American Apologies

Extramarital affairs are unfortunately not rare in the political world, but former Senator John Edwards really set the bar higher in terms of sleaze by fathering a child out of wedlock with aide Rielle Hunter while his wife was fighting metastatic breast cancer. After reports surfaced (by the National Enquirer of all places) of an extramarital affair with an unnamed female campaign worker, Edwards was in the midst of his failed 2008 Presidential election bid, and was quick to deny and go on damage control to repair his image so he could have a chance at a Vice President or Attorney General spot. When images of a pregnant Hunter surfaced and the mainstream media picked up on the story, Edwards finally admitted to the affair, but denied that he was the father of the child and said he was willing to take a paternity test. He tried to lead everyone to believe that the affair was a one time thing, but it turns out it was of longer duration than he had said and was still ongoing at the time. He even had Andrew Young, a member of his campaign team, claim paternity of Hunter’s daughter; although no father is listed on the child’s birth certificate and Young later denied it. Finally in early 2010, Edwards issued a statement admitting he was the father, and said that his wife had separated from him and intends to file for divorce. Rightfully so, because who could forgive an affair when it was still ongoing even after his wife and him announced that her cancer had returned and was found to be incurable? Let’s hear those excuses again, John.