John Edwards and Rielle Hunter Part II - the Softer Side

Because I did my first editorial within hours of the news breaking nationally that the John Edwards - Rielle Hunter affair was indeed true (see Part I here), I would like to take an opportunity to redress some things in light of last night's ABC Nightline exclusive interview between reporter Bob Woodruff and Senator Edwards.

Americans' heads are swimming at this point with feeling betrayed. Betrayed by President Bush letting the war go on so long, or betrayed by their representatives for first saying "yes" and now turning on Bush. Some feel betrayed by John McCain for not being as conservative or forceful a candidate as they want him to be. Others feel betrayed that Hillary Clinton lost the nomination and that Barack Obama may be playing the race card by simply mentioning the fact that others may play it.

The John Edwards & Rielle Hunter story could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. It's not the affair - it's the looking at the camera and lying - a repeat of the past (and in some peoples' eyes the current) administration. And in the knowing that Edwards lied while campaigning to be President, while telling the American people he would be truthful with them about what he would do.

Let's put that aside for a moment and assume Edwards made a mistake. He's a handsome guy and he fell for a woman's charms. If Elizabeth Edwards can forgive him, and he says he's asked God for forgiveness, then who are we to judge? If Edwards believes in God as he says, then he knows only God will decide what kind of consequence he must face. Moreover, marital affairs in the White House and Congress have gone on for centuries. Presidents prior to 40 years ago simply had the good fortune of lesser news coverage.

When Edwards realized the story had been broken, he requested an exclusive interview only with ABC-TV's program Nightline and reporter Bob Woodruff. Both the program and Woodruff carry heavy credentials for credibility, and were someone whom Edwards could trust. But Woodruff's questions went beyond what Edwards was willing to answer...and should he have to?

There will be those who say yes, he's a public official - very much in the limelight - who is counted on by his party to support the forerunner and leave the American people with a good taste in their mouth.

There will be those who say no - his private life is his private life and has nothing to do with how he conducts public business.

Because of personal experience, I beg to differ with the latter. Don't many of us know how good it feels at the moment we are doing something wrong, but which satisfies some inner craving? Or when we've done something wrong but can't fix it? We can't let other people know. We are shaking at the possibility of our next opportunity to do this thing or of being discovered. But we must lie to protect our loved ones or our reputation. These thoughts begin consuming our days, nights and bleeding over into our better judgment about almost every aspect of our daily lives. Lies beget lies beget preoccupation with the next time you must make something up and cover your tracks. You don't recognize yourself anymore.

In the Nightline interview, Edwards admitted to Woodruff that he was constantly flattered and praised during his fledgling legal career, with people telling him he was a fabulous attorney and would go far. This started him down a narcissistic path to thinking he could do anything he wanted and face no consequences. He didn't think he'd get caught and lost sight of who he was as a person. This exactly proves the point of how your thinking can become skewed when something feels good, or when you have something to hide.

He said the affair was brief and he was wrong, and that nobody could beat him up more than he had himself already.

When Woodruff asked Edwards why he lied while campaigning to be the Democratic Presidential nominee, he said he just didn't want people to find out. He also said this was the reason for being at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on the night he was caught - that he had been called there by an intermediary for and with Rielle Hunter to discuss some problems she was having and he just wanted to ask for their story not to be revealed.

When asked why his wife Elizabeth was not at the Nightline interview with him, Edwards stated that he had recently seen the other wives required to be at the podiums with their fallen husbands (not mentioned, but probably meaning Pastor Ted Haggard, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer), and it was not Elizabeth's job to shield him. He specifically asked her not to come.

Woodruff asked whether Edwards had ordered the support money to be given to Hunter that is currently helping her live in California. He said no, and a statement by Fred Baron, Edwards' National Finance Chairperson, was put on the screen stating Baron did this totally on his own without Edwards' knowledge.

Edwards says he will be glad to take a paternity test and is confident he is not the father of Hunter's baby girl because of the timetable. He has taken so many pictures with babies, he does not know if the one in the National Enquirer (stating he's holding the Hunter baby) was doctored, but he knows he wasn't wearing a blue T-shirt the night he visited the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

In Conclusion:

As I watched the Nightline interview, there were many moments where Edwards appeared deeply sincere and sorrowful, and some where you went "Hmmm...I dunno". As for speculation about Andrew Young (currently the baby's alleged father) and the expensive California mansion in which Hunter has lived, the facts remain to be seen. And there will no doubt be further developments as to whether Edwards will be used as a credible spokesman to campaign for Barack Obama.