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Tabloid's Claims Threaten Edwards' Role at Party's Convention
McClatchy and Charlotte Observor ^ | Wednesday, August 6, 2008 | Mark Johnson, Lorenzo Perez and Lisa Zagaroli

Posted on 08/06/2008 5:32:32 PM PDT by kristinn

Former Sen. John Edwards has a deadline to save his spot on the national stage.

With two weeks to go before their national convention, a number of Democrats are saying that Edwards needs to publicly address National Enquirer stories that have alleged he had an affair with a campaign worker and fathered her baby.

If Edwards fails to clear up the story in short order, he risks party officials deciding not to have him speak or, if they do, creating a distraction from a week focused on Barack Obama accepting the nomination.

"If there is not an explanation that’s satisfactory, acceptable and meets high moral standards, the answer is 'no,' he would not be a prime candidate to make a major address to the convention," said Don Fowler, a former Democratic National Committee chair.

Democrats gather in Denver on Aug. 25 and Edwards, as the 2004 vice presidential nominee and a presidential candidate who won delegates this year, ordinarily would be locked in as a speaker.

"He absolutely does have to (resolve it). If it's not true, he has to issue a stronger denial," said Gary Pearce, the Democratic strategist who ran Edwards’ 1998 Senate race. "It's a very damaging thing. …

"The big media has tried to be responsible and handle this with kid gloves, but it's clearly getting ready to bust out. If it's not true, he's got to stand up and say, 'This is not true. That is not my child and I'm going to take legal action against the people who are spreading these lies.' It's not enough to say, 'That’s tabloid trash,' " Pearce said.

(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: 2008dncconvention; edwards; obama; ratsdontcare; riellehunter
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This is a good article in that several 'Rats went on the record about Edwards' situation.
1 posted on 08/06/2008 5:32:33 PM PDT by kristinn
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To: kristinn

Rielle Hunter is aiming for the White House....or as close as she can get.


2 posted on 08/06/2008 5:36:02 PM PDT by Coffee200am ("We should all be living in mud huts and riding bicycles to avoid killing the polar bears..."/s)
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To: kristinn
An appearance at the convention would only highlight the unresolved story, said Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant and former aide to then-Vice President Al Gore. A convention speaking appearance could become the moment that drives news media coverage of the alleged affair to explode.

I would like to see the above statement happen...

3 posted on 08/06/2008 5:38:40 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: kristinn

What? Some dems have a problem with affairs and children out of wedlock? How ‘bout that! I’m shocked.

Maybe they’re just trying to appease the religious voter.


4 posted on 08/06/2008 5:39:13 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: Coffee200am

My guess is that the media arm of the DNC, that would be the major media, told the DNC committe folks, hey we can’t keep a lid on this much longer without completely blowing what little cover we have left. That’s why you see the Dems trying to do damage control.


5 posted on 08/06/2008 5:42:12 PM PDT by marlon
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To: kristinn

Edwards is in a mess. One he created. He needs to resign from all politics. It would be good for his children...all four of them. He obviously doesn’t give a hoot about his wife....nor does Rielle Hunter.


6 posted on 08/06/2008 5:42:19 PM PDT by Coffee200am ("We should all be living in mud huts and riding bicycles to avoid killing the polar bears..."/s)
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To: Coffee200am

It would be nice to get Howard Dean. I wonder where he spends the nights?


7 posted on 08/06/2008 5:42:22 PM PDT by ncfool (Tell Congress no vacation until we allow Drilling in America!)
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To: kristinn

Get popcorn ready. This could be interesting.

I wonder if it will be a big story in the MSM. Maybe they will make it a one day story and then not talk about it anymore. (Assuming the allegations are true)

Republicans are nailed more than Democrats on sexual related scandals. Remember the Mark Foley story went on for weeks in the fall of ‘06, which hurt Republican efforts in the mid-term elections that year. The Larry Craig story went on for a while also. But Barney Frank and his companion being involved with a gay escort service was not such a big story when that story hit.


8 posted on 08/06/2008 5:42:54 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Coffee200am

Resign from politics? Wouldn’t he need to have a job in politics in order to that?


9 posted on 08/06/2008 5:44:32 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: kristinn

Well, the Enquirer is pubbing the pics this week.

That said, why do the Rats care about this? What Flubba did was worse because (1) he was president, (2) he conducted his moronic misconduct right in the Oval Office, (3) he lied about it directly to the American people, (4) he led his Cabinet officers to lie about it, (5) his special friend was in his employ and was his subordinate . . .

There’s probably more. And the Rats are all worked up about Edwards?

Not that I’m sorry about that. Edwards deserves everything he gets over this, including not being able to look his children with Elizabeth directly in the eye for the rest of his life.

But the dual standard is rather astonishing.


10 posted on 08/06/2008 5:45:26 PM PDT by fightinJAG (Rush was right when he said: "You NEVER win by losing.")
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To: kristinn
a campaign worker for Edwards, Andrew Young,

Ouch! That's gotta hurt. From African-American civil rights statesman to "campaign worker for Edwards"???

The MSM giveth and the MSM taketh away. (So sayeth Rush.)

11 posted on 08/06/2008 5:46:06 PM PDT by Free State Four
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To: Right Wing Assault

Never hurt Jesse Jackson. In fact, I’ll bet HE’s set to play some visible role at the convention.


12 posted on 08/06/2008 5:46:17 PM PDT by fightinJAG (Rush was right when he said: "You NEVER win by losing.")
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To: kristinn

The only way he’ll get an invite to speak at the convention is if there’s a last-minute HUGE scandal breaking on Obama, making the party bigwigs DESPERATE for any distraction they can scrounge up.


13 posted on 08/06/2008 5:48:34 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: Right Wing Assault

“He brushed off a McClatchy reporter in Washington last week: “Can’t do it now, I’m sorry.””

Come on guys..give him a break. He’s got over 10 grand going out the door every day in HUSH MONEY.

He is going to have to start channeling the Marquis de Sade to pay for all of this. /sarcasm


14 posted on 08/06/2008 5:48:35 PM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: kristinn
** POPCORN **

15 posted on 08/06/2008 5:50:49 PM PDT by library user
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To: kristinn

The stunning “spy photo” shows the former presidential contender holding his infant daughter Frances Quinn Hunter at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles – where the ENQUIRER caught him visiting the baby’s mother, his mistress Rielle Hunter. Edwards is holding his love child while standing in front of a distinctive striped curtain.

(This photo and description is on the National Enquirer website.)

16 posted on 08/06/2008 5:51:09 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Free State Four

Different Andrew Young... The one involved in the Edwards scandal is white and in his 40’s; not the black civil rights guy in his 70’s.


17 posted on 08/06/2008 5:52:35 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie
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To: kristinn

I think Rielle, little Johnette, and Silky all have a role at the convention.

Oh wait, he already has a wife and kids.


18 posted on 08/06/2008 5:55:32 PM PDT by dforest (I had almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee. Too bad I was reminded.)
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To: kristinn

I think it’s true because an innocent person would be out fighting back against the lies. And we know he knows how to do that since he is a scum of the earth ambulance chasing lawyer.


19 posted on 08/06/2008 5:57:47 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: LibFreeOrDie
Different Andrew Young...

Aaaawww, poop! I was having soooooo much fun. Stop bringing me down, man.

20 posted on 08/06/2008 6:00:15 PM PDT by Free State Four
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