John Edwards Admits to Affair with Rielle Hunter

The National Enquirer was right. Who would have known? Former North Carolina Senator and 2008 presidential hopeful John Edwards actually was having an affair with film-maker Rielle Hunter, but it occurred in 2006. But what many do not realize is that the National Enquirer and other tabloids actually do have investigative journalists who take their jobs seriously, sometimes breaking very newsworthy stories. Salacious material like the Edwards affair is their stock-in-trade, so...

The Breaking Story About The John Edwards Affair

John Edwards told ABC News that he had lied repeatedly about the affair during the campaign. He says it was a serious error in judgment. He also says that the child Rielle Hunter had is not his, National Enquirer assumptions notwithstanding. Edwards says he has informed his wife, Elizabeth, and has asked her forgiveness.

The National Enquirer first broke the story in October, just before the primary season began. Edwards, who was running for the Democratic nomination for president at the time, denied the allegations as "tabloid trash." In fact, he denied it as late as last month, when the National Enquirer printed a story that said they had caught Edwards sneaking into and out of a hotel in Los Angeles where Rielle Hunter was staying under an assumed name. Later corroboration by a security guard of the hotel who helped Edwards leave only added fuel to the growing fire.

What Does The John Edwards Affair Mean For The Democratic Party?

Scandals are nothing new in political circles. Sex scandals and financial scandals usually lead the list. The John Edwards affair will damage the Democratic Party insomuch as John Edwards is a Democrat. But overall, Edwards has become a political maverick, a liberal that the party can distance itself from. Not being a sitting Washington politician also means that the scandal will not affect ongoing policy or legislation.

It seems to affect John Edwards the man far worse than John Edwards the politician. It certainly destroys his chances for a vice presidential nod. It may effectively deny him a place in Barack Obama's cabinet (should Obama win the election in November), where there had been talk of a position as Attorney General. Any future running for public office will be adversely affected by this development as well.

But the Democratic Party should be able to weather this certain-to-be media firestorm without a problem

Of course, Republicans are surely going to use the news to taint everything Democratic with the news. For those easily distracted by such political non-issues, that particular political tactic may work. For the more politically discerning, it will simply be just another politician who had an affair who happens to be a Democrat.

What Does The John Edwards Affair Mean For Barack Obama?

As for the Barack Obama campaign for president, the John Edwards affair should matter little. It means about the same for Senator Obama as it does for the Democratic Party in general -- almost nothing. Edwards was almost certainly not still in the running for the vice president slot. Of course, Senator Obama might have to look around for another Attorney General, but, then again, he might not. That will depend on the fallout from the scandal (and if Senator Obama is elected president).

But John Edwards affair has nothing to do with Barack Obama, so, outside of the fact that they are fellow Democrats and John Edwards has endorsed Obama, news of the affair should have little impact on Barack Obama's political campaign.

Tawdry and ill-considered, John Edwards affair with Rielle Hunter will definitely be a problem -- but that problem will almost totally rest with the former senator from North Carolina. While the world shakes its collective head in resigned consternation, John Edwards will be dealing with a humiliated wife, an angry group of supporters, and an unapologetic and scandal-thirsty media.

Source:

Pete Yost, " Edwards: Ashamed of my conduct," Associated Press