by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August10, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

hen the National Enquirer broke the story Oct. 10, 2007 about former 2004 Democratic VP candidate and 2008 contender Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) affair with an unnamed mistress, he categorically denied the charges. “The story is false,” he told the press. “It's completely untrue, ridiculous,” cleverly, not admitting the affair, professing his enduring love for his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth. No one knew then that his mistress was 42-year-old Rielle Hunter, a videographer producing campaign commercials, was pregnant, delivering a daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, February 27. Dogged by the press and with the story raging uncontrolled and moving to mainstream media, Edwards offered his phony mea culpa. “In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs . . . ,” read Edward's press release.

      Illicit affairs have ruined, or nearly ruined, the careers of many politicians, most recently former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose tryst with a 22-year-old high-priced N.Y. call girl Ashley Alexandra Dupree took him down. Unlike Spitzer, Edwards didn't break the law, an especially egregious infraction for the N.Y.'s tough-minded former attorney general, but violated every cannon of political correctness cheating on his sick wife. Edward's political future remains in doubt, not because of the affair but, like former president Bill Clinton, his unwillingness to come clean. Clinton, not as Hillary blamed “the vast right wing conspiracy,” became his own worst enemy, denying his affair with 21-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton's hubris ruined his presidency, lying under oath about in a deposition about his relationship with Paula Corbin Jones.

      Edwards now takes his turn destroying his political career, continuing to lie about what the National Equirer reports as his “love child.” Edwards wants to talk about his affair in past tense but was caught July 22 by Enquirer reporter Alan Butterfield at the Beverly Hilton at around 11:00 PM. Hunter was driven from Santa Barbara and checked into the Hilton hours before Edwards arrived by the same driver. Edwards was confronted by Butterfield and scurried into a bathroom where he barricaded the door, playing tug-of-war, refusing Butterfield entry. Already photographed and videotaped at the Hilton, it's inexplicable why the 55-year-old former senator would barricade himself in the bathroom. When Butterfield and crew approached, Edwards only had to answer, “No comment!” Edwards returned back to Hunter's room and didn't leave until around 2:00 AM, fueling more speculation.

      When a tabloid or newspaper publishes a false report about public figurers, they're usually slapped with a lawsuit. When that doesn't happen, it's a good bet the story is true. Edwards called last month's “love child” story “tabloid trash,” denying its validity. Yet no lawsuits have followed, the best evidence of the story's accuracy. Coordinating with Hunter's attorney Robert Gordon to prove his honesty, Edwards told ABC's “Nightline” Aug 8 he was willing to seek a paternity test. “I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitely established,” Edward's said on “Nightline.” Twenty-four-hours later, Gordon tells the press that his client will not submit to any test. There was no father's name listed on baby-Frances' birth certificate.

      Mainstream media continue to refer to Edward's “ex-mistress,” despite the fact he spent several hours with her at the Beverly Hilton, July 22. Meeting Rielle in the heart of paparazzi land was incredibly reckless for the former presidential candidate. It's beyond “willful suspension of disbelief” to ask anyone to believe he played Tiddlywinks in the hotel room for several hours. Rielle refusing a paternity test makes Edwards look like the good guy. Any man faced with an allegation of paternity can petition a court to order a test. Yet Edwards acts like because Rielle refuses the test case is closed. “Rielle is therefore making no statement now or in the future,” said Gordon's prepared press release. “Furthermore, Rielle will not participate in DNA testing or any other invasion of her daughter's privacy now or in the future.” Rielle has no legal grounds to deny Edwards a paternity test.

      Edwards continues to blow smoke about his ongoing relationship with his mistress. If the “love child” story were not true, Edwards would slap the Enquirer in a heartbeat with a libel and slander suit. It's a no-brainer for Edwards to go to a court and ask for a paternity test. He could set the record straight but refuses to do so in hopes that the story will eventually go away. His refusal to come clean has destroyed his political career, now or in the future, including his expected offer to serve as attorney general in an Obama administration. Instead of fessing up and ending the story, Edwards followed Bill Clinton into the unforgiving quicksand of political spin. If he really wants to come clean, he'd have Rielle take the test. After calling the story “tabloid trash,” “completely untrue” and “ridiculous,” Edwards has more convincing to do than blaming Rielle for refusing take a paternity test.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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