National Enquirer Enters The 2008 Presidential Race With Edwards Love-Child Story

The National Enquirer has gone political in their most recent issue, alleging that John Edwards has fathered a love-child with a filmmaker who once worked on a series of webisodes for his One America Committee. Rumors of the affair between Edwards and the filmmaker, a 43-year-old divorcee named Rielle Hunter, have been denied by both parties.

Now, as the Enquirer has published photos of a clearly pregnant Hunter, she has gone on the record confirming that she is pregnant but denying that Edwards is the father. She claims that the biological father is Edwards operative Andrew Young, a married man who confirms both his extramarital affair with Hunter and that the baby is his. Hunter, who lived in New York, has recently relocated to a gated community in North Carolina near Young and his family. But, the Enquirer claims that Hunter is privately telling friends that Edwards fathered the baby.

Comments

[doschi]

I'm an Obama supporter, but I am a big fan of Edwards as well. I think it's ridiculous that a hit piece by the National Enquirer (which is owned by one of Hillary's closest allies) on Edwards would even get the time of day at HuffPo.

Just because Drudge drags a story through the mud doesn't mean everybody else should.

[rblackbird]

Arriana has turned HuffPost into a biased, anti-Hillary screed. For example she has not reported the Rasmussen poll published on 12/17 that Hillary is now 4 points ahead of Obama in Iowa. That Hillary is regaining lost ground is news, and HuffPost should highlight it.

Arriana also knows that regurgitating the National Enquier calumny would hurt Edwards in the caucuses and first few primaries. Edwards does not have enough time to recover before the caucuses and perhaps the New Hampshire primary. She also knows that the story will cause grave pain to Edwards' wife (one of the most heroic women of our time), his family and friends. But what the hell, Arriana and her gang of editors must be thinking. If it is a good story, run it! No need for HuffPost to investigate the story for itself, when its (only) source is National Enquirer. This IS Arriana Huffington's news site, after all.

Now that she has layerd this trash on Edwards, and struck against Hillary, the question comes to mind: Who is gaining from the HuffPost news policy?

Well, would it shock you that the only one left standing and untouched on the HuffPost is Obama?

[artistdogboy]

[Anie]

This was all over the news for the last 30 hours + so it would have been strange for HuffPost not to mention it. At least they mentioned that Andrew Young (age 41), married and father of 2, claims he's the father (her car is under his name too) and so does the pregnant one. Since he's willing to say this, despite his family, it actually may be so.

Best overall coverage of what is essentially a non-story at this point is at http://mediamatters.org/items/200712190010?f=h_latest

[Tellmethetruth]

Aren't all the tabloids owned by Murdock who also owns Fox News and a host of other news outlets, radios, newspapers, magazines, etc.? Isn't scandal how Murdock rose to wealth and power sufficient to take over the news industry and now is trying to prove he and he alone can decide who the President of the United States is?

Why do we let him market and grow rich off of the most base appetites for information? Or attempt to destroy our democracy by destroying freedom of the press? So much news regarding the actual crimes of the Bush Administration, not to mention the media's guilty role in getting us into the war in Iraq are far more deserving of our focused attentions.

Heresay isn't even evidence that will be upheld in a court of law. Slander!

[Chandidevi]

The HuffPost has become tabloid journalism. This story is not true. Any one of us could have predicted this kind of trash would be coming out about John Edwards since he is the only squeaky clean candidate and the only viable candidate. Sam Stein should go work for Drudge, even though that would be a step up for him and I don't think even Matt indulges that kind of trash-talk.

[Subway]

Now let me get this straight.

Ms. Hunter and Mr. Young (a married man) claim that the child is theirs, but they are covering up the fact that Edwards is the father so that he won't become a damaged candidate for the Presidency?

OoooooooooK...

[MichaelO]

All the posters who are trashing Arianna for putting up this garbage didn't obviously see the Drudge Report when it was the HEADLINE for an afternoon. Talk about credibility rolling down the crapper, at least this was a blip on the page, not the HEADLINE... National Enquirer sux, and no I have not decided who my precious vote is going for.

[Cojonú]

Oh C'mon people,loosen up;don't be such a stick-up-the-butt liberals;so Johnny had some fun and forgot to take precautions,so what; his candidacy is going nowhere anyway.
The Story I'm really looking forward to is Hillary's (whenever it comes out,and I'm told it will).
We're Democrats,remember; we're the party of fun and good times.
From F.D.R.and Lucy Mercer to Bill and Monica;it's a tradition.We're 'Rascally'.
That's what makes us adorable.
That's what makes us unique, and the Repugs can't stand it.
Relax and enjoy.

[MRb1000]

They are saying Hillary's close friend partly owner of the Enquirer drop this bomb for her. Here comes the Clinton machine. She is very nasty. It will come out later with more facts. Obama show his difference on the issues. Then Edwards says she was not being truthful about somethings. Her fangs had to come out along with those claws. Well, she is having fun. Now, she may break up a family. First the Spread of Bigotry now Bill and Hillary Clinton are home wreckers. Nasty Nasty Nasty Dirty Dirty Dirty. You are not getting away with nothing. I hope the American people make you pay.

America, America, America take some notes of what is to come of our country with people like this.

We are going down

[brewski]

This is not the Drudge Report. Shame on you!

[Shagnasty]

DNA LAB ALERT: You have some samples on the way!

[OhPlease2007]

I could not care less about the personal lives of any of the candidates. I AM voting for John Edwards because of what he stands for on the "issues" that are important to 'me and my family', and nothing is going to change my mind .

Besides, I think the Bat Boy stories are far more interesting.

Speaking of interesting, I find it most interesting that Huffington Post & The Drudge Report are linked to each others' website while the New York Times reports that, "[Hillary]Clinton Finds Way to Play Along With Drudge." And we thought HuffPost didn't like Hillary Clinton's politics??? Tsk, tsk, tsk; better watch out HuffPost, you could end up in The National Enquirer as well! LOL

GO JOHN EDWARDS!

Source: New York Times (Clinton Finds Way to Play Along With Drudge, October 22, 2007)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/us/politics/22drudge.html

[aigeanta]

ErnestineBass: yes! this trashy storyline has been playing out for awhile here, and as I've previously stated, I think HuffPo has jumped the shark. But I can't help coming back to read! Damn my hypocrisy.

[SandyDoc]

The National Inquirer? HuffPo has sunk to the level of this? Disgusting.

At the very least, you owe John and Elizabeth Edwards an apology for reprinting this trash.