Montrose - Daily Press

Although it hardly seems possible, Washington just got a little sleazier. Democrat John Edwards, former presidential candidate, has �” at last �” admitted fathering a child with former mistress Rielle Hunter.

The outrage is not just that public figures who view themselves as superior to the common man tend to prove themselves inferior in really embarrassing and reprehensible ways. It’s that Edwards lied. Repeatedly.

First, in shades of Newt Gingrich, he engaged in the affair while his wife, Elizabeth, battled cancer. Then, in shades of Bill Clinton, he lied about the affair. Then he grudgingly admitted it and swore he was done lying.

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Yet he continued to deny being little Frances Quinn Hunter’s dad. Apparently, he did it so well that Elizabeth believed him (or desperately wanted to), stating in 2008: “I have to believe it. Because if I don’t, it means I’m married to a monster.”

Yep.

And not only a monster, but also one to whom the truth is a matter of expedience and not a matter of personal honor.

It’s even alleged that Edwards’ presidential campaign continued to illegally pay Rielle Hunter after she ceased working for the campaign. Edwards ranks right down there with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford �” another lying adulterer who possibly misused funds.

Further, former aide Andrew Young tells ABC that Edwards only admitted paternity because of Young’s upcoming book, “The Politician.” The author claims Edwards was so desperate that he convinced Young to claim paternity and even asked him to fake a DNA test.

Mark Halperin, author of “Game Change,” also is beating the publicity drum for his Edwards story. Their ulterior motives aside, it’s inescapable that Edwards lied and lied and lied.

Someday, a little girl is going to grow up. She will no doubt come across her callow father’s plea for “forgiveness” for denying her. Why should she believe him?

Comments

jt wrote on Feb 4, 2010 8:59 AM:

" Don't believe a person who has lied repeatedly when they say their done......Their probably lying. "




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Calvin wrote on Feb 3, 2010 9:24 AM:

" Well i guess it's OK to lie to the whole country, spread false & doctored reports and beat the war drums to rid the world of those who blew up the world trade center, resulting in thousands of US deaths while deepening the rest of the world's hatred of this once great country. D Cheney and his cronies make slime ball Edwards' behavior seem tame!! There are still thousands of idiots out there who say Sadam Hussein blew up the WTC, thanks to D "9/11"Cheney's lies!!!! "




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un-agreeable wrote on Feb 3, 2010 8:52 AM:

" Because- I respect your point. There are decisions in surgery or in the air that effect us as individuals. If trust is the main issue and morals linked to that, then when we go into the ballot box, air or operating room, how are we supposed to make decisions? People don't wear their vitae/wprld view. At some point we have to trust others until we discover we can no longer, like Edwards. Have a good day. "




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Because wrote on Feb 2, 2010 9:24 PM:

" Unagreeable...you have a small point as I am generally cautious of just about everyone...but I think political office might be a little different animal than the pile you've thrown it into...doctors and pilots are not in the governing business...they usually don't make the rules that affect the populus...therefore, I believe as an elected official, one should be held to the highest of moral standards by the public... "




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Un-agreeable wrote on Feb 2, 2010 12:55 PM:

" I do not agree with his actions, he should of stayed single. However, there are countless people of importance (doctors,pilots, etc) that do the same thing. By your argument we shouldn't trust anyone. Right? "




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Because wrote on Jan 31, 2010 8:47 PM:

" It matters because if you can lie like this to your wife and your family, I would be worried as a voter how you might treat the people you represent. To put it another way, if you can not govern your own house, how are you going to govern the city, state, country? THIS DOES MATTER and those who downplay this essentially AGREE with John Edwards actions. "




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Personal Family Matter wrote on Jan 31, 2010 4:49 PM:

" Some of you people are just fooling yourselves if you think moral guidance ought to come from politicians. As for corrupting our youth; look around - our youth are in greater danger of being corrupted by inept parents, TV, mass advertising, our inane pop culture, pompous athletes, a lack of education and, perhaps most important, junk thought. "




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Lil Ole Me wrote on Jan 31, 2010 4:38 PM:

" Montrose Citizen, I think Obama has tried to "change" but god forbid Congress and the Senate let anything pass or at least hold everything up. "




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Montrose Citizen wrote on Jan 31, 2010 8:07 AM:

" Scooby Do- You forgot one or two, what about Obama? How has he not lied to us?? Oh that must be the change everyone was talking about right.....and Pelosi. Now we are getting somewhere. What about Tiger its just another 18 right?? Who cares who they hurt? Thats the start of our problems. "




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Jen wrote on Jan 30, 2010 5:45 PM:

" Who the heck cares, the only people this should matter to are Elizabeth, Rielle and the baby. It really isnt our business what goes on in someones sex life. "




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scooby do wrote on Jan 30, 2010 4:42 PM:

" " Nothing new here - just human nature."

Edwards antics ~ Clinton's ~ Bush's:

They all harm the public and our communities. They do so by corrupting our youth and each and every moral failing by our "leaders" is a slap at all humanity worldwide.

Human nature can be a beast ~ but surely our "leaders" should be able to rise above such nonsense. At the very least ~ take themselves out of public service if they know that they are morally corrupt.

...And they do know! "




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Serena Mistah wrote on Jan 30, 2010 10:02 AM:

" What a worthless editorial. Your point is exactly what? That politicians are lying to us? Wow. There's a revelation. "




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AERickett wrote on Jan 30, 2010 8:49 AM:

" I agree, what anyone does out of the office is none of my consern.(What ever happened to the police blotter??) "




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calvin wrote on Jan 30, 2010 8:41 AM:

" It is important. This is the nature of too many people serving in public office. Why is the system corrupt, because of scumbag lawyers like Edwards. (oh and Clinton, both of 'em). "




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agreed wrote on Jan 28, 2010 9:55 AM:

" I agree. why is this personal incident a matter of public interest. And what does his political leaning matter? Agenda MDP? "




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Doug wrote on Jan 28, 2010 7:51 AM:

" Thank you to whom ever wrote the first post! So very true...you nailed it! (nicely stated also) "




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personal family matter wrote on Jan 27, 2010 9:54 AM:

" Nothing new here - just human nature. What we need to do is concentrate on the lies that do true harm to the public, communities and our country. This Edwards matter hardly compares to the lies, lies and more lies by those who conduct public policy based on purulent ideologies, various forms of political correctness and political gamesmanship. "




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