Edwards admits fathering child with mistress

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/349...day_people

For the first time, John Edwards is publicly admitting that he is indeed the father of a 2-year-old daughter conceived with Rielle Hunter, a campaign videographer with whom he had an affair.

In a written statement provided exclusively to NBC News, the former North Carolina senator and Democratic presidential candidate says he’s taking responsibility for the child, Frances Quinn Hunter:

“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.”

Harrison Hickman, Edwards’ close friend and personal advisor, spoke to NBC’s Lisa Myers on Edwards’ behalf.

“The senator wants to say, first of all, that he is the father of Quinn,” Hickman said. “Secondly, he wants people to know that he has provided for her and will continue to provide for her, as he should, both financially and emotionally.”

Edwards is not speaking publicly today, at least in part because of an ongoing federal investigation into whether campaign money was used to try to cover up the affair. He has denied wrongdoing. Hickman said that Edwards wanted to be honest about his child, but also wanted to protect his privacy.

“He’s not doing this as a way to try to bring attention to himself,” Hickman said. “He’s doing this as a way … to begin to put this behind, not just him, but everybody else who’s been affected by this.”

Edwards' attorneys say he's been seeing Quinn and providing financial support for about a year, and just signed a child support agreement with Hunter. A spokesperson for Elizabeth Edwards says she learned last summer that Quinn is her husband's child.

Why wait more than two years to publicly admit paternity?

“He has acknowledged it long before now. The reason it has taken so long for it to become public is that there were a lot of people involved,” Hickman said. “There are a lot of adults involved, there are a number of families involved, and there are also a lot of kids involved.”

Today’s announcement marks another chapter in the fall of a man once considered a leading candidate for president. Edwards’ personal and political troubles began after the tabloid National Enquirer began reporting in October 2007 on his affair with Hunter, now 45.



Welcome to the surprise of the century.

This is a man who was a failure in his personal life, a failure in his political life, and a failure in his professional life. Amazing how he still has supporters.

they are hypocritical dems when it comes to sex. whats new?

Quote from SigX : they are hypocritical dems when it comes to sex. whats new?

How are dems hypocritical about sex? Frankly, the only time they make a big deal about it is if some ultra-right wing conservative who proclaims family values is caught (a) banging a mistress on the side (b) tapping toes in the bathroom or (c) trying to pick up pages



Regardless, Edwards is a creep. He's a total scumbag.

Quote from Krazen1211 : This is a man who was a failure in his personal life, a failure in his political life, and a failure in his professional life. Amazing how he still has supporters.

The dude obviously sucks at being married, but you must have remarkably high standards for political and professional success.

Most of us would love to "fail" that well.

I was never an Edwards "fan" or anything, it just seems like a strange characterization.

Quote from skiman : The dude obviously sucks at being married, but you must have remarkably high standards for political and professional success.

Or just remarkably warped ones.

Quote : Most of us would love to "fail" that well.

Interesting how there's no love from the conservatives for a millionaire entrepreneur.... when s/he is a liberal.

Quote : I was never an Edwards "fan" or anything, it just seems like a strange characterization.

Not when you consider who's making that characterization.

Quote from skiman : The dude obviously sucks at being married, but you must have remarkably high standards for political and professional success. Most of us would love to "fail" that well. I was never an Edwards "fan" or anything, it just seems like a strange characterization.

I don't think it is.

The man's greatest accomplishment as a Senator was writing the Iraq War resolution, and his greatest accomplishment as a lawyer is the junk lawsuits he peddled that harm our health care system.

I don't consider either one of them to be admirable.

Quote from smegalicious : Or just remarkably warped ones. Interesting how there's no love from the conservatives for a millionaire entrepreneur.... when s/he is a liberal. Not when you consider who's making that characterization.

Amusing theory.

Steve Jobs is a liberal who was just named CEO of the decade by forbes magazine.

Quote from Krazen1211 : I don't think it is. The man's greatest accomplishment as a Senator was writing the Iraq War resolution

Any particular reason you're qualified to determine "[t]he man's greatest accomplishment as a Senator"?

Quote : and his greatest accomplishment as a lawyer is the junk lawsuits he peddled that harm our health care system.

Edwards tried more personal injury cases than *just* CP birth defects, regardless of whether or not they were "junk lawsuits".

Quote from Krazen1211 : I don't think it is. The man's greatest accomplishment as a Senator was writing the Iraq War resolution, and his greatest accomplishment as a lawyer is the junk lawsuits he peddled that harm our health care system. I don't consider either one of them to be admirable.

That's probably a better way of saying it. Personal admiration isn't a good analog for success.

It may actually be the case that you don't admire him because he was so successful!

I wonder if he tried to convince Rielle into exercising her right to choose?

Quote from skiman : That's probably a better way of saying it. Personal admiration isn't a good analog for success. It may actually be the case that you don't admire him because he was so successful!

I think that heavily depends on your definition of "success..."

Quote from skiman : That's probably a better way of saying it. Personal admiration isn't a good analog for success. It may actually be the case that you don't admire him because he was so successful!

Well, that's almost certainly true, in an odd way.

If he wasn't a good lawyer, nobody would know who he was, and he wouldn't have become a train wreck of a Vice Presidential and Presidential candidate.

Next thing, they're going to tell us that bears poop in the woods. Edwards is a douche, enjoyed reading about him in Game Change.

Quote from farnan : How are dems hypocritical about sex? Frankly, the only time they make a big deal about it is if some ultra-right wing conservative who proclaims family values is caught (a) banging a mistress on the side (b) tapping toes in the bathroom or (c) trying to pick up pages Regardless, Edwards is a creep. He's a total scumbag.

ummm, clinton got a total pass for his romps in his home state and in the oval office. SP has a daughter that gets knocked up and the dems go to town about SP's lack of family values. OK to get hummer in the oval office by one of you insubordinates but not OK to for anyone else if your in the repub party.