Friday, August 08, 2008

John Edwards, I Hardly Knew Ye

On a friday afternoon and it being the first day of the Olympics, John Edwards cowardly came out and admitted the affair with Rielle Hunter to be true. As a long time Edwards supporter, I am deeply ashamed to hear this news, especially since he repeatedly lied about Hunter during his Presidential campaign. I couldn't even imagine the damage he would have done to the country had he become the nominee. I couldn't have imagined saying this a couple weeks ago or especially in February, but I am so glad he lost early.

From ABC News:

In an interview for broadcast tonight on Nightline, Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-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.


He came clean to Elizabeth two years ago and obviously she has forgiven him or else she would have left him, but then again no one knows what goes on inside a marriage except for those that are in it. Those details I leave up to the Edwards' family, but as for the Presidential race and the lies he told us....what a terrible thing to do, especially when so much is riding on this election. If John McCain were running against Edwards instead of Obama, we'd be in serious trouble.

Also, in spite of all his tremendous work in the fight against poverty, this incident puts a terrible stain on his reputation. The affair shadows the important issue of the class war in our society and the things we must do to combat it, at least in regards to Edwards' contributions.