John Edwards Admits Fathering Rielle Hunter’s Daughter

by Glynnis MacNicol | 7:20 am, January 21st, 2010

» 12 comments

Color the world shocked. After months and months of denials, followed by damaging (and sometimes creepy) revelations John Edwards has finally, publicly admitted he is the father of former mistress Rielle Hunter’s child. Edwards provided the following written statement to NBC News:

“I am Quinn’s father. I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace.

It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me. I have been providing financial support for Quinn and have reached an agreement with her mother to continue providing support in the future.

To all those I have disappointed and hurt these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry.”

To say this man has made a mess of his political career is really wildly understating matters. So why now? One has to assume the deeply disturbing and damaging (as much for Elizabeth Edwards as John) revelations to come out of the book Game Change had something to do with it. Also, likely, some late desire to protect his family from further scrutiny, and one hopes a desire to do what’s best for the child who is now two-years-old. In the meantime let’s hope this is the last we hear from Edwards for a very long time. UPDATE: Apparently, Edwards is in Haiti.

John Edwards, msnbc, NBC News, Quinn Hunter, Rielle Hunter

The Real Royal King

Rielle Hunter looks a great deal like Laura Ingraham, doesn’t she? Yikes!
Cecelia

TWO ladies in one blow!

Always the Brave Little Misogynist!…
sarainitaly

The stunning and shocking (/snark) revelation comes a week before his former campaign aide, Andrew Young, is set to appear in an ABC News interview saying he posed as the father when the scandal first broke as a favor to Edwards.

he didn’t come forward because of some attempt at redemption, or courage, he came forward because he was about to be busted.

he is scuz.
The Real Royal King

For once, Sara N. Italy, I think you are being a bit reserved. Young, as I am sure you know, is far more than a former campaign aide. As such, his role in the cover up is atrocious. This needs more media attention, from the legitimate, mainstream media than it has gotten. More bluster from the likes of Limbaugh and FOX will not give the Young story or angle the sense of importance it deserves. More whining from the whiners, as it were …. I also think “scuz” doesn’t convey the sense of importance the story deserves. “Fundamental abuse of position and trust” is much more descriptive.
Cecelia

I’d wager that “sense of importance” is based upon the risk to Democratic Party had Edewards actually been successful in his run for the Dem presidential nomination.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Teresa-McCarthy/686645542 Teresa McCarthy

So have these folks never heard of condoms. Geez, what a dufus.
The Real Royal King

I’m sure you’re not saying a condom would excuse the moral and ethical lapse?
timzank

There was no moral or ethical lapse, he’s a democrat. Sheesh, what are ya thinkin?
sarainitaly

The Real Royal King says:
January 21, 2010 at 9:36 am

I have written quite extensively about Edwards and the whole sordid affair. I was merely answering Glynnis’s question, “why now”.

I think they are all scuzzy, for their own individual actions, including Elizabeth for knowing and allowing him to continue to run for Pres.
The Real Royal King

While I am not a fan of “scuzzy” I can agree with your assessment except as to Elizabeth. I don’t have to delve into situational ethics to do so. Despite her illness and the potential of her leaving two (2) young children behind, she is still married to John. She gave vows she took seriously. Sometimes, we are a bit too quick to snitch in this nation. And, in the process, we destroy all sorts of relationships. I read that the US is the biggest nation of snitches since Nazi-era Germany. Did you know the Gestapo was actually a very ineffective investigative body. It relied upon a vibrant, nation-wide almost population-wide system of snitches. The fact is, some relationships are far more important than the law, and vows, to spouse, to God, are far, far more important than the law. I, for example, will never serve on a jury in which execution would be a possible sentence. Knowing that would even be a possibility would require me to find a guilty person innocent. Compared to the relatively mild Elizabeth issue, I just can’t fault her. Maybe, I’m an old softy.
sarainitaly

I was all Team Elizabeth until I found out she knew, and allowed her lying cheatin husband to defraud the country. I also, finding out she in fact knew, found her comments towards the Clintons completely inappropriate and hypocritcal.

I also think she misdirected her anger towards Hunter, instead of where it rightfully belonged, at Edwards. Granted, Hunter knew John was married, and his wife was sick, but Hunter (homewrecking hussy that she may be) owed nothing to Elizabeth. For Elizabeth to allow John to fraud the public, stand beside him as he campaigned on family values, took jabs at the Clintons, payoff another family to cover it up, and publically attacked Hunter, she lost my support.

She also sat there while John bargained for a spot as Obama’s VP, not tossing her weight behind Hillary, who she herself admitted had a better health care plan, which was her top issue.

So, I can fault her for that.
Cecelia

Recognizing that she’s been terribly wronged and hurt, can coincide very rationally AND empathetically along side the recognition that she had much to lose personally with her husband’s downfall.