Edwards

Yes on Affair . . . But No on Love Child?

The National Enquirer has been saying for months that former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards had an affair with Rielle Hunter and fathered a child with her. I would never have guessed the Enquirer would have the real scoop on this, but it turns out they were right. Today, Edwards told ABC News' Bob Woodruff (in an interview to air tonight on Nightline) that he did have the affair, but that Rielle's daughter is not his.

In fact, he apparently goes farther and proclaims that he did not love Ms. Hunter. He emphasizes that he had this affair when his wife Elizabeth's cancer was in remission and that he told Elizabeth about the affair back in 2006.

According to ABC News, the name of the father is not listed on the child's birth certificate and Ms. Hunter has been living in North Carolina and Santa Barbara under assumed names.  Edwards says the affair was over long ago. However, he does admit that he was visiting Ms. Hunter at the Beverly Hill Hilton a few weeks ago.

So . . . what does this mean? For Edwards, he probably won't be invited onto the presidential ticket or into a Democratic presidential cabinet. For Democrats, the DNC has to decide whether Edwards will have a role at the Democratic Convention - I'd say, odds are against, but we'll see that Nightline interview tonight and how this all flushes out.  For Republicans, this isn't bad news, but I'm not sure it gets them much either . . . although, I'm thinking this must be a happy day for the Grand Old Party now that Spitzer has some company and it isn't Larry Craig making the headlines.

In my own opinion, I don't really care who the nation's politicians are or are not sleeping with, but ever since Election Number One when George Washington ran for his second term as president of the very new United States of America, Americans have loved their political dirt.