The Business Of Revenge: How John Edwards' Rielle Hunter Should Respond

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and no woman is more scorned right now than John Edwards' mistress and likely baby-mommy Rielle Hunter.

In her new book, Elizabeth Edwards blasts Hunter as "pathetic." She slaps her with the famous Clinton diss, "this woman." She delusionally chalks up her husband's attraction to her to the fact that Hunter is "different" than the good old-fashioned Edwardses, and tells a preposterous tale of the stalking and seduction:

"[T]his woman spotted him in the hotel in which he was staying. He was meeting someone in the restaurant bar area and she verified with someone who he worked with that it was John," she said.

"John went to dinner at a nearby restaurant and when he walked back to the hotel she was standing in front of the hotel. She said to him, 'You are so hot.'"

The point of Edwards' book, presumably, is not just to get her digs in at Hunter, but to twist the knife in what's left of her husband's reputation. And she's doing the latter quite effectively.

But if you're Rielle Hunter and you have to sit there and listen to all this, and the friend of John Edwards who was paying you to keep your mouth shut has died and now you're a forty-something single Mom holed up in a friend's house in New Jersey with a young daughter and no means of support, you're probably thinking, "enough already."

So what are Rielle Hunter's options?

From an economic perspective, she has several:

Sell her story. A New York literary agent we spoke to estimates that Hunter could get $750,000 to $1 million for a tell-all book about the affair. When you have no money, $750,000-$1 million is a lot. But it will also come at a big cost Right now, Hunter is actually admired for her discretion: The fabulous all-powerful candidate seduced her and knocked her up and then groveled to the nation for forgiveness for his appalling lapse of judgment--and she has never even complained. If Hunter sells her story, this admiration will vaporize: She'll be seen as a money-grubbing slut trashing a terminally ill national hero (Elizabeth). Selling her story will be a one-time deal. And, after taxes, the $750,000 probably won't last that long.

Wait and hope that John Edwards will do the right thing for his daughter. Hunter has actually been quite clever about refusing to subject her daughter Frances Quinn to a paternity test. Most people think Edwards is her father, and, the older she gets, the more the pressure will increase on Edwards to take responsibility for her. If Edwards is not Frances' father, meanwhile, Hunter's leverage (and public support) will disappear, so it's not in her interest to establish this. Edwards still has tens of millions of dollars from his career as a litigator, so if he is the dad he can certainly afford to spare a million or two to support his daughter over the next couple of decades. And now that the secret's out and Edwards' career as a politician is done, he has nothing left to lose by doing this. In fact, over time, it would actually be good for his reputation.

Sue Edwards for paternity payments. An ugly, risky choice that would force Hunter into accepting a paternity test. If she knows Edwards is the father, this route is riskless but still painful and expensive. If Hunter merely wants to believe that Edwards is the father, then it's very risky. If the test reveals that Edwards isn't the father, he's off the hook, and Hunter just looks like the woman Elizabeth Edwards is trying to make her out to be. She also will no longer have a claim to any of the Edwards millions. If Hunter knows Edwards is NOT the father, meanwhile, this course of action is suicide. (Hunter could always threaten to sue John Edwards for paternity, which might shake some dollars loose--but only if he really believes he's the father. If he calls her bluff and turns out not to be the father, it's game over.)

Wait and hope that the Edwards' marriage breaks up and John admits he still loves her and returns. This is the fairy-tale choice and the one that would offer the most money and satisfaction. In this scenario, Hunter would get the man, the father, and most of the Edwards' dough, which would be 20+X as much as she could get for selling her story or collecting child-support payments. The Edwards' marriage may well end soon, either because Elizabeth will realize that she's still being lied to or, more tragically, because she's dying. Given the position Edwards has taken with respect to the affair, even if the marriage ends. Hunter would probably have to wait many years for John to return, and it would be a long-shot. But John Edwards is a persuasive fellow, and it's possible he has persuaded Hunter that this has always been the plan.

So what's Hunter's best choice? To continue to grit her teeth, avoid the media, and take the punches. Elizabeth Edwards is untouchable right now, and no matter what happens, she's going to win this round.

If Hunter stays patient, however, she'll almost certainly do better for herself and her daughter if she forgoes the easy money and bides her time.

UPDATE: It seems Hunter has made her decision. Proceed with the paternity test...

Comments

[Cherubim]

Funny, when I was younger Democrats were not so uptight
and self-righteous. Now you are trying to run
John Edwards out of the Democratic Party.
One of the few Democrats that still has some fight in him.
There was a time when Democrats knew how to laugh and
roll with the punches. People you really need to "lighten up".
Here try some Groucho Marx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-zR2pM_S5U&feature=related

[samaire]

I love Elizabeth Edwards. Finally, a woman who beats a man at his own game. He will never be able to be in politics again after this. As for the other woman.....­go out and get a real job honey, like the rest of us working women! And dont forget to get a good baby-sitter, ...if you can.

[myviewalso]

(continued from my post above...)

If a politician can throw caution to the wind like this in a simple domestic affair, then imagine the possibilities when the politician is involved in sensitive international policy and negotiations! It wouldn't take anything for JE to be blindsided while our own safety was put in jeopardy. We could have ALL gone down with the ship that JE could have commanded! The losses would have been far more than donation/c­ontributio­n money and hurt feelings!

To those that think the personal lives of politicians are irrelevant to their public lives...st­retch your imagination and realize the significant consequences of some private behaviors. I feel, the public has a right to know and judge accordingly. If a politician can't stand the heat, he/she should get out of the political arena.

JE couldn't even handle his own personal affairs. I resent him duping me and the public into thinking he could handle our national/glogal affairs. If any good comes out of this is will be that the public will scrutinize the lives of future politicians more carefully and weigh in on their what they think. We, the voting public, fell asleep at the wheel, but we are wide awake now...hope­fully!

Don't take your eyes off the road for a second...

[myviewalso]

IF this affair had been a one night stand, I would have no problem forgiving JE. It was not. I agree with one of the posters above. This is all about honesty and integrity. JE has neither. Worse, though, we, the public, are the "jury" right now in a courtroom where EE and JE each attempt to paint themselves in the best light. Both players are expert attorneys who know how to play the game. We continue to be manipulated from both sides. It is just a matter of whose side you believe. Soon RH will enter the courtroom again.

Minor indiscretions might be forgiven if they don't impact the lives of those involved more than temporarily. Unfortunately for JE, EE, RH, and the entire public, this situation has been like a snowball racing down a snow-covered mountain. The momentum and size of the snowball are HUGE now in terms of toll on human lives! There is no turning back to the way it was, just as EE said in the Oprah interview. Hang on to your hat...just as JE said in that same interview.­..it is NOT over yet!

Politicians have an obligation to the public to make choices that don't get them in fiascos like this. What is such a travesty is that JE has failed to give even superficial thought to the consequences of his actions. Can you believe that neither party bothered to use birth control, for goodness sakes?!?

(to be continued.­..)

[HuffyLady]

"Neither party 'bothered' to use birth control"? Indeed!

This isn’t1950. Today, contraception and safe abortions are readily available and unmarried women who do not want babies - and the eternal connection to the father - need not have them. Likewise, married men who love their families should not suspend common sense when committing adultery.

IF, as Edwards’ wife believes, this Druck woman, to whom morality doesn’t seem an issue, deliberately disregarded his known marital obligations and waited outside his hotel to initiate a connection, and IF that beautiful, innocent, child indeed is his, it wouldn’t shock me to learn the dearth of adequate precautions was not entirely accidental.

John Edwards is not the first recognizable public figure to believe he’d get away with infidelity, and far from the first married public official - or even occasional president - to engage, even openly, in a tryst. FDR died in the arms of his mistress. JFK’s sexual exploits were legendary. Protected or not from the risk of conception, Edwards must have been blindingly self-absorbed to believe he wouldn’t get caught sneaking around by today’s rapacious press. But snagged by a pregnancy?

Druck can sue him for child support: Edwards can afford to, and should, support any child he fathers. But helping bring pain to the woman to whom Edwards pledged eternal fealty shouldn’t entitle Druck to further that suffering by capitalizing on her own immoral misconduct. I question the need to validate her sordid story – especially if she’s paid for it.

[luziannagirl]

Even those of us who strive to do our best in our personal and public lives, and who are generally good-intentioned, all eventually fall short of perfection. At some point for most of us, no matter how hard we try to keep it at bay, biology is just going to trump our best intentions. What bothers me most is the lack of generosity and compassion extended to those who fail, by too many public leaders who allow themselves to be held up as models of perfection.

Has John Edwards ever championed legislation intruding into people's personal lives and punishing people for their personal reproductive and intimate relationship choices?

Has he ever tried to dictate to others his own religious doctrine-based morals?

I really don't know, but suspect he hasn't.

Not defending what he did. Just getting a little perspective.

[dissanayake]

I think Eelizabeth Edwards is all about the Passive Agressive. This book makes darn sure Edwards will never return to politics, however you paint him, he looks like the cad,and She, the wronged women. This aint no greiving wife, this is a women out to extract her revenge.

[noudidnt]

God bless her

[bootooyoo]

Oh, please, please, please, let him be the daddy.

[sojo]

First, I can't help but wonder exactly what qualifications this male "columnist and blogger on investing, the Internet, and financial markets" can possibly have for making suggestions on what Hunter should do.

Secondly, this all came about because of ELIZABETH EDWARD'S memoir. It's Edward's story. It has nothing to do with Hunter. Why is this guy writing about Hunter?

Finally, Hunter did not enter into her affair with John Edwards naively. She knew he was married. She was not even young & dumb. Like John Edwards, she has to deal with the consequences of her actions.

I'm trying to imagine what sort of thought processes lead Blodget to choose this particular slant on the occassion of the publication on this memoir and its attending promotion.

[Promise]

When the news of Elizabeth's book and Oprah interview came out I found myself questioning the wisdom of her rehashing all of this again. I lost a little of my former respect and sympathy for her The
book seems clearly self-serving and her decision not to acknowledge even the baby's sex seemed heartless. Also she could be seen as class-ist in her statements about Hunter, that "she doesn't know people like that."

However I have concluded that (duh) she is only human. True, if she took a higher road, as some have suggested, she could open her arms to welcome the child into her family. But the woman has been through so much....an­d now she's facing death. Give her a break. Maybe she needs to be in denial about John's possible paternity. After losing their first child she submitted to hormone treatments in order to bear him two more children. She gained weight and then she discovered that her husband was out having an affair with a young, thin, hot looking woman. What woman would not be humiliated by this?! " At the same time she is trying to hold onto the marriage. Why should she leave it when she is so ill? This is not a time for her to strike out on her own. She needs whatever comfort and security her family life can give her.

I say let her scream and rage out all of her pain and anger! .

[corwin]

GARDEN GRANNY
Paternity tests are logged via a code.The lab technicians have no way of knowing whom they are testing.An­d how would thr "Edwards millions' even know which labs are sent the sample.
And a little more info for you: it will initially be a blood test.If the chance of JE not being the father is large-they probably won't get a dna swab.But-n­ot to belabor the obvious-have you seen pics of the child?
PS Yes I'm an MD and did grad work in biochem while in school.REm­ember what Mom said about not confirming things by keeping quiet?

[fran-pan]

is it wrong for mrs. edwards to have an opinion?? she has been hurt and embarassed by her husband's disloyal and heartless behavior.. is it wrong for her to want to believe him and retain some hope in her husband's love.. the baby is not her problem .. the baby is possibly his responsibi­lity..
don't put more on elizabeth.­. she went through allof those fertility treatments after their son was gone
so she could give him more children.. these treatments make a person gain weight and put their health at risk... i'm sure she did it because she loved him.. which makes his behavior even more
reprehensi­ble.. stop blaming mrs. edwards.. how about the woman who freely had an affair with him even knowing he was married.. sure on the outside john is good looking but the inside unfortunately
doesn't match...

[Crissy Patters]

I watched the interview and Elizabeth is like so many women wh men cheat, she's blaming the woman. She went after John, she tried to break up a marriage and home we built, she wants what I have...sor­ry, your husband cheated and broke up the home you built. Forgive him if you must, but don't put all the blame on the other woman.

[ywcachieve]

Come on now, I heard what Elizabeth said. She blames John too. He was the first one she blamed.

[HopeisEternal]

Beats me why this is on the business page... :)

[MarilynBB]

I believe this type of behavior impacts people's ability to function productively in business. Also businesses hire people and people have real issues that impact their work.

[HopeisEternal]

Maybe it's because the word, "business" was in the title?

[moonwatcher]

This betrayal is very painful to Mrs. Edwards and she still lacks some trust in him. Staying away from Hunter and the baby is probably beneficial to their marriage. When Mrs. Edwards dies there is probably a good chance that he will revisit the baby. It's too bad that the child will have to wait until then, but Hunter should have realized that when she got involved with a married man. I don't know many women who would be happy to have their husband visit the person with whom they had an affair. If Hunter wants his support, she should have a paternity test. At least she will get support and perhaps he can talk to the child on the phone.

[cucumber]

I think generally it's not a good idea to partner up with someone who is clearly more physically appealing than oneself.

[MamaBird62]

Oh my heavens. Have you seen photos of a young Elizabeth Edwards? She was quite pretty. John had a sort of Opie look to him. Elizabeth suffered the death of a 16 year old son. Then she went through hormone treatments to conceive two more children after age 50. Then she got cancer. Then her husband had an affair and likely fathered a child with another woman.
Frankly, I think after all that Elizabeth looks great.

[fran-pan]

then rielle shouldn't have partnered up with him either...