I want to start by bragging to you about how discreet Pajamas Media is. Over six months ago, we had wind of the John Edwards/Rielle Hunter love affair and love child and did not run with it. Most of this information was hearsay from people here in Hollywood, people who know Rielle. She was a long time hanger on in Hollywood circles before heading East to do political promo videos… and, yes, I had met her myself on a couple of occasions at parties. She was not particularly notable, of the tedious sort that bore you to death about their yoga instructor.
But now that the cat is out the bag, I will say what I wanted to say then. John Edwards–he of constructing a 28,000 square foot home while preaching about the two Americas and remonstrating about the environment–is one of the most reprehensible schmucks to appear on the American political scene in some time. And that’s saying something. That he played this game while his wife had cancer makes it contemptible beyond words. Now we know why he was always primping in the mirror. It is narcissism unbounded.
But there is a moral to this story – and I think we all know it. I hate the use of caps, but I think in this instance I will use them. DO NOT BELIEVE THE HIGH FLOWN RHETORIC OF POLITICIANS – ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS HOLIER THAN THOU. THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MASKING SOMETHING.
Oh, one last thing, for those of you who say it’s The National Enquirer, how do we know it’s true? I suggest you Google the “National Enquirer and OJ Simpson.” They broke most of the important stories on that case. In general, these days they’re vastly more reliable than The New York Times.
Is this a new twist on the release of delegates
Heh, and published on the day that Drudge announced on top of the fold that Edwards had made the Obama VP shortlist.
Lem, I thought the fact that Edwards had made the VP shortlist was a new twist on Edward’s release of delegates to Obama.
Another UNC law grad in the great tradition of Mike Nifong. What a scum to trade on his dead child and his cancer-stricken wife. Is there a special ring of Hell for this guy? Please let there be.
Why doesn’t this surprise me? He always seemed way too smarmy and smug.
Preach it, Roger!
A first:
A democrat with his pants down and we thought it was only a Republican disease.
Ask Keith O how he is going to weasel on this one.
Did they do it at the mill?
Can’t seem to find it on the news portions of yahoo or msn. So maybe it’s not true.
I hate it when this happens and the unfairness of him getting caught in a upscale hotel and my guys getting caught in airport bathrooms.
Airport johns for Republicans and the Beverly Hilton for Dems.
My whole frame of reference is collapsing.
Perhaps, wordsmith you are Mr. Simon, you could slightly adjust your idiom to say:
NEVER BELIEVE CURRENT-EVENT GENERATED GENERALIZATIONS- ESPECIALLY WHEN CAPITALIZED BY AUTHORS OF RENOWN.
Reagan: holier-than-those-people-in-the-corner-over-there.
Lincoln: Holier-than-all.
Washington: Do you get it now?
What if Bobby Jindal is holier-than-thou? According to your post, all should immediately discount him and his potential, based upon your cynicism.
Of course your cynicism is well-founded; it’s simply just not an excuse to demonize all politicians, now and forever, who happen to idealistic/optimistic.
That he played this game while his wife had cancer
I’ve personally known others who played that game. Their behaviour wasn’t up to the highest ethical standard, but spending several years caring for a dying, bedridden spouse is a terribly hard thing. So I don’t judge those people harshly, but their failings have increased my respect for those who adhere to a higher standard.
John Edwards, on the other hand, is also a disgusting hypocrite and cynical liar. ‘Nuff said.
THEY THINK THE RULES DON’T APPLY TO THEM.
THE RULES ONLY APPLY TO US – FOR OUR OWN GOOD.
VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
Roger, I don’t have a comment on this article, but since it appears very difficult to actually send you an e-mail these days (your old address doesn’t work, and the PJM page for you mentions nary a word about e-mailing — actually contacting — you), I’ll make my points here that I wanted to send you, and you (since you appear, from what you said a day or two ago) to be releasing comments personally) can then delete and not post this.
1. I would like to encourage you to organize PJM published articles like the New York Times, New Yorker, and some other sites do: allow an option (via a link in a side panel near the top of the article as the NY Times does, or perhaps amongst the “Pages:” links that PJM places at the bottom) where one can obtain a single-page (rather than divided between n sub-pages) presentation of the piece.
2. It would also be great if PJM were to support a preview function with regard to its reader comments.
Best,
Michael McNeil
Impearls
maybe he can run for vice precedent
Well now Edwards won’t be picked for VP. Perhaps the Enquirer would have maximized the potential for sales by sitting on the story until Obama’s VP pick. It’s not like there would be much downside to this even if Edwards were not picked. (Enquirer readers aren’t thinking about Edwards much now.) And of course, if the Enquirer came out with the story a couple days after an Edwards pick, that would mean predictable blowout newsstand sales.
“She loves him and will do anything to protect him”….
I’ll say. He’s her ticket to paradise. If she destroyed him, she’d be cutting off her shot at the future bigtime..
Jeez, those dumocrats sure can make me cynical…
It’s touching to see a case of Rielle love in this cynical age….
He drilled himself into this problem.
Mickey Kaus has been all over this one. Atta Boy, Mickey.
john ran the first ever green presidential campaign. he’s also opened up his personal jet and mansion to the other america. he has over 100 members of the other america livinng with him in his home. how could anyone think he’s a hypocrite and an ambulance chasing attorney. john is the real deal.
So which Democratic rival for the VP slot leaked this to the Enquirer? Or did the Obama campaign leak it so they could have an excuse to pass over Edwards without angering his supporters?
Lem, I thought the fact that Edwards had made the VP shortlist was a new twist on Edward’s release of delegates to Obama.
Alcibiades dear fellow, I was merely celebrating the return of sex to the political panorama by the use of an admittedly obscure innuendo.
I have caused pain to this post
I don’t know why you all acting all indignant.
The senator was merely fact-finding the two Americas
The two Americas were no mere metaphors. (hey, be careful)
I called this four years ago when he ran with Kerry – the smuggest, do nothing, say anything lib I had ever seen. So fake – and when asked a question could barely croak out a complete sentence. But no one would ever call him out on anything….
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Speaker Gingrich hauled over the coals for things he did on the side when he had a gravely ill spouse? Query if the same will happen here. (Quasi-rhetorical query.)
The Enquirer was also way out in front on Monicagate and Jesse Jackson’s love child. I’m seeing a pattern here.
When an Attention Whore Meets an Attention Whore. It’s interesting how The National Enquirer was able to coordinate this. Almost as if, you know, somebody wanted to force somebody to acknowledge something. “Oops, I’m pregnant!!!” or “Oops, how’d The National Enquirer know you’d be here?!!” The sad thing is, it’s not even about money, it’s about Attention.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
Nelson Rockefeller supposedly died while performing certain amorous acts with woman not his wife, at least according to certain notorious media reports of the time. Don’t know if that former VP died with his boots on, though!
Wonder if Elizabeth would make sure that the fair-haired wonder predecease her.
I have a hunch that Elizabeth has been “fully informed in the premises”, as the lawyers like to say. I would not want to be Silky Pony at this stage. Even if she is riddled with cancer, I suspect she will make him pay.
“Or did the Obama campaign leak it so they could have an excuse to pass over Edwards without angering his supporters?”
Oooooh, if his organization was this good, I’d consider voting for him.
Other evidence argues against.
I feel sorry for his wife.
But he is a Liberal so all is forgiven!!
I am a personal injury attorney, and while I feel very sorry for his wife, I must express my happiness with the exposure of this schmuck.
Elizabeth in denial mode
“This campaign has always had at it’s core the issues about which women feel passionately, and therefore it is no surprise to me that women are drawn to this campaign – both because of the emphasis on the real issues and John’s commitment to improving the lives of women and families” – Elizabeth Edwards
http://www.johnedwards.com/women/
DougW, a juicy follow-up to Nelson Rockefeller’s demise was that his lover and someone else re-dressed him after he craoked and put his wingtips on backwards!!
Ya gotta love it!
Well thank GAWD we know this can’t be the case with his Blessed Holiness Obama, because Michelle O obviously has his nuts in a vise-like grip, if for no other reason than to save them from Jizzy Jackson!
So Barack, be THANKFUL tonight that you are already known as a world-class eunuch.
I wondered why PJM hadn’t picked up the story.
But Pajamas Media doesn’t have the resources of the Mainstream Media, who ignored the story in the face of a number of unbelievable coincidences.
“Do you deny you’ve been in phone contact with Rielle Hunter since since found out she was pregnant?”
THAT was all they had to ask him. Just put him on the record. One unnamed reporter asked one question when the Enquirer broke the second story and named Hunter. To my memory, the question wasn’t answered or reported.
That was the extent of our adversarial media’s interest. Even though “Rielle Hunter” was the #1 searched-for term on Google on December 20.
The reason the MSM is going down the tubes: they’re selling a product few are buying–a socialized, liberal view of the world.
So the great love story that began at Wendy’s ends at the Beverly Hilton.
Time will show it was Rielle Hunter herself that called the National Enquirer to tip them off about the clandestine rendezvous.
She seeks fame so much she’ll sell out the most famous person in her life just so a little will rub off on her.
easyliving1:
“What if Bobby Jindal is holier-than-thou?”
What the heck are you talking about? “holier-than-thou” has nothing to do with idealism, it is an attitude displayed by hypocrites, same as “do as I say, not as I do”. E.g. St. Al castigates us against our carbon foot prints, and makes huge prints with his big feet. Of course, if Bobby Jindal or whoever is behaving “holier-than-thou”, he should be discounted and ridiculed too.
Oh cut out the pretentious middle-class crap! Mr. Edwards should be commended as the people’s hero. By this revolutionary act, Mr. Edwards is decaring himself clearly on the other side of the two Americas. There is one America that is enslaved and enslaves through middle-class morality and values of greedy accumulation for their own class and race, disguised under the pseudonym of “family values” or “raising a family.” As Marx pointed out, and every university student in the Humanities knows today, it is a disguise for just another cruel and stifling instrument of religion and oppresion for the submission of people’s sensuality for the sake of exploitation and control. As a fearless fighter for the working class, Mr. Edwards knows this, and his relationship with Rielle Hunter is a symbolic strike against pretentious bourgeosie morality that seeks to enslave the proletarians. Mr. Edwards clearly fights for the other America – the one tht has freed itself from the shackles of false middle class values, that cruelly stifles sexual exprssion, that seeks to own and control the products of free human sexuality through so-called “family” rather than through the correct instrument of the state.
Mr. Edwards should be praised as one candidate who is marvellously consistent with his political rhetoric and his personal life.
I don’t get what he ever did / said that was “holier than thou.” And why is it contemptible? How do you know he and his wife don’t have an agreement? Why can’t a public official have a private life? I think this is sad – for him and for us.
“She was not particularly notable, of the tedious sort that bore you to death about their yoga instructor.”–lol.
I’m glad Edwards got caught. Were it to happen to more politicians we’d all be better off.
Does this mean that the snotty a-holes with the Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers are going to finally remove them?
She loves silky ponies. Who can blame her?
National Enquirer: “In general, these days they’re vastly more reliable than The New York Times.”
Isn’t THAT the truth!
I wouldn’t mind getting a look at those “Two Americas.”
“…spending several years caring for a dying, bedridden spouse is a terribly hard thing.”
What aspect of “till death do us part” is it that you don’t understand? Do you not grasp it as you speak them during the ceremony? Or is it that words are cheap to you?
As the No. 3 finisher in this year’s Democratic primary, I’m sure Edwards will have a prime speaking opportunity on one of the nights of the convention … or if not, that the media might want to explain why the former senator has turned into a non-person within their party.
“…I’m sure Edwards will have a prime speaking opportunity on one of the nights of the convention…”
Edwards who? And why would a Republican be speaking at the Dem convention? I hope Katie Couric fills in the gaps in this story for me soon. I miss her when she is on tour with the President.
I think this is just Hillary sending out a warning to the “big dog” – her first lowering of the boom so to speak. As was done to Edwards, so shall she do to the messiah.
No wonder Edwards is promoting the Two Americas idea – he wants a wife in each one!
(If he starts talking about *three* Americas, look out, Rielle.)
Scott
I’m only sorry they couldn’t sit on this until Obama made his veep choice. What fun we’d have had if he’d picked Edwards and then this story broke. Still, anything that helps damage the Democrat brand has to be good.
Feydeau farce? Huh? So I wikied Feydeau. Interesting guy, thanks for introducing him to me. Are there any movies based on his work?
I’m disappointed in his choice of hotels. The much more elegant Peninsula is right across the street. Oh, I forgot, he’s a man of the people.
Why is sitting on this story a virtue?
This is just Clinton campaigning for VP.
Someone should clue John that if you’re going to cheat on your cancer eaten wife then at least trade up. Pictures of the woman conjure up one word…skank.
I also understand this in no way alters his position for a possible VP slut.Slot
It is a virtue because PJM waited for confirmation…unlike the NYT who set out to destroy John McCain on mere rumors.
You are all missing the point. The real disgust over Edwards conduct has nothing to do with the affair…he’s human and bound to sin. But to use his wife’s illness for his political campaing while fathering a child with another and then go on an indignant tirade about how anyone who knows him knows he’s been in love with the same woman for 30 yrs (his words) is beyond hypocritical…to make a married friend of his take the blame saying he was the father of that child and to continue to deny his child all solely to further his poliical career is unforgivable.
Calm down…Obama would have never picked him…he was a has been before this…he’s completely done now.
Interesting sidenote: Rielle is supposed to be the inspiration for the character Alison Poole in “American Psycho”. Ellis was supposedly involved with her at some point during her alleged New York party scene days. Mr. Simon’s characterization seems apt, as she’s been described as a new-agey-ooji-gooji type of gal. (Her website reeked of patchouli and unicorns). Amazing how the National Enquirer garners more respect than the New York freaking Times — and is worthy of it.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Roger used to be somebody. Scooped by the National by God. I am shocked, shocked I twll you.
There arose a media that knew not Edwards. The MSM is unlikely to hurry into this because it reinforces the doubts of many about unknown, pontificating, unctuous, charismatic hustlers. Those types are to be followed to the ends of the earth.
Alan Butterfield is the Enquirer reporter claiming to have witnessed Edwards in the hotel for a rendezvous with his alleged mistress.
“For those unfamiliar, Butterfield is a reporter for the National Enquirer-yes, the supermarket tabloid-and is the one who “broke” the gay sex-ring story about Ed Smart and several of his brothers. The story was based on information obtained from unnamed sources. Later it became known that some unnamed sources were paid $10,000 each. In the end, the information proved to be false and two reporters, Kevin Cantera and Michael Vigh of The Salt Lake Tribune, were fired due to their involvement in the fiasco.”
‘Academic freedom, The National Enquirer and U’
from The Daily Utah Chronicle, 10/23/03
So, in the age of cell-phone-camera ubiquity, where are the images, where is the video?
You’d demand at least of the MSM, had they made the accusation.
Message to the National Enquirer: Why haven’t you released your video?
Another reason is this is likely to be true… besides all the specific detail with no denial… is that the National Enquirer would be the recipient of the Mother of All Lawsuits from Lawyer Edwards, one that could conceivably put them out of business, considering Edwards background. The Enquirer, a far more conservative operation than most think, would never risk such a thing. For what? Edwards isn’t even a candidate anymore.
So you think there is no video? I wish I could get a serious wager with someone over that issue. Maybe no video of the assignation, but video of the pretty one in the basemant. Does anyone see a denial that our UNC law grad was there or that his “friend” was there without the purported father of the child? Any denial that he was in the basement?
I, for one, would never quote the Utah Chronicle as a respectilbe source.
Come on. There is no other reason for John Boy to be in the basement of this hotel at this hour, alone. Accept the truth. As to the denials, remember the Democrat slogan that “Everyone lies about sex.”
Seek help if you believe Edwards.
Jabba:
IMDB lists 78 movies made from Feydeau’s works, but none of them are familiar to me, and most are of course French. Noises Off is hilarious, and farcical, and (I’m told) very Feydeauish.
Men have brief assignations all the time, sick wives or not. And plenty ARE in love with their wives but give in to a momentary temptation. What’s happening NOW is that these women are proceeding with pregnancies that occur–rather than using birth control or other responses–thus creating a MUCH higher risk for the men involved. My heart breaks for both of them.
“In one America, children grow up in a warm, supportive home environment with two loving parents.
“In the other America, illegitimacy and broken homes and absent fathers are the norm.”
>>>So you think there is no video? I wish I could get a serious wager with someone over that issue.
I didn’t say there is no video.
I want to know why it hasn’t been released.
Why haven’t they released the video? What is the Enquirer hiding?
Please note: Every major TV station stayed away from this story. It is amazing. I wonder what the deal would be if it were like Romney.
The MSM is waiting until after the Obama Magical Mystery Tour before it buries it on page 32.
Considering the missus’s health, this is exceptionally foul behavior. The Lord of Feelings must’ve sued himself for a local variance, and won. Be interesting to hear the closing statement; too bad it’s all filed away underneath the perfect haircut.
We always knew Edwards was feminine, but does this make him a lesbo?
Come to think of it, it’s probably that haircut’s fault. It sat up there over the ears whispering “C’mon, man, USE me — waddaya think I’m FOR? Slide in behind that chick and give me a good sidetoss — I’ll take it on home from there! Well, not “home’ — scratch that — home base? Nah –”
Actual quotes from John Edwards, in a speech Jun 22, 2006, to the National Press Club,
Washington, DC.
“Women shouldn’t have to raise children on their own.”
“… And, as I mentioned earlier, we would create opportunities for young fathers to work and take responsibility for their children, and reward them for doing so…
“All of us — parents, clergy, teachers, public officials — we need to say that it is wrong when young men father children but don’t support them.
“It is wrong when girls and young women bear children they aren’t ready to care for.”
From his own website: http://www.johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20060622/
I must say that several known adulterer politicians are among my favorites, just as far as being interesting and sincere about applying their egomania towards what they honestly believe to be good public service. Spitzer and Hart on the left, Gingrich and Dick Morris on the right, are examples. And we have no idea who the complete list of adulterers in Washington really is. My suspicion is they would all have little else in common.
Lust is to be preferred among the sins, to greed, sloth, envy and, especially, wrath.
Countdown to “That’s not the John Edwards I knew”…
10…9…8…7…
Let us know how it feels under that bus, John.
Scott
“Spitzer and Hart on the left, Gingrich and Dick Morris on the right, are examples.”
Good to see you again Markus. Dick Morris on the right? mmmkay.
“Lust is to be preferred among the sins, to greed, sloth, envy and, especially, wrath.”
Wrong; wrath is the shiznit. Hopefully Elizabeth is basking in it now. btw, it wasn’t just lust here; Silky was such a standup guy he had one of his buds take the rap for jizzing up that slob.
His daddy had a mistress.
There’s seven of ‘em — the traditional seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. I’d say ‘pride’ is outlier — how can you be proud if you’re mired in them others?
“Men have brief assignations all the time, sick wives or not. And plenty ARE in love with their wives but give in to a momentary temptation.”
Nice low opinion of men, lauren; not to mention oxymoronic definition of love. Maybe you attract the losers.
Too bad the evidence isn’t as to an alleged affair with a lobbyist 8 years ago or we might have read about it in the NY Times this evening. See, e.g. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
This involves a Democrat, however, so it seems likely that the MSM will exercise “responsible journalism” and ignore the story. But I wonder what the NYT take would be if the Dem. nomination was still open and Edwards was strongly opposing Obama.
May the Farce be with him!
Mr. Eddy, maybe to report on a left-wing propagandist with a squandered reputation and collapsing prospects would simply hit a little too close to home for the kidz at the New York “profits drop 82%” Times.
IMHO, The National Enquirer would NOT run with a bogus story about a well-connected millionare politician who has the legal background and time to sue them down the river.
Possible MSM considerations for keeping this on hold:
1. If they let this run too early, all the prep time and money spent covering the Obama world tour will be wasted. Obama’s extraordinary photo-ops would get drowned out by the media frenzy, in shades of Gary Condit post 9/11.
2. Ultimately that would hurt Obama. So there probably exists a threat (tacit or otherwise) of losing access to Democrats and Obama in the future if they usurp his spotlight. This would be particularly damning should he win. Since the National Enquirer is usually removed from the political realm, they can fire at will without fear of consequence.
As far as withholding this being a case of journalistic standards, or whatever they are calling it these days, I’d call shenanigans. Bin Laden gets free facetime anytime he releases so much as an 8-track.
The Edwards story has it all, power, lust, what I am told is good looks, and betrayal (particularly of someone as endearing as his vulnerable wife.) Talk about a summer blockbuster. We’re not still waiting for Batman to hit theaters are we?
I hope Osama, I mean Obama, picks a running mate with a checkered past. It will make his defeat in November all the sweeter. Repubicans, remember the battle cry,” United we stand, divided we fall.” If we split our votes between McCain and an Independent, Obama will win. Also, keep in mind, he,as the President, has the power to appoint Supreme Court justices FOR LIFE. Don’t let him put liberals in the Supreme Court. This issue is too important to not vigorously campaign for a Republican candidate.
To quote a commenter on Gawker, “Is it too early to consider Elizabeth and Rielle as ‘The Two Americas’?”
I saw the split-picture of Edwards and . . . Good God! Who’s the drag queen on the right? An undercover cop?
Oh. . . Oops! Was I just mean and un-gallant? Is that the girlfriend? Golly, shame on me.
How awkward.
I’m not sure where I saw the video, but I believe somewhere in FLA yesterday and the look on his face when asked a specific question could have stopped a bus.
So who wants to bet that after Barry the Majestic hits the shores of the USofA, this story breaks bigtime.
And not you Larson since I’ve lost to you once before.
…and let it be known that promoguy, after losing his bet on the 2006 Rose Bowl game (featuring offensive powerhouses Texas, riding a 19-game winning streak, and USC, which entered the game with a 34-game winning streak and 2 Heisman Trophy winners; Texas won 41-38) paid up fair & square, sending at my request a c-note to my Louisiana galfriend’s Katrina charity. Even though he could’ve just forgotten about it, the net being the net, he didn’t, he peeled off that c-note and stuck in the mail — a standup guy, that promoguy.
How can you describe Edwards as “one of the most reprehensible schmucks to appear on the American political scene in some time” without supporting your argument with the words “plaintiff’s attorney?”
The absence of MSM coverage (so far) is stunning.
Larry Craig’s excellent adventures were plastered all over the place.
Also, it is somewhat odd to consider that the National Enquirer (relative to many mainstream newspapers) might be a more “reliable” source of news.
Darn. Just when it looked like Democrats were developing a moral backbone, this had to go and happen. Oh yeah, I forgot, he’s a human! Disgusting humans!
This sounds like McSame, who married Cindy one month after divorcing his crippled wife. One would have to be very naive to believe that McSame and Cindy were not playing under the sheets before McSame got his divorce. I think it’s called “adultery”.
well, if McCain might have committed adultery in the past, Obama might commit adultery in the future. The nerve — he’s supposed to be something new, and there he might will be, an adulterer! Not getting MY vote.
We see the only drilling that John Edwards is interested in.
The Democrats do the drilling and the American taxpayers are the ones that “get drilled”.
There really is two Americas…One has the John Edwards that is the loving husband and father. The other has John Edwards banging his mistress on his desk at the office. Ahhhh, America! What a wonderful place.
Making the right choices is one of the things that seperates us from animals (acting and reacting on instinct). Not giving in the our urges. If he can’t make good decisions about his own life, how can I depend on him to make decisions that will effect me and my family in the future.
You idiots are hilarious.
How would you react to a guy who cheated on and then divorced his wife who was disfigured in a horrible car accident?
You would support him for President, of course.