BREAKING: Edwards admits sexual affair, denies paternity
By SilentPatriot Thursday Aug 07, 2008 5:45pm
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John 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 42-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.
Update: John Amato: This is awful news. What would have happened if he had been the nominee? Go Obama! The media will never let up on this and if he doesn't come clean on everything as fast as he can, it will never be over. The tabloids will be digging into ditches trying to find as much dirt as possible.
SusanG has a round up of opinions.
The public: Edwards was a f*&king idiot for running for president, and betrayed a lot of his supporters by doing so.
The private: everything else is between Edwards and his family. Not for the rest of us to figure out how this is supposed to affect their relationships and their marriage.
But Edwards did play the family card quite heavily during his campaign, and if he'd gotten the nomination, the Democrats would be sunk right now and we'd be looking at four years of John McCain. So on that count, I'm profoundly grateful that he didn't get it. He was risking a lot for all of us by doing this stuff and running at the same time. It was incredibly stupid. What more can you say?
Maybe we'll get this kind of inquiry into the Vicki Iseman story?
I realize that everybody gets excited about sex scandals. It's human nature. But it's important to keep in mind that John Edwards didn't even come close to winning the nomination and this is just another sleazy tabloid story with absolutely no serious significance other than the sickening spectacle of the prurient slavering of the mainstream media now that they have finally found their hook: it's because he lied to the press about his sex life. How could he???
(Lying to the press about the anthrax killers and WMD in Iraq, well, not a problem.)
Many people, especially in the press, jumped to defend McCain against the evil New York Times on that one and there has been no follow up. But considering how everyone is excusing the flogging of this Edwards story on the basis of the fact that he lied to the press, I'm not sure it's in the country's best interest not to ask McCain about this again and talk to the women herself. What if it comes out that it was true after he's president? Why surely the press will be as honor bound to obsess over it as they were about Clinton and now Edwards, right? It's not about the sex --- it's about the lying, remember?...read on
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This will be a long thread.
I know for a fact....a fact....that the GOP won't try to tie this to Obama. No way in hell. They are much classier than that!
Dumbass. Can you imagine how screwed we'd be if he had actually been the nominee?
SO much for the rumors that Edwards is gay.
Looks like he loves pussy as much as Larry Craig hates it.
Too bad it wasn't a gay affair, or with a paid prostitute. He'd be in the clear with the GOP.
I only care about an extra marital affair when it happens to a family values hypocrite Republican. As far as I'm concerned it's between him and his wife and has nothing to do what he could have brought to the table as a president. I supported Edwards, he lied and it would have cost us the White House. Lying and making excuses is for Republicans. I am not goint to make any excuses for John Edwards lying.
guess it's definitely time to remove those EDWARDS stickers from the bumper, next to OBAMA's...
damn...
I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. The fact is, Edward proved he is just another philanderer. I feel for his wife, but from the reporting she was aware of it AND she helped him with his Presidential campaign. The fact that they both knew this was hanging over them and they still went foward is mind-boggling.
Texas Democrat @ 2:
Already have! I was listing to Hugh Huitt on the way home and they are already in the process.
It's a damn shame too because they will dog Edwards with this for-evv-er ... and all the good things he did for the national debate will be forgotten.
But yeah, cue audio of Obama praising John and the work he's done for the country.
"That's a great judge of character there Obama"
Americans are always butting into other peoples business, it's crazy. I'm tuning out cable until this topic is over.
To err is human.
I supported you. Your wife was battling cancer, you miscreant!
Well, the rest of the world and any really important news can just go to hell cuz we will hear about this 24/7 for days. NBC may have to cancel Olympics coverage in favor of this critically important, earth-shattering news. Good time to bomb Iran or go to war with Russia in Georgia. Not even that will end this ceaseless media obsession. Not to mention the Aafia Siddiqui story.
He can take a DNA test for $99. But boy isn't this something, I mean of course he did something wrong, but the MSM are treating it like he STARTED A WAR AND HAD ALMOST 5,000+ KILLED. Oh I forgot he's a democrat the report that but sweep all these republican sex scandles under the rug.
Way to go Edwards. Now don't back down and keep fighting poverty and speaking the truth about the high crimes and treason in this country. Thanks. :)
Well,I guess this dispells Mann Coulters' allegations that Edward is a "f****t"...I heard Hannity talking about this on my ride home from work,and yet..surprise,not a word about Missouri state Rep. Scott Muschany ,indicted in connection with a reported sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl on May 17, the day after this year’s Legislative session ended. The re-pukes will go on endlessly about this, just watch....
He's against gay marriage the filthy whore. Oops, I mean hypocrite.
I don't care. I still prefer Edwards to Obama.
The only thing I'm rather disappointed with right now is that Edwards probably won't be Obama's Attorney General.
OooooOOoooOOoooo! SEX! CANCEL THE NEWS!
This is great news for Hillary!
But seriously, I think the last word should always be with the spouse. No one outside of the marriage would know what arrangements, if any, are in place as far as this thing goes. The same tabloids have written that Bill C. is still on the prowl. If true, does that mean that Hillary does not know, or is willing to turn a blind eye to Bill’s indiscretions?
If politicians are to be pilloried for any reason, I’d much rather it be over issues involving their job, not outside of it (although sex and sexual favors can themselves be part of corruption in the workplace). The affairs of consenting adults need to be private to the extent they are not job related, and more politicians need to answer, “none of your business” where appropriate.
There is no way McCain will dwell on this particular subject. His sordid past with Cindy will be exposed for all the brain-dead electorate. If this becomes an issue, all the Democrats have to do is talk about McCain's affair with Cindy WHILE he was still married. Let's see Faux News spin that.
Take that, Ann Coulter!
Guess he won't be our AG. This is a distraction that won't go away soon.
Thank goodness for the Olympics.
Marge @ 13:
Hey, it is not like the front runner for the GOP did have an affair because his wife (who had been loyal to him during his captivity, mind you) did not look so good after been involved in a traffic accident... and decided to upgrade to a better looking and definitively wealthier model.
I mean, could you imagine if that was the case? The M$M would have a field day!
let's just hope that, at the very least, the affair was worth it. that they had a fantastic time, but hey,
"it was just one of those things; just one of those crazy things; one of those bells that now and then rings, just one of those things.....we'd just been aware that our love affair was much too hot to cool down; so goodbye dear and amen, here's hoping we meet now and then, 'cuz it was great fun, but it was, just one of those things......"
Oh noes, guess this proves the years of right-wing assertions that we libs are all horrible, perverted unter-mensch, worthy only of contempt at best, and eradication at worst. I, for one, am hanging my head in shame.
very sad...but thank you for posting on it- and posting the round up of insights...very sad for the family and Elizabeth...maybe the fuss and fury will pass in the next few weeks...I don't know what it means for his career...he would have made a wonderful AG...or so I thought....
watched the nbc story about this... one of the shots of john and elizabeth, march 07, announcing the REaccurance of her cancer... damn... it occurred to me:
news of an affair will certainly lower ones defenses... so sorry...
and, YEAH!, she went along with this presidential run... damn...
Texas Democrat @ 2:
You know for a fact...A FACT...that Obama drove the woman to Edwards hotel room! And Obama gave Edwards the condom. AND Obama even sat in for Edwards when he couldn't perform! So clearly this is why we can't vote for Obama!
- PS this is really Dahgrostab'ph-r-i and I don't believe any of the shit I spewed here!
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 11:
Wow! Way to tear into two Dems in one post, if you count your handle. Work in a Hillary bash on your next post for the hat trick!
None of us have any idea what is going on with their marriage. With Edwards not currently running for office, this is a private matter. The only thing that annoys me is that, yes, in today's juvenile climate of societal and political discourse, this sort of thing does matter and Edwards kept running anyway. The only good thing is that it looks, imho, that he probably knew this was coming because he dropped out before Super Tuesday when he really didn't have to.
Um,another thing is Edwards didn't actually get caught. He admitted this,which I think counts for something..I don't remember a re-puke admitting any wrongdoing,although I may be wrong....
If the Republicans get all self rightous about this, they need to be reminded that John McCain was doinking Cindy while he was still married to his first wife.
This just in: Handsome Democrat running for no poltical office admits to extramarital sex. All Republican corruption of the last 8 years is now rated of zero importance.
Thanks, librull media.
I'm very very disappointed in my man John. I would have been very pleased to vote him in as President. I realize he's human, blah blah blah, but it's still very disappointing. Especially for his wife and children.
P.D. @ 19:
Yeah, but guess what? The GOP knows that the Dems won't hit back, so expect those depraved assholes to do the "I'm holier than thou" dance.
And even if they don't address that directly, they own the MSM so expect FAUX et al to run away with this story. They don't have to do the dirty work, GOPers are very good at finding surrogates.
Funny how sex scandals tend to ruin the carreer of Dem politicians, but GOPers get a free pass. I mean, look at their current candidate for crying out loud...
It was mighty stupid of Edwards though, what a fucking idiot.
enigma4ever @ 25:
He can still be AG! How is it that the Repugs can get caught looking for Gay Sex in a men's room and still hold office? Edwards is no less of the man he was and he can still be great for Obama's administration.
Wasn't there a story about how McCain committed adultery with his last wife when he began seeing Cindy? But I suppose they never had a love child(alleged), and he just married a rich woman. Which Kerry was attacked for quite effectively, if memory serves me correctly. And since Edwards is out of the race, why is this warranting so much attention? While Edwards' denials were despicable, as to how this is more important than the NUMEROUS crimes committed in the past 8 years seems to be a mystery.
Dumb-Ass-GOPer @ 34:
Oops I should have change my name back! sorry
here it is! changed name!
Dumb-Ass-GOPer @ 34:
I agree. He does not have to count votes or campaign (other than kissing Obama's ring [that's a joke!]). Place him early on, get him to work, and this goes away, for the most part. Or not! Whatever! Anybody will be better than the last three jokers to hold the office.
And we should give a shit how? As long as he's willing keep his principles of equality, I could care less if he ate babies. Better than Bush and Dick.
Jesus Christ. Thank god he didn't get the nomination or we'd all be screwed... Jesus Christ...
WorldAsUnwill @ 16:
Agree 100%. Very disappointing, but when will Americans grow the fuck up already. This is no one's business but his and his wife's.
yeah, the man was thinking with his dick and to hell with everything else. the consequences with that though is this, had he achieved the nomination he would have surely sunk any hope the dems had of ousting the crooks. anything else with regard to his infidelity is really up to him and his family. my question, why isn't the same scrutiny by our vigililant press given to the repubs and their transgressions. very little play is given there. liberal press, give me a break. they make me sick. if press is reading this, i'm not talking about someone else, i'm talking about you.
tim @ 35:
You know and I know and most of the posters up-thread know why:
It's another excuse for the conservative controlled media to change the subject, feed us pablum, titillate our bored little depraved brains and overall just cancel the news.
very sad…but thank you for posting on it-
why is it sad? it might be sad for mrs. edwards, but i'm certain it was great for mr. edwards and the mistress.
so the guy felt like he needed some extra TLC? what's the big deal?
let's move on. he'll never run for office again, but he's still richer than most...
I'll say this again... and again... and again...
If a politician wants to lie to me about their sex life, go right ahead.
I honestly don't care about how much TRIM John Edwards is getting.
I've never seen a bigger bunch of self-righteous, falsely pious, GOSSIPS in my entire life. I'm ashamed of what my nation has become. We're a bunch of nosey neighbors, poking our nose over the fence, trying to see what's going on in someone ELSE'S back yard.
It's pathetic. And it's beneath a nation that purports to stand for the rights of individuals.
I mean, what about John Edward's right to privacy? What about the rights of the lady in which he was involved ?
What about the privacy of Mr. Edward's wife?
Well, throw that out with the bath water, because the American people JUST GOTTA KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING, and to HELL with people's rights.
You realize of course, that if Bill Clinton had simply plead his Fifth Amendment right to not testify against himself, then his impeachment NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
But no, you people JUST GOTTA KNOW SOMETHING, and to HELL with people's rights.
Think about it, the next time you're trying to pry into the personal life of some Republican, because you think YOU'VE got some important point to make. Well, whatever it is, it doesn't trump a person's individual right to privacy. You'll just be a gossip, like all the common folk.
i think more people should be honest with their spouses: "look, i really need sex, and i'm sick of having sex with you.......oh well"...
might as well have an affair, but please, please, ask permission from your spouse before you do so.....otherwise, you'll run into problems like this....
Can someone remind the media and the Republicans that John McCain had an affair during his first marriage when his wife was suffering negative effects from a car accident.
Now, while I find it disgusting on both accounts, the only reason it should be pointed out about "Saint" McCain is that he's running as the nominee of the "Party of Morality" and if Edwards' affair is supposed to be used to attack the Democrats, then it's only fair McCain's is used to attack the Republicans (and let's not forget Newt and the others).
And anyway, how many of us guys really tell the truth 100% of the time about sex?
Truly a dumbshit move along the line of Clinton's idiocy. But if he were a Repugnican - he would have divorced his loyal wife and married a beer heiress. And, ya know; it just ain't as much fun when a Democrat does this kinda thing...them being the guardians of all our morality. It's just a whole lot more fun when it's one of those BuyBull thumpin' boy boffers!
Thankfully, I'm leaving to a remote fishing lake with no TV and no internet for a week. I won't have to deal with the 24-hour tabloid channels analyzing Jon's penis.
This was a selfish act on Edwars part. He KNEW this could come out, and he still ran for President. WTF! I want November to be here already. I'm electioned out.
I mean, what about John Edward’s right to privacy?
dude, he's voluntarily doing an interview on larry f*cking king, you freak!
We all make mistakes in life, but John Edwards made a big one.
As a wife and mother, maybe I could forgive under normal circumstances, but not when I have a terminal illness.
Sorry, the site has been down a lot today.
Well at least Hugh Hewitt isn't talking about the same soundbite for three freaking hours for a second day in a row. I was listening to his show off and on and I swear he played a clip of Barrack Obama saying to a 7 year old that the country isn't what it once was or could be 50 times for three hours. And he was going to talk about it for 3 MORE hours today. Out of all the wingnuts, Hugh is the worst. Anyway, with this, he's good for the next 4 years.
Patty @ 41:
I agree, however... the main issue that I have is that he knows how the game is played and I think it showed lack of good judgement to run for president with such an skelton in his closet.
It is not an issue of American's weird obsesion with other people's sexual lives, however... that is the way it is, and he should have know better.
That been said, I would normally not care about an affair which does not concern or affect me... however, honestly having an affair while your wife is going through cancer is kind of low in my book. I know no body is perfect, but that is "asshole" territory right there.
In Edwards defense, unlike Republicans...
A) He isn't a closeted self hating gay man....(too many GOPers to name...I don't think John Amato has the server space....) having affairs with men and then voting against marriage amendments & railing against in Public
B) Isn't a meth-head like Haggard.....
C) He wasn't 'anally' raping his wife like Bush appointed "Dr" David Hager (famously in charge of Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
D) Wasn't doing it while Elizabeth was in intensive care like Gingrich did with his wife...
E) Wasn't wearing a diaper while being spanked like David Vitter was....oh and the 'madame' mysteriously dies....err....'committed suicide'...
Not apologizing for him, it was stupid, stupid, stupid...and his supporters should feel betrayed as my wife & I do...
Also...we can't forget that the GOP is party of 'family values'...not in practice mind you....
well... maybe obama will get in some vacation time after all... ?
How 'bout a little "tit for tat" and let's get digging into McShame's Vicky Iseman affair? Somehow his trysting with Vicky Iseman, mega lobbyist, has been dropped from the whoring MSM - wonder why? They've gone after Edwards so now it's time to give the whoremaster McPappy some equal time.
Edwards has affair ... denies paternity. (Yawn)
BFD
P.D. @ 50:
This is an argument I don't fully get, and I've heard it elsewhere. I always thought that if you ran for president, it's because you had a vision for what your country wanted to be, and believed in causes worth fighting for. I know that I would want a president who believed in something bigger than his/her sex life.
Just think the GOP let Edwards almost become VP without making this information public. I guess if Karl hadn't fixed the voting machines and denied voters their right to vote this might have come to like with the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Well at lease we know John McCain respects his wedding vows and would never cheat on his wife. John McCain is the example to all Americans as to what a real Family man should be. John and Cindy are the perfect couple. John's soul mate since his school days. Yes Cindy/John married and had a family and John never cheated on his wife. Laura Bush filed for divorce over a year and 1/2 ago. Now we're had 7 years of a President who is a drunk and druggie with his brain fired by drugs. I can't wait to ask McCain what it was like at the Boston Tea Party as he is that old.
osiris @ 58:
Needless to say, Edwards' reputation is toast but in terms of his private life now with a dying wife, that's his business. Let's get to the Big Cahuna and talk serious turkey about Vicky Iseman and John McCain, shall we?
Last week: I did not have an affair with her.
this week: OK, I did have an affair, but it's not my kid
next week: OK, it's my kid but I did not orchestrate an elaborate cover-up...
Atrios pretty much sums up my take. I still think many of Edwards' policies were very good, but I'm disappointed in him personally, and feel bad for Elizabeth, even though she's known for some time now. It's a good thing he didn't get the nomination, given our culture's obsession with affairs and how this would have affected the election.
As the adage goes: One good turn deserves another and another will be coming down the pike once Ms. Vicky Iseman is found. She's vanished - imagine that? Maybe she's camping out right now with the DC Madame?
i am surprised there are this many comments. just and another hypocritical liar politician. Ignore the D or R label. They are all liars. Yes, even your precious Obama.
If the media insists on covering this 24/7, the blogs need to bring up McSame having an affair, divorcing his wife, and the children no one hears about. After all, if we're going to immerse ourselves in politicians and their affairs who better to start with than the one actually running for POTUS.
Barack Obama deciding to enter the 2008 presidential race could possibly be looked back on as a defining moment, not only for the United States, but for the Democratic Party. I felt that it was too early for him to run, mostly because I wanted Edwards to have a clear shot at Hillary and the nomination.
Even when this story broke I still didn't believe a word of it. In fact, I would have put money on Barack being caught in a taped threesome with Scarlett Johansson and Suzanne Malveaux ahead of John cheating on Elizabeth. I'm not kidding!
BTW, the MSM as a bunch of fucking scumbags.
Wolf Blitzer: "What if John Edwards had won the Democratic nomination?
Yeah, like there was ever any chance of happening, you disingenuous prick.
cg@50, Very true. But with the Republicans, it's war. The Repugs and Faux News don't play fair. The go right for the shins. Anything goes for those SOB's. They belive in slash and burn politics. Sad, but true.
And since we're outing the presidential candidates, I'm certain there are plenty of damaging photos and leaks about John McCain's affair with Vicky Iseman with whom he got cozy on his private plane. That much is public knowledge. Now let's get someone talking who knows the scoop. I'm sure it's all out there for some aspiring young reporter to get if he knows where to begin looking.
Google Vicky Iseman and it's all there complete with photos. Amazingly Ms. Iseman looks like a two decades younger (and unbotoxed) Cindy! Hot dog! Or should I say Miss Buffalo Chip??
If that baby has a full head of hair, then he may be lying again!
The only good to come of this would be for the press to follow up on the similar accusations hovering around McCain (yuck).
Well, now he'll have something to talk about with Vitter, Spitzer, Gingrich, Haggard, Clinton, Craig AND McCain.
play the nickel slots much? it's all a gamble. the whole big ball of wax.
try to believe in something and what do you get, a joker.
bleak and relentless and laughing
there is no savior. the savior is ourselves.
drop the rock that carries the notion
to the bottom of the well.
let if go.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2008/02/20/john-mccain-and-vicki-is...
So, what office is Edwards running for again? I forget, apparently.
James @ 45:
Good post. Although I tend to agree with most of your post there is one item that I don't buy.
The personal morals of Repimplicans ARE fair game.
It is the Repimps who are always thumping their damn BuyBulls at everybody else like a bunch of fanatics. It is the Greedy Old Perverts who are constantly being busted for the "moral turpitude" that they are always shrieking about.
Maybe if people stopped watching the bleedin' teevee all of the time they'd lose their fascination with it.
Here's the link on Vicky Iseman and John McCain. Check it out. There are plenty more if you google the two names together.
http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2008/02/20/john-mccain-and-vicki-is...
At least it was with a woman. :)
P.D. @ 70:
Of course. But I would argue that the problem isn't with the Republicans - the problem is with the Democrats' willingness to let them do that, and their ineptitude in focusing the discussion on the things that really matter. I don't think there's a single Democrat that would say "Wait a sec, we're fighting two wars, an energy crisis, a health care crisis, and a bumbling economy, and the only thing you can talk about is Jon Edwards' cock?"
Hank Rearden @ 67:
Not all of them. Just the powerful and influential ones.
shaggles @ 79:
And not in a public restroom. As far as we know, anyways.
There's something about cancer wives and philandering husbands. McCain did the same thing to his first wife. I heard/read somewhere that huge percentage of husbands who go through cancer with their wives cheat. ( Maybe a movie? ) Something about the need to feel alive when dealing with death. I feel so sorry for Elizabeth, this did not need to get out and ruin her. Most women would rather not know until they are ready (or strong enough) to know.
The problem with all this is that the GOP opened up this can of worms with Clinton and now the press has an imperative to go after cheaters, because they are squished and censored on other matters of substance, (like fake WMD, corruption, signing statements, questionable political tactics. What we have left is political porn.
Can you believe it. Russia and Georgia are going head to head. And our beloved MSM can't get enough of Edwards. I guess the threat of war isn't as interesting than a good old sex story.
Yawn.
I don't care who politicians have sex with. I only care if they screw me with their votes.
Selfish and arrogant prick. Now that's over, let's get back to real news. Anyone notice a war breaking out?
Folks, this has nothing to do with McCain, Bush, Republicans, Obama, Hillary, Rove, Gingrich, etc...ad nauseum.....
This has to do with Edwards not having respect for his own marriage, preaching values to the the country as a primary candidate and general election vp candidate...while at the same time screwing around behind the back of his wife..in and out of remisssion.
End of story...
(Unless the baby turns out to be his...)
this is sad
but at least its a woman
at least he didnt pay for it
at least she was of age
at least it was consensual
and look...if newt can continue a career with multiple affairs under his belt...why not edwards?
Who of you that have never sinned, be the one to cast the first stone.
Jay@87, I shudder at the thought! Can you imagine MSMs obsession? More fodder for the brain-dead masses.
lilorphant @ 83: