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 thats 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, 'Thats tabloid trash,' " Pearce said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
Rielle Hunter is aiming for the White House....or as close as she can get.
I would like to see the above statement happen...
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.
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.
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.
It would be nice to get Howard Dean. I wonder where he spends the nights?
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.
Resign from politics? Wouldn’t he need to have a job in politics in order to that?
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.
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.)
Never hurt Jesse Jackson. In fact, I’ll bet HE’s set to play some visible role at the convention.
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.
“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

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 babys 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.)
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.
I think Rielle, little Johnette, and Silky all have a role at the convention.
Oh wait, he already has a wife and kids.
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.
Aaaawww, poop! I was having soooooo much fun. Stop bringing me down, man.
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