Where The John Edwards Scandal Is Headed

I've read the comments. I know what some of you think. Yawn. It's not a story. He's not a candidate. He confessed. Who cares? Let's just recap the what The Deceiver calls 'the non-story' so far.

A former Senator and vice-presidential candidate misused campaign contributions and money pledged to fight poverty so he could bring his mistress on the campaign trail with him during the presidential campaign where he was constantly making appearances with his widely admired cancer stricken wife then fathered the mistress's child sometime around the time he was getting a Father Of The Year Award and then asked his loyal aid who already has a wife and kids to falsely claim paternity while the fake dad and the mistress were funneled money so they could move to be near the mistress's psychic healer friend while the former candidate continued to meet the mistress and baby until he was caught by tabloid reporters and hid in the bathroom and then confessed on national TV a couple of weeks later but both he and his wife continued to lie during that interview and in subsequent statements.

And the press is supposed to yawn that story off?

As we head into the the Democratic convention, the Edwards scandal isn't over. It's really just beginning. Don't blame the media, blame John Edwards.

The story isn't over because the revelations and twists in the story aren't over. If John Edwards was more interested in helping the Democratic party then continuing the futility of his deception he could come out tomorrow, do a number of no holds barred interviews, tell the whole truth, allow Andrew Young and Rielle Hunter to come out of hiding and repay contributors from his considerable personal fortune. Everyone would appear on Larry King and Oprah and we might be really done with this some time in September.

Then John Edwards could go to work chopping wood and carrying water for a couple of years to reflect on his mistakes. Building houses full time with Habitat For Humanity would be a great start for his redemption. No speeches, no suits. Just let your hair get messy and hammer nails all day, John and then go home tired and be a good father at night.

That's a dream, of course. The reality is that we're heading into fresh territory and allegations in the next few weeks and John Edwards is unlikely to tell the truth until there's simply no other option. So instead of a responsible and swift end to this mess we'll get the Edwards Water Torture that reduces all politicians (especially idealistic ones) to same lying bastards that cynics always believed they are.

Cynicism is exactly what Republicans want when their opponent's message is 'hope'.

Here's my Edwards Scandal Future Lowlights Roadmap : My Predictions Of Tomorrow's News, Today!

It's His Baby: It's the question everyone seems to want to know, so I'll skip right to it. Don't we all really know Quinn Hunter is his baby? If it's not his baby then why meet with Rielle Hunter three times in 2008 and lie about it? Edwards obviously has maintained a secret relationship with Hunter in 2008 where he's had contact with Hunter and the baby without Elizabeth's knowledge. Hunter's statement about not wanting a DNA test was sure convenient, too. Edwards has no credibility and this is the last thing he wants to admit but that sure seems like the endgame here.

The Other Meetings At The Beverly Hilton : Last week, I guessed that Edwards and Hunter met on March 20th, 2008. Turned out to be Rielle Hunter's birthday, too. Since then, there's video posted of Cenk from the Young Turks from back then discussing running into John Edwards. I checked the FEC filing from that period and the Beverly Hilton isn't anywhere on it.

Some Democrats Will Want Their Money Back : It's already becoming something people are talking about informally but it's just a matter of time before lawsuits start because it's becoming clear that Edwards used campaign money to take his girlfriend on the road with him. Times are hard and this could become a new and innovative economic stimulus plan for Democrats.

Some Democrats Will Remain In Denial : New information breaks on the front page of the New York Times last Friday and a DailyKos diarist writes about it. The response is largely pictures of kittens and recipes and people telling the writer to STFU; same basic response that I got when writing about Edwards before I was banned. Yes, I have a personal stake in this but it's also news. The L.A. Times ran a piece on the 'feud' between Kos and me. Markos lied about never having heard of me. His upcoming book has a 'review' blurb on Amazon by Elizabeth Edwards. I'm sure that's just a coincidence, though.

The Youngs Speak : Who's the most aggrieved woman in this mess? I vote for Cheri Young who really didn't do much to deserve a humiliating life on the lam except marry a guy who was so loyal and / or greedy that he took the fall for John Edwards.

Elizabeth Splits : Elizabeth Edwards helped her husband lie to press and public about his affair so it's hard to be shocked that he continued to lie to her about the affair, really. But how much can Elizabeth take? The People magazine story is step one in the almost inevitable process of Elizabeth Edwards having to make some kind of move away from John. Could be a separation, could be more statements about her shock and disappointment at new revelations. Either way, somethings got to give.

Rielle Talks : Somewhere out there, Rielle Hunter is holding on to a baby who's probably just about ready to starting crawling and holding on to secrets that have already begun crumbling. She has the real story to tell here and is the person most likely to be honest about everything, especially once she realizes that she and Edwards really don't have a future together.

John Edward's Ultimate Confession: What's John Edwards going to say, ultimately? I mean, really? He may end up an incoherent screaming mess like William H. Macy when the police finally catch up with him in Fargo or he may just curl up in a fetal position on Oprah's couch.

And the bonus, pointless, 'it's just sex' prediction...

The Other Other Woman : There are persistent rumors that Rielle Hunter wasn't Edward's first or only mistress. I know -- I'm rumor mongering but this is coming from multiple, independent sources. And do you really think this is first time John Edwards strayed?

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Comments

[themom2009]

Very interesting article! This uninvited hauntingly ‘private gone public’ drama has provoked an array of emotional reactions from us...the reluctant audience. This family crisis (which should have remained deeply private) has violated boundaries we hoped were still intact in the name of morality. For spouses wanting to believe their partner could not and would not do this to them and the children, this betrayal has troubled us. For those of us fighting to believe in our political leaders, this tragedy as provoked a deep sense of frustration and distaste.

Personally, your series of articles have nothing to do with the nasty details, but have offered a guide for those of us who remain ' bothered' by this on-going saga. Perhaps we are waiting for this family to seek and instigate some constructive positive solutions to publicly ease the insanity thus relieving us from our own nagging and sickening reactions.

PS One last constructive thought….sell the house and donate like crazy while making amends to those hurt in this scandal!

[NevadaLiberal]

Lee, ok there is a good chance that it's his baby and everything else you have said is most likely going to come true. Now, let it all unfold and you go get your tail working on John McCains affairs. Blow it wide open Lee. Show America who John McCain is! This man could very well be our next President, and the mainstream media is giving him a free pass. So it will be up to journalistic freedom fighters like yourself to get the true and real story out there, before America goes to the polls this fall and commits suicide.

[Meah]

I could never understand why his hair had to look so great, and Elizabeth's hair looked so raggedy. Now all is clear. Barf. The guy is a total cad.

[momabyrd]

Sin is sin, The fact that he took ALL the blame means nothing to any of you? He had a lot of stress and his wifes body was not availiable add to this this huge temptation was great, A verse in the bible states The Adulter she comes home licking her lips saying to herself she has done nothing wrong. She preyed on a man weaken by his wifes illness and brought him down. Perhaps if he had not have fallen he would have been in Obamas seat right now.
I say give him a break, once pride gets into a person or belief that we are intitled to something well sexual sin is right around the corner. Judge less not you yourself be judged.

[Pragmatista]

No, he didn't take all the blame.
ALL the blame implies he told the actual truth.

And he spent campaign money on a mistress.
John Edwards is an educated man, he knows right from wrong, and he's to sophisticated to be 'preyed on'.

He's a bad person. A phony. A fake.
And I supported him for a time.
Thank god he didn't get the nod.

[Meah]

Give me a break. And keep your religious drivel to yourself. John Edwards has done many dishonest things that he is yet to be accountable for. We are so sick of the televangelism do gooders. This guy took campaign contributions for himself and fathered a child he denies. The story ain't over. Do NOT talk about his wife's body not available to him. You are an idiot!

[schicklett3]

John Edwards needs to slink away and stay away. His political career is over.
And, if John McCain's adulterous affair with Cindy got the same press coverage that the Edwards affair got he would be finished, too. John McCain left his crippled wife to marry Cindy (where's the press coverage on that?).
I don't like either John - but I say the John McCain scandal needs press coverage as well.

[mmerose]

Courtesy of my "dittohead" close relatives, it's clear that McCain's history is getting coverage, but in the form of revisionism. All about what a hero he was to marry his first wife with her children, great confusion about the sequence of events, and I heard Hannity state flat out on Fixed News that Mccain never committed adultery. (What's a little redefinition of terms, after all?)

But I think Edwards has pushed the McCain story off limits anyway. "Who cares, all politicians do it,
you are just suckering us if you want to act like Obama hasn't too....." will now be the underlying assumption of many voters who might have been giving the Democrats and Obama the benefit of the doubt in basic personal integrity.

Maybe enough to elect John McCain.

[Revanchist]

Good article, impeccable logic, Lee. I see you've worked very diligently on this.

[AlligatorShuz]

This stroy belongs in the tabloids he is no candidate and he holds no political office, and the last I checked he lived in a 15 million dollar home.... He isn't the first man to have an affair that resulted in a child... Thomas Jefferson fathered about eight children by Sally Hemming and he was president of this country. Who cares if his wife says she forgive him and accepts it then who are we. EVERYBODY HAS SOME SECRETS IN THEIR CLOSETS....

[FirstShirt]

And Thomas Jefferson never pretended to be something he was not.

[escapee]

I know this sounds crazy but I saw John Edwards last Summer at a rally close to my home. It was a pretty small turn out. During his speech, Elizabeth caught my eye and smiled. She looked completely washed out (they were both extremely tired) but I remember thinking she had a very sweet smile. When the rally ended my daughter and I stayed back to get a picture with him. I was surprised by his slight build, in fact, I bent my knees so my 5-10 frame didn't overtower him. There was only a hand full of people in the room but after we got a picture I noticed he was still holding on and gently squeezing my arm. He had a very lonely look in his eyes ... an almost longing for tender attention. I know that sounds crazy. I later mentioned it to several friends. He came to my town the following week but that time he was in full politician mode -- shaking hands without looking up. It was very different, he looked more rested, too.

[Cherubim]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[deminmo]

No where in this article or in any coverage is the idea of how this
affair affects the Edwards children. All of them. They are the ones
Mr. Edward forgot when he started this affair, and they will pay the
price of it long after the press is done with the story.
Mr. Edwards, my suggestion is try and be a father for once, put the
kiddos first. Then step up and be a man. Then this becomes a non
story.

[BushBites]

I always thought Edwards was a phoney, so I'm not particularly surprised.

But I just keep thinking of his poor wife and, really, do we need to drag through any more?

[RedSt8r]

self-inflicted wound.

[Seldona]

Maybe he just fell in love with someone else? I happen to know that personally people facing a certain death from cancer withdraw from life itself. I am not defending John, hell I have't cast a single vote for him. But the fact that he is being turned into a villian for being HUMAN is making me sick. You can cut the self-rightousness here with a knife!

Life, and love, are very messy. Grow up and start paying attention to the MANY ISSUES that are affecting each and every one of us every single day. What is this? High school??? Sheesh!

[deminmo]

Seldona,
For middle aged married men, the excuse for an affair
is: fell out of love, illness, need change, someone listened
to me. It still boils down to cheating on your spouse. If the
marriage vows mean anything then cheating wouldn't happen.
It's better to call it quits and get on with life. Cheating from
either party just means they want to test the waters before
jumping in. In old venacular, its a copout.

[FirstShirt]

If he stayed on his property and out of the self imposed limelight I would have more sympathy with his foibles. He used his wife in a most ignoble fashion and for personal gain. That has to be more than just messy old life.

[joelrmpls]

The videos not a wise investment? How else would a good-looking multimillionaire get vaguely hot babe into bed with --

Oops. Nevermind.

[eden4barack08]

Edwards was in full campaign swing last June/July, which is when this woman ended up pregnant.
Now, we all know how the candidates are hounded by the media during a campaign. Is it really fathomable that Edwards would continue the affair that late into the campaign? Seriously? With all eyes on him, and with the story already breaking underground?
I really believe that he stopped seeing her before she got pregnant, and that baby isn't Edward's.

[eden4barack08]

Ok Lee, after NINE blogs on this subject, I'm beginning to believe you might be borderline obsessed with JE. Conceded you had it right all along, conceded Kos was wrong about you, conceded JE really f**ed up and anything else that might make you happy. Points taken. Now, can you move on to bigger, better, more important matters?

[mmerose]

It can be rational to be obsessed with something sufficiently important.

I think this could lose the election for Obama.

Pretty important.

[eden4barack08]

Oh great! Now Obama is responsible for another man's libido too?

[happycat]

I for one, who was a huge Edwards supporter is more and more disgusted with this story every day. I cannot even look at John Edwards. He revolts me. I gave away alot of money to his campaign because I honestly believed the man and his message. I along with alot of his supporters feel betrayed and absolutely shocked and appalled that he could treat his wife, children and close friends the way he did. I really wish that I could get my money back.
The other tragedy to come out of all this is that now Edward's antipoverty message is no where in sight. I don't see Obama stumping for the poor and all of the vets who are living in squallor in this country.

[notthistime]

that is not true. Obama has been stumping for the poor and vets has been discussed in almost all of his forums. Look it up.

[mairs]

What a cad. She says he loves her and told her they would be together after Elizabeth dies, and he says on TV that he doesn't love her. Save your skin John! You're just digging yourself a deeper hole by the minute.