John Edwards/Rielle Hunter affair; the continuing saga

[DixieBelle]

Heh. Yep, the Brits have a way with words don't they?

[Lauri]

so Elizabeth is now 'dying' ...? I thought it was something she could live with another 20 years?

[Wretched Excess]

the news and observer, pretty much john edwards' hometown newspaper, has picked up on the story.  this could be the first domino.

I am changing the thread title to more accurately reflect the ongoing nature of this story;  it is dragging out forever . . . basically because the enquirer wants it to drag out endlessly.

Facing questions, Edwards evades reporters

It was only three weeks ago that John Edwards was fielding media questions on his chances of filling the Democratic Party's vice presidential slot on Barack Obama's ticket or a potential Cabinet position in an Obama administration.

On Wednesday, however, the former U.S. senator and 2004 vice presidential nominee was eager to duck the press when the questions took a tabloid turn.

About a dozen reporters and photojournalists attended a speech Edwards gave to an AARP Foundation symposium on poverty and aging in Washington. Afterward, he avoided most of the waiting reporters, at least some of whom wanted to question him about recent reports in the National Enquirer that alleged an inappropriate relationship with a former campaign videographer.

Citing unnamed sources, the Enquirer published a story in October claiming that Edwards was having an affair with a woman who filmed a series of campaign videos. The story resurfaced last week in the online version of the Enquirer, which claimed that Edwards had visited the woman and their "love child" July 21 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.  In October, the woman posted an online statement denying the first story. In December, an Edwards campaign worker claimed to be the father of the woman's then-unborn child.

On Wednesday, Edwards apparently ducked out a side area used by the kitchen staff in the fourth-floor ballroom of Washington's historic Hotel Monaco. Edwards emerged from a lower-level handicap ramp near the rear of the hotel with two men. When approached by a Charlotte Observer reporter, Edwards said, "Can't do it now, I'm sorry" and quickly walked past.

More

[DixieBelle]

Scumbag. Larry Craig doesn't know how to use a mens room and the media wouldn't leave him alone. Edwards has a love child while his wife is dying and only a tabloid is doing any investigative work? Sheesh.

[Wretched Excess]

the noose tightens  . . . .

Birth certificate of child linked to ex-Sen. John Edwards lists no father

The birth certificate of a child whom a tabloid newspaper claims was fathered by former Democratic Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina doesn't identify the child's father.

The document, obtained through a routine records request, shows that Frances Quinn Hunter was born last Feb. 27 to Rielle Hunter, a videographer who worked on Edwards' presidential campaign last year.

But the space for the name of the father is blank, although the child was born more than two months after Hunter identified Andrew Young, Edwards' campaign finance director, as the father of her then unborn child. Young claimed paternity in a statement from his lawyer that was posted on the political blog mydd.com.

Edwards withdrew from the presidential race in January, but he remained a major figure in the presidential contest throughout the primary season as analysts tried to guess whether he would endorse Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. He unveiled his support for Obama on May 14 at a nationally televised rally in Michigan.

Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina, was expected to play a major supporting role in the general election as Obama tries to win North Carolina, which no Democratic presidential candidate has done since 1976.

More

[Wretched Excess]

hi, doll.  what are you doing later?

[Sadie]

Edwards had thought he woud run as VP with Obama but this puts an end to his plans. Wonder how he explained to his dying wife, "sorry honey, I had an affair with this woman and guess what, duh...there's this baby". wonder if Obama still thinks Edward's will still help him win NC?

[Miss Mia]

Edwards had thought he woud run as VP with Obama but this puts an end to his plans. Wonder how he explained to his dying wife, "sorry honey, I had an affair with this woman and guess what, duh...there's this baby". wonder if Obama still thinks Edward's will still help him win NC?

I would think Edwards is still saying this is some made up rumor by the Enquirer.  I doubt he acknowledged it was true or even talked to Elizabeth about it.

[DixieBelle]

I'm waiting for Edwards to come out and say, "this isn't helping my kids".

[Miss Mia]

An update (mostly for WE since he seems very intrigued by this story )

PHOTOS of John Edwards and love child!

The NATIONAL ENQUIRER is releasing the photograph that the world has been waiting for – the first-ever picture of John Edwards and his love child!
 
The stunning “spy photo” shows the former presidential contender holding his infant daughter Frances Quinn Hunter at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles – where the ENQUIRER caught him visiting the baby’s mother, his mistress Rielle Hunter.

 Edwards is holding his love child while standing in front of a distinctive striped curtain.

The same window covering hangs in each one of the hotel’s guest rooms – and is clearly visible in photos of guest rooms on the hotel’s Web site.

“These photos are damning proof,” said a source close to the situation.

“He’s been caught lying about his affair with Rielle and their love child for many months – and now the proof against him is piling up.

“His elaborate coverup is unraveling at the seams.”

It's actually kind of fuzzy and hard to tell.  Plus, the original reporters were saying he was wearing a blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and here he's just wearing a blue tshirt. 

Interesting though. 

[Wretched Excess]

An update (mostly for WE since he seems very intrigued by this story )

PHOTOS of John Edwards and love child!

The NATIONAL ENQUIRER is releasing the photograph that the world has been waiting for – the first-ever picture of John Edwards and his love child!
 
The stunning “spy photo” shows the former presidential contender holding his infant daughter Frances Quinn Hunter at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles – where the ENQUIRER caught him visiting the baby’s mother, his mistress Rielle Hunter.

 Edwards is holding his love child while standing in front of a distinctive striped curtain.

The same window covering hangs in each one of the hotel’s guest rooms – and is clearly visible in photos of guest rooms on the hotel’s Web site.

“These photos are damning proof,” said a source close to the situation.

“He’s been caught lying about his affair with Rielle and their love child for many months – and now the proof against him is piling up.

“His elaborate coverup is unraveling at the seams.”

It's actually kind of fuzzy and hard to tell.  Plus, the original reporters were saying he was wearing a blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and here he's just wearing a blue tshirt. 

Interesting though. 

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

[Miss Mia]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

[Chris_]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

A trial attorney like the Breck Girl know instinctively what he should be doing to nip this in the bud, were this nothing more than a scandal rag trying to make hay on a story with nothing behind it. 

Sue the shit out of them. 

Call a press conference, and in front of all those adoring media shills, swab his cheek and hand it over for DNA comparison testing.  Assuming the Breck Girl is innocent, he can then loudly proclaim thus, and promise them that the proof of his innocence will be back in 48 hours to a week - however long it takes for a reputable independent lab to run the DNA test. 

He then gets to take the National Enquirer to the cleaners for libel (It's been done to them twice before in the last 10 years, so he's got plenty of case history to use against 'em) with the media and the entire liberal mob behind him.

The fact that he isn't doing this says to me that his case against the Enquirer isn't quite so airtight as he might like it to be.

[Lord Undies]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

His home state didn't vote for him.  He's out of Washington.  I'd say he is heavy baggage and his streak across the sun is over.

[Wretched Excess]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

he was doing a pretty good job of that on his own.  how much of a future is there for a politician that can't win
an election?  jeeez, I have won as many elections as he has in the past 10 years, and I haven't even run for
anything.

[Wretched Excess]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

A trial attorney like the Breck Girl know instinctively what he should be doing to nip this in the bud, were this nothing more than a scandal rag trying to make hay on a story with nothing behind it. 

Sue the shit out of them. 

Call a press conference, and in front of all those adoring media shills, swab his cheek and hand it over for DNA comparison testing.  Assuming the Breck Girl is innocent, he can then loudly proclaim thus, and promise them that the proof of his innocence will be back in 48 hours to a week - however long it takes for a reputable independent lab to run the DNA test. 

He then gets to take the National Enquirer to the cleaners for libel (It's been done to them twice before in the last 10 years, so he's got plenty of case history to use against 'em) with the media and the entire liberal mob behind him.

The fact that he isn't doing this says to me that his case against the Enquirer isn't quite so airtight as he might like it to be.

indeed.  it would be pretty simple to disprove.  so simple, in fact, that you do have to wonder why he isn't doing it.

[Wretched Excess]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

His home state didn't vote for him.  He's out of Washington.  I'd say he is heavy baggage and his streak across the sun is over.

he didn't carry his home county, either.  hell, I am beginning to wonder if he carried his home address.

[Miss Mia]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

His home state didn't vote for him.  He's out of Washington.  I'd say he is heavy baggage and his streak across the sun is over.

We'll I'd think so too, but he still holds some glamor for some "progressives."

[Miss Mia]

it's sharper than their picture of bigfoot.   

I have no idea if it's true or not, although they have been very coy about this one;  letting the story out in dribs and drabs to prolong it.  but you have to admit, it already walked like a duck, and now it's beginning to quack.

I just hope this puts a final nail in the coffin of Edwards' political career. 

he was doing a pretty good job of that on his own.  how much of a future is there for a politician that can't win
an election?  jeeez, I have won as many elections as he has in the past 10 years, and I haven't even run for
anything.

Yeah, but does your hair looks as good as his????

[Chris_]

Dems call on Edwards to address affair rumors

RALEIGH - With two weeks before their national convention, several prominent Democrats are saying Edwards must publicly address anonymously sourced National Enquirer stories that claim he had an affair with a campaign worker and fathered her baby.

Democrats gather in Denver on Aug. 25 and Edwards, as the 2004 vice presidential nominee and a presidential candidate who won delegates this year, ordinarily would be a speaker.

Instead some Democrats say convention organizers will try to avoid the lingering questions if Edwards himself doesn’t talk.

“He absolutely does have to [resolve it]. If it’s not true, he has to issue a stronger denial,” said Gary Pearce, the Democratic strategist who ran Edwards’ 1998 Senate race. “It’s a very damaging thing. ... The big media has tried to be responsible and handle this with kid gloves, but it’s clearly getting ready to bust out. If it’s not true, he’s got to stand up and say, ‘This is not true. That is not my child and I’m going to take legal action against the people who are spreading these lies.’ It’s not enough to say, ‘That’s tabloid trash.’ ”

(more...)

"This?  This is just a formality.  Nothing to worry about."