John Edwards To Admit Paternity of Ex-Mistress's Child?

It sure did take long enough for him to do this. I can't believe that this guy would even try to hide it when everyone knew what he did. I just hope that he does the right thing, and disappear into the night.

Hey annie! I think that this is a very sad story indeed for all concerned! First, for his wife who has been so ill and had to deal with a cheating husband and now the fact that he has fathered a child with his mistress! I feel sorry for the whole family, except John! He is a typical pig who did nothing to correct this situation except continue to lie over and over again and make a bad situation worse! I think his career his finished! I know that all politicians lie most of the time, but this is just so disgusting and demeaning to his family especially because of the situation with his wife!

Well I'm no more likely to bring up crap like this about democrats than I am republicans. Their personal lives are really none of my concern unless it causes issues with their jobs serving their constituents as it did with Sanford.

A whlie ago, when the story first borke and the forum was filled with posts on it. I remember answering generaly that Edwards was a private citizen and it was really not a public story, at leat for me. I do feel bad for Mrs. Edwards, very much so in fact. From what little I do know of her she is a gracefull lady and very dedicated to her family. It is disgusting that this is how John showed his "gratitude" for that. But I didn't post on this mainly because I didn't think it was a story for the public. I think the press should just leave the Edwards' family alone.

I wouldn't have thought of posting it because I really don't care what he does in his private life. It's enough that his supporters now know that he wasn't what they thought he was and yes, I think he's pretty much washed-up. It's not surprising that he's the father, after all, he admitted the affair. I can't see how it would be somehow better if she'd had a baby by someone else directly after having an affair with him. Now to defend John Edwards a little bit (have no idea why I am doing this, since I think he's smarmy, pretty-boy, lightweight). The reason he got caught in the first place by the Enquirer is that he was attempting to see the baby at the hotel his mistress had brought her to. So, there's a bit of paternal feeling there. He could have paid the mistress off and forgotten all about his child. So, he's a scum but I give him credit for that. We might admire his wife, but we don't know her or anything about their relationship. Maybe the affair was bound to happen. It looks really bad for him since she has cancer, but it doesn't make it worse, it's still infidelity. His family is going to suffer and now he will too, the humiliation is all his. No one will think badly of her. He will never be a serious candidate for any office, not even dog-catcher. If she survives her cancer, she could probably run for office and beat the pants off any other candidate. I say that even having heard some of her political speeches which I don't think too much of. He's a jerk. On top of everything else, they are now investigating him for fraud in his campaign finances. He's completely over and will soon be roasted to well-done. Someone should approach Elizabeth about entering politics on her own, she could do very well.

I wish I could be surprised by this but it happens all the time. I myself went through this same thing with my long time common law spouse and the one thing they do do in the beginning is to lie about it. I don't know if it is out of guilt, or denial....hoping that if they don't admit it, it will go away. They seem to be able to do the crime but when it comes to fessing up, they cannot manage that and then they really look like idiots when the truth eventually comes out. In my case I did not need any paternity test....the baby looked like a carbon copy of my spouse. Now the part about staying versus leaving is not always easy to decide because of the others involved and the intricacy of the relationships. Just because the spouse cheats and even if a child is conceived it does not mean the wife stops loving him. Love does not work like that. Love has the ability to forgive even the worse of transgressions and believe me you don't think you will stay until you find yourself in that situation. I tried to stay for about 2 years (there are many reason why) but eventually for us it did not work. I do not fault the women for staying. As far as his political career, that remains to be seen. Some politicians come through scandals very well!

I think this is pathetic. This man knew what he was doing and he knew how his actions would effect those in his life. Yet he didn't care one bit. If his political career isn't over it should be. I know his personal life isn't really any of our business. However he made it the business of the people when he left and was no where to be found when he should have been working, for the people.

I did like Edwards until I found out it was all a facade and he was just another hypocritical SOB. My heart went out to his wife. I think Elizabeth has shown herself to be a very loving caring person. She did/does not deserve the heartbreak this whole sordid affair has brought to her life.

Well perhaps the reason no one posted a discussion on this topic was because no one else has it in for Republicans as much as you do and are willing to publish it whereas if there was a Democrat who cheated on his wife who was dying, and there were small children involved, you would not say a word. So here is what I think. First he has an obligation to the child and I am sure that his wife will not be mean to the toddler if the former mistress decides she loves her freedom too much to care for a kid. She would probably care for the baby and even adopt her. He did go back to his wife and he did break off or his mistress broke off with him. I mean he could have lied and said "I never cheated." I do not think it would be nice to suggest that if the little girl showed up, that Edwards and his wife slam the door on her. That would of course finish his career, but admitting his sin and making up for it by taking care of the toddler would make his constituent feel rather nice towards him. After all, many of them would have grown up in the 50s where it was common for the man to get off scott free and not take any responsibility for the illegitimate children he begot.

No surprise there, anniepa! I suspected this outcome all along. It is a shame that his wife and children have to suffer for his misconduct, but sometimes it's like that. I am so sick of politicians who are placed in a position of trust but can't seem to manage their personal lives. I think the wives are far too forgiving in most cases. I also think it is unfair that some of them lose their career and livelyhood over these situations while others who are caught out behaving badly seem to go unscathed. Edwards's career is in the toilet just now, but he might be able to bounce back given enough time, although the fact that there is a child presents an obstacle.

I also like John Edwards. I was surprised with the news of his affair but also impressed that he'd already come clean with his wife about the entire thing before it hit the press. Not to condone the affair but he is human and not above these sort of things. I think the way he is handling it all and his straightforwardness makes it a lot more forgivable. It is a sad situation no matter how you look at it. How it will affect his political career remains to be seen.

Yes, i think his career is over with. I sure wouldn't vote for the skunk. I think he is a very sorry person to do his wife the way he did & her sick especially. I wouldn't even want him around me if i was her. she's a better lady than i am to put up w/what he has done.

He's a pig, I would never vote for him for anything. He was by far the worst person that has had an affair out of all the people in politics that I can remember, he's even worse than the Republican that had the male hooker in the bathroom. I hope he crawls off to live in a hole somewhere. I feel so bad for his wife that she had to go through that with everything else she was going through. He should be ashamed of himself!