John Edwards and Rielle Hunter's Affair; the Truth Comes Out
Will it Affect the Election for Barack Obama?
Who wanted to give the National Enquirer any credibility for their October 2007 story about John Edwards possibly having an affair? None of us, really - neither political side wanted to believe it. You can't rely on National Enquirer info, everyone thought. And Edwards' wife Elizabeth is liked by everyone, and has gone through a huge cancer struggle.
Then it broke on Hannity and Colmes at the end of July that Edwards had indeed been spotted leaving a hotel at 2:30 in the morning, and Hunter was spotted leaving separately. A bodyguard confirmed that Edwards hid from the press in a bathroom, but did not confirm why.
It turns out that the affair began in 2006, but Edwards says it was after his wife was in remission. Oh. That's nice. At least he waited. Then, he had to deny the affair repetitively while he was running his 2008 campaign.
Edwards now says, according to the ABC News interview, that Elizabeth has known of the affair in 2006. He also states that he is not the father of Hunter's child, and there is no love involved. That's better. He just went on having an affair with this unsuspecting young woman who may have thought he was actually in love with her.
Now, I'm not saying the Republican/conservative side is perfect. John McCain divorced and married his current wife in a questionable amount of time, and don't even get me started on high-profile Pastor Ted Haggard's gay escapades.
But if this had been a Republican, the story would have been broken immediately by every news corps in the nation. He'd have been raked over the coals and dispensed with by the media, and out of necessity by his party to save face, inside of a few days.
So will this Affect the Election?
Probably not. Democrats forgive other Democrats pretty much for everything. And, to be fair, it shouldn't reflect on Barack Obama at all, if indeed the Obama camp had no knowledge of it.
Could it affect the Democratic Party's perception of whether Edwards can still influence people positively to vote for Barack Obama? Maybe, but I doubt it. If Obama didn't distance himself from Jesse Jackson for his very personal remarks about mutilating a certain part of his anatomy, I don't think he should hold this against Edwards.
Whether the American peoples' sense about a man's "character" will be offended is also up for question. The ones who felt Clinton did nothing wrong with Lewinsky because his private life is his private life will probably once again judge those who see character as important to be a bunch of uptight church ladies.
For more on the breaking news story go to:
Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,400481,00.html
ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5441195&page=1
Published by Sheryl Young - Featured Contributor in Politics
Freelance writer since 1997; Featured Political Contributor for Yahoo!; Tampa Tribune Community Columnist/Blogger; Chicken Soup for the Soul; Amy Foundation National Writing Award; happy wife, proud step-mom... View profile
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28 Comments
Post a CommentBe sure your sins will find you out. My heart breaks for his children and wife. No one should have to go through an ordeal such as that.
Also, you wrote: "But if this had been a Republican, the story would have been broken immediately by every news corps in the nation." Yeah, that's right. Just like the way the "liberal media" ignored the Bill and Monica stuff because he is a Democrat. BTW, where are all these liberal news outlets? Being one of those immoral, America-hating liberals myself, it sounds like they'd be right up my alley.
What? A rich, powerful man has an affair? Stop the presses!
I never trusted Edwards (politically) but always believed him to at least be a good family man. Poor Elizabeth, that and having to deal with cancer. :(...and I agree that there is a double standard in the media on how candidates are portrayed. The funny thing is, if the Edwards story had leaked earlier (around the Iowa caucuses), that state could very well have gone to Hillary, giving her Iowa and NH, forcing Obama out of the race...Obama's also lucky the story didn't come out later (ie. AFTER he could have potentially chosen Edwards as VP).
it will be an interesting election...I wouldn't let this stop me from voting for Obama..;)
It is shame that the media knowingly didn't go after him to expose the facts (while they do not have any problem doing the same thing in the case of Hollywood celebrities). They gave Edwards the opportunity to take away votes from Hillary and indirectly help Obama get nominated.
I'm doing this in reverse order, as I read your part 2 first ;-) Timely info here, Sheryl.
Sheryl, at least this story on Edwards has dispelled the rumor that he was gay. (Being sarcastic). His wife WAS in remission, and I'm wondering if the cancer returned because of the stress HE has kept bringing into her life. He says he doesn't love his mistress, only his wife. Well, I say, from experience, LOVE LIKE THAT WILL KILL YOU! He's a weenie and irrelevant. I pray for his wife and children. Good story, girl.
I would hope that John Edwards' affair and subsequent lying about it doesn't affect Obama in any way--other than they are both men, politicians, and members of the Democratic party--I fail to see how Edwards' personal actions reflect on Obama or anyone besides John Edwards.
In your article you refer to Rielle Hunter as a young woman who was victimized by Edwards. I think by age 44, Ms. Hunter is no longer a starry-eyed young adult fresh for the plucking, but in all likelihood, a woman who entered into this relationship with eyes wide open and in full knowledge John Edwards was married.
The real victims here are Elizabeth Edwards and the Edwards children--and the child Ms. Hunter conceived whose paternity is up in the air.
I say, if someone dishonors the pact they made to their mate to "forsake all others", then how can they be trusted to honor ANY agreement they make with anyone? Oh. he'll get a pass on this one for sure, and it won't hurt Obama one bit (unlike Mark Foley, who the media crucified, and as far as I know, he didn't even get any!)