[Huck]

You know, I understand the glee in uncovering a hypocrite. And I don't want to pour cold water on people's revelry. But there is a child innocently mixed up in this. I understand that scandal sheets have always been untoward, but I can't help feeling bad for this child. There have been many, many famous and powerful men brought down by infidelity. It's just extra sad when there's a kid involved who didn't have free will in the situation. The child basically gets slimed, tarred and feathered, along with Edwards. It kind of almost seems to me that this should be kept private, out of decorum? I'm probably talking crazy talk.

Hey jwalsh...thought of you for some reason...sanity check. Am I wrong? Is it good that these pictures are out?

[NativeNewYorker]

I view the child differently. It is a child that did not get aborted because it was inconvenient, and that is an unmitigated good.

[RepoGirl]

No, I don’t think you’re talking crazy talk. As much as I loathe The Silky Pony, and would love nothing more than to see him exposed for the scumbag hypocrite that he is, the ‘love child’ in question didn’t ask to be brought into this.

[Paladin2]

"But there is a child innocently mixed up in this"

Right now, the kid is too young for this to matter much ('cept for the absent dad - see Obe's life history).

Later it could be good as the kid's genes could propel it to be POTUS. Who knows?

[MarineMom613]

The child had no choice in any of this and probably will suffer some later on. (who knows in this sick world nowadays)
I hold the Mother completely responsible. I think she wanted to out him and got her friend(s) to help her. He was already paying her so why else. He certainly wasn’t going to have a press conference.
As much as I detest the politics of his wife, I do have sympathy for her and their children. If she knew about it, then she gets no sympathy as her own children will be more hurt because they are older and understand. School kids can be cruel. JMO

[silverleaf]

There are 3 innocent children mixed up in this- the two IVF babies Elizabeth Edwards produced for John by flooding her 50 year old body with hormones (to what effect on her health?), and now this one,

Public figures give up their rights to privacy and usually they and their associate enjoy the power wealth and privilge that result. But when their misbehavior drags them down, it drags down thier friends and families, too. That is what makes up human interest stories. You might as well argue to keep crime stories or anything that embarrasses anyone out of the “news”-

so what’s left? Well, for examples of sanitized feel-good “news” you might check out official wire services of Iran and North Korea.

BTW, kudos to the National Enquirer. They were also the first, and lone outlet, to tell the world about Jesse Jackson’s “love child” and expose his hypocritical lifestyle.

[mass55th]

"It's just extra sad when there's a kid involved who didn't have free will in the situation. "

And it's really sad when a married man can't keep his pecker in his pants. If Edwards had any morals at all, he'd have been home with his cancer-stricken wife and two children, instead of running for public office and diddling with the groupies. If this story is true, he'd be doing everyone, including that baby, a great service by stepping forward and taking responsibility, instead of running and hiding from the press.

[Publius6961]

I am not surprised that you are talking "decorum" when the word "bastard" has come to become, at worst meaningless, and at best a permanent meal ticket at taxpayer expense.
Viewed as a major problem by most of "responsible" society.

"It's for the children?" The fatuousness of that line should be clear to everyone by now; it is simply license to sweep serious and growing problems under the rug, and to punish society as a whole in the process.

Not a problem, you say?
No big deal?

Well, at the very least, whether the parents are responsible and do not allow society to bear the burden of properly raising the illegitimate, we certainly can expect better from our elected leaders. They must think so, too, or they would not try to keep certain things hidden.

[SeaHawkFan]

Not one person has posted even one negative comment about the child.

With the publishing of these pictures, Edwards has a great defamation case if the National Enquirer is wrong. Edwards’ failure to sue must be construed as an admission that he is the father, especially given his reputation as a litigator.

[Lion Den Dan]

I'm probably talking crazy talk.

You are. At this age, the child has no knowledge of events. The sad thing is that it will grow up without a father.

[Pearls Before Swine]

But there is a child innocently mixed up in this. I understand that scandal sheets have always been untoward, but I can't help feeling bad for this child.

The child is an infant. By the time it is old enough to be affected by the publicity, the current Ms. Edwards will probably be gone, John Edwards will still be very rich, but a political has-been, and he will either do the right thing by Rielle (doubtful), or support her (possible), and the media will more or less have forgotten the whole thing.

In the meantime, the public has some non-prurient interest in knowing what sort of hypocrite is running for the highest or 2nd highest office in the land.

[romanesq]

Oh stop crying already. That child has a lifetime of quality education, a big home, a book deal, a TV series, and several movie deals all ready to be signed now.

And also is guaranteed the Democrat nomination at age 35.

You want to cry for a kid, cry for the ones with no fathers who don’t help their mothers living in poverty.

For heaven’s sake.