boy” … the one you are actually going to nominate … was screwing the rich heiress who would become his second wife (and finance his political career) while he was still married to his first wife… the woman who raised his kids while he was passing time in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.
Now go away. If you can’t display at least a modicum of intelligence and decency I am not interested in you.
This is bad, IMO, everbody cheats and lies.
John Edwards is unlucky to be a public figure.
not surprised, he’s a lawyer and a career politician,
he’s just Meeting the Standard that they have set for themselves
Yes, it’s true we’re all sinners and we shouldn’t throw stones (meaning we don’t go killing someone for their sins). But to excuse someone’s behavior because he seems like a good guy… well obviously he’s NOT a good guy. He had sex with her but he doesn’t love her? Oh well now THAT makes it better… NOT. You could almost forgive him if he was in love with her. As it stands, he’s just a pig. yay!
I’m non-political. I do not care about the left and right or up and down. I’m just disgusted at the human race and their acceptance of disgusting things.
All I can say is “damn”
Because I was still hoping for an Obama-Edwards ticket.
Why can’t men keep their zippers up?
No really I want to know?
I mean, if you’re so freakin horny you can’t see straight, get some baby oil and an adult magazine and have a go at it in some private time.
I’m a man, and cannot imagine cheating on my spouse. Of course, I’m no longer in a relationship because the X didn’t feel the same way…. but for a public figure - to me, that is inexcusable.
Damn.
I’m without sin- never cheated on anyone- so I’ll cast the stone. The guy is a real jerk, cheating on his ailing wife and kids. Character matters. It is not weak or “sinful” s=to stand up for what is clearly right or wrong. Edwards is wrong. People are right to stand up against this.
Great comment, Mo.
@Cato :
Interesting. If true, you’re the only one on the planet. Why haven’t you been raptured already?
If that’s true, the Republicans certainly will not be nominating John McCain this year.
The media broke the story once they could prove it, which is what media is supposed to do. This sad lack of character and apparently broken moral compass is a disease that knows no party lines.
Men who wish to govern the matters of this nation must grow up and be responsible “MEN” of character and integrity, not little boys behaving badly.
Men who subject their families to such humiliation are too selfish to have true concern for people they haven’t even met in person!
Do we really want them making decisions that determine our future? I say (emphatically) - NO.
Typical. Nothing shocks me anymore. It wouldn’t even surprise me if something like this came out on Obama, who I like and admire. All politicians are egomaniacs and think they can get away with anything. I doubt it will ever change.
I’ve had some time to think about this now.
Timing is everything. This, unfortunately, had to come out before the DNC convention, or there would be die-hard Edwards supporters like me wondering why Obama didn’t pick him for the VP slot.
I guess I’m just glad that Edwards was not arrested doing a toe-tap in a public restroom or indicted for embezzling funds ear-marked for his state.
Still, I’m saddened and disheartened by the actions of someone I admired.
It’s not the cheating on his wife that matters, none of our business. With you on this Len.
Edwards ran for President, and asked thousands of people to donate their time and money to help, KNOWING ahead of time there was an excellent chance it would blow up in all their faces.
Suppose he had won the nomination, or VP??? If he had, he would have just pulled the rug out from under the very sincere dreams of the entire Democratic Party, half the friggin country.
Edwards lied to and cheated on half the country, that’s the story here.
If you haven’t lied to and cheated half the country, throw all the stones you want.