John Edwards's New Age-y mistress Rielle Hunter gave an interview to Extra (watch it here), in which she giddily describes him as "real." It is a profoundly dopey interview. That was apparently in February 2007, and she found out she was pregnant in May 2007. You can see her delirious enthusiasm for Edwards in the Extra video, in which she was discussing the four "webisodes" she made about him, for which she was paid more than $100,000.
In every new thing we learn about her, she comes off as at once flighty and graspy, and yet somehow capable of having a really interesting life, a cute baby, plenty of money and lots of travel opportunities. You can see why the novelist Jay McInerney, who modeled a character after her, once said Hunter "intrigued and appalled" him.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. So we're to believe that Edwards told his WIFE in 2006 about his affair, then in 2007 his mistress (whom surely knew about Edwards confession) went on national TV in January 2007 to oogle over him? Yeah, right. It is obvious to every thinking American that Edwards didn't tell his wife anything in 2006. There is photographic evidence of the mistress publicly being at a campaign event on 12/30/06 along with Mrs. Edwards. Would Elizabeth have allowed that if she knew? So when in 2006 did John tell his wife? The following day? There was only 1 day left in 2006. Then the mistress goes on Extra the following month? no way! Edwards continues to lie. It's obvious Elizabeth didn't know anything until this past year and she's covering for him. It's also obvious that baby is his. Why else would he be meeting her in the dead of night? Why else would the so called admitted baby-daddy be living with his mistress under the same roof as his wife? There's no wife on the planet that would cozy up to the mistress. The admitted baby-daddy is Edward's lackey and fall-guy for money. His wife is in on it for the cash and Edwards was just waiting for Elizabeth to die so he could cozy up to Rielle and their child.
How stupid does this arrogant pig think we are?
!
obvious at 10:22AM on Aug 27th 2008
2. First. let me say that in NO WAY am I defending the actions of this lying, cheating man. But, I have walked in Elizabeth Edward's shoes, and it is not an easy path to take. You have to decide if this is worth breaking up your marriage for, and given the information she had at the time (that it was a short tryst in 2006, all over now, before the arrival of the baby), she decided to forgive John and move forward. And, she had the added burden of knowing that she may die and she didn't want her children to be away from their father during the final months of her life. Plus, I've read from Edwards' friends that both John and Elizabeth are very naive people, and they truly believed this was a private family affair that they could keep quiet and continue his quest for President. He is certainly not the first man to cheat on his wife and run for President.
However, she didn't have all the facts (John continued seeing the woman and she became pregnant). And, don't forget that there are some women who seek out men who they think are wealthy and powerful and trap them in their own romantic webs - whether he's married and has children or not - that is of no concern to the woman who wants to take him out of their lives and put herself in their place. I'm not saying the men are not at fault, because they let it happen, but most men would never have given any of these women a second look except that she doesn't give up and will use flattery, lies, sex, her youth and looks, anything that will inflate the ego of her victim. As my grandmother would say, "She set her cap for him." The woman who went after my husband (unsuccessfully) constantly reminded him how much younger she was than me (15 years), and how she could bear him more children. She left her husband and 3 small children to prove it. What she didn't know was that he had a vasectomy years ago. When he saw that she left her kids, he thought "What kind of mother would do that?" and ended it. It all backfired on her, and he told me she had been chasing him for months, ever since her own husband changed careers and began making a lot less money. She saw my husband as the solution to her problems.
Back to Mrs. Edwards - really, what was she supposed to do? In early 2007 she finds out about the "short affair in the past", and she is supposed to call a news conference and announce that her husband is a liar, a cheat and a fraud? Looking back, she may wish that is what she did, but with the information she had at the time, what would you have done? Talk about causing irreparable harm to her children, going public with the affair and refusing to campaign for him seems selfish. And you know women, we are taught from birth to bury our own feelings and put the needs and wants of the ones we love first. All this anger turns inward, and you have the very definition of depression. No wonder women are so depressed.
Sarah at 12:50PM on Aug 27th 2008
3. ""John Edwards Mistress..."" How about Rielle Hunter's "jon".
Willet at 12:52PM on Aug 27th 2008
4. where is my (long), soul-searching comment? It said "you did it!" an hour ago, yet it still has not appeared.
here it is:
First. let me say that in NO WAY am I defending the actions of this
lying, cheating man. But, I have walked in Elizabeth Edward's shoes,
and it is not an easy path to take. You have to decide if this is
worth breaking up your marriage for, and given the information she
had at the time (that it was a short tryst in 2006, all over now,
before the arrival of the baby), she decided to forgive John and move
forward. And, she had the added burden of knowing that she may die
and she didn't want her children to be away from their father during
the final months of her life. Plus, I've read from Edwards' friends
that both John and Elizabeth are very naive people, and they truly
believed this was a private family affair that they could keep quiet
and continue his quest for President. He is certainly not the first
man to cheat on his wife and run for President.
However, she didn't have all the facts (John continued seeing the
woman and she became pregnant). And, don't forget that there are
some women who seek out men who they think are wealthy and powerful
and trap them in their own romantic webs - whether he's married and
has children or not - that is of no concern to the woman who wants to
take him out of their lives and put herself in their place. I'm not
saying the men are not at fault, because they let it happen, but most
men would never have given any of these women a second look except
that she doesn't give up and will use flattery, lies, sex, her youth
and looks, anything that will inflate the ego of her victim. As my
grandmother would say, "She set her cap for him." The woman who went
after my husband (unsuccessfully) constantly reminded him how much
younger she was than me (15 years), and how she could bear him more
children. She left her husband and 3 small children to prove it.
What she didn't know was that he had a vasectomy years ago. When he
saw that she left her kids, he thought "What kind of mother would do
that?" and ended it. It all backfired on her, and he told me she had
been chasing him for months, ever since her own husband changed
careers and began making a lot less money. She saw my husband as the
solution to her problems.
Back to Mrs. Edwards - really, what was she supposed to do? In early
2007 she finds out about the "short affair in the past", and she is
supposed to call a news conference and announce that her husband is a
liar, a cheat and a fraud? Looking back, she may wish that is what
she did, but with the information she had at the time, what would you
have done? Talk about causing irreparable harm to her children, going
public with the affair and refusing to campaign for him seems selfish.
And you know women, we are taught from birth to bury our own feelings
and put the needs and wants of the ones we love first. All this anger
turns inward, and you have the very definition of depression. No
wonder women are so depressed.
Sarah at 1:18PM on Aug 27th 2008
5.
Now, Sarah, don't go around telling these people my secrets.
mac at 2:09PM on Aug 27th 2008
6. John Edwards is real? Please. This is a guy that has mastered the art of fake sincerity. And I'd say about 99% of the Democrat indignation and anger should be aimed at John Edwards for this affair.
His wife was asked, no doubt, to be silent about it and complied. She doesn't need further abuse. She's got cancer and she's still married to this jerk.
Dave at 2:28PM on Aug 27th 2008
7. Please - this woman, along with John Edwards, needs to get lost. She is famous for one thing - and sure, some people will watch her interview out of curioisty. Cashing in on an affair with a high profile person is about as low as you can get - especially when that someone is married. I am not making excuses for Edwards either. He deserves what he gets - it is his wife and young children who unfortunately have to endure the consequences of his stupidity.
David S. at 3:20PM on Aug 27th 2008
8. I agree with Willet #3. Not Edwards mistress but Edwards was her "jon." When you pay someone a lot of money and then have sex with them while you are married...its called "the oldest trade in the world."
Dave at 4:32PM on Aug 27th 2008
9.
Honestly, as a woman, I feel sorry for Elizabeth and anger that John has put her through all of this. I hope she and their kids come through this stronger than ever.
As a US citizen, I could not care less what this politician does in his non-political life.
Most politicians - on both sides of the aisle - are scum in one way or another. If they weren't, politics would not have been an achievable career.
Doofus at 6:04PM on Aug 27th 2008
10. Congratulations Rielle . You've successfully destroyed a man's life . Believe me karma will catch up with you and you'll surely get what's coming to you.
Ginger at 6:51PM on Aug 27th 2008
11. Looks like Rielle may get what she wants and that's John Edwards.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/08/where-is-john-edwards.php
I just hope Elizabeth takes John Edwards to the 'CLEANERS' if she divorces him.
Marilyn at 4:45AM on Aug 28th 2008
12. Politicians will be politicians!
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Virginia Harris at 8:55AM on Aug 28th 2008