This is a little late: I, Rielle Hunter, Apologize

[mfcorey1]

I behaved badly. That may seem obvious to you but it's taken me a long time to admit that, even to myself. For years I was so viciously attacked by the media and the world that I felt like a victim. I now realize that the attacks are actually beside the point. The point is: I behaved badly.

I am very sorry for my wrong, selfish behavior. Back in 2006, I did not think about the scope of my actions, how my falling in love with John Edwards, and acting on that love, could hurt so many people. I hurt Elizabeth and her kids. I hurt her family. I hurt John's family. I hurt people that knew Elizabeth. I hurt people who didn't know Elizabeth but loved her from afar. I hurt people who gave their hard earned dollars to a campaign -- a cause they believed in. I hurt people who are married and believe in marriage. Many of these people have let me know that I hurt them. Unfortunately, I was not thinking about anyone but myself. I was selfish. I fell in love with John Edwards and wanted to be with him and that desire trumped everything else.

And then instead of apologizing when I should have, I went on to hurt more people by writing a book. I truly did not realize at that time how damaged I was and because of that, when I wrote my book I made more mistakes, ones I feel horrible about.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rielle-hunter/apology_b_4100599.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago

[lostincalifornia]

1. What a pathetic apology. "oh, and by the way I wrote a book" My question, are you still keeping

the profits from the book? If you are donating it entirely to breast cancer perhaps I would find your apology more credible.

[woodsprite]

2. Is this because her book didn't sell well. Or is she after a second dose of 15-min of fame. n/t

[Arugula Latte]

3. "when I wrote my book I made more mistakes"

Riiiiight -- "mistakes." Ooopsie! Just little typos, right Rielle?

[eissa]

4. A day late and a dollar short

Fuck that home-wrecker, and her equally sleazy boyfriend.

[pintobean]

5. Better late than never

It takes a lot of guts to publicly admit failure and apologize for it.

It is a shame that it came so late, though.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. It still takes 2 to tango. That being said, she writes as if she were 14 when it all happened.

She's sounds desperately immature -- still.

[SidDithers]

7. And did I mention I wrote a book?...nt

Sid

[Auntie Bush]

8. She still sucks!

Bet she's trying to get in good with Edwards again...think marriage! I sure hope he continues to reject her as I haven't forgiven her. I wonder what's she's up to...something devious I'm sure.

[hedda_foil]

9. This is just advertising her "revised" and "annotated" "book"

She's got another edition coming out today that is apparently annotated with "mea culpas." Gag me.

[Tom Ripley]

10. "...but I am not returning a single penny of the money"

[riverwalker]

11. I'll never forgive John Edwards

I remember taking my young granddaughter to see him speak when he was running with Kerry. We stood in line outside in a cold freezing rain in Hibbing for hours, we nearly caught pneumonia. I wanted her to see how politics worked. He was hours late, and now I guess because he was getting a quickie from Rielle. I am embarrassed now to even mention his name to my granddaughter.
I met Elizabeth at a rally that same year, she was so tiny and had such small, delicate fragile hands. She winced when I shook it, result of so many long days on the campaign trail, I wonder how many hands her little one had to shake. John was NOTHING without her.

[MuseRider]

27. We did that too.

I was so excited to see John and his family and it just poured for an hour before the line began to even move. We were all soaked and cold but it was a rousing time, shook his hand, felt excited. I was never totally sold by him but never expected anything like this from him. Blech. Blech and Patooie!

[BainsBane]

12. File this under people I never want to hear about again.

[Schema Thing]

13. she just hurt The Onion. They used to have a monopoly

on stories that read like this.

[City Lights]

14. Too late, Rielle.

[KG]

15. it took two for that tango. all JE had to do was keep his dick in his pants.

[seabeyond]

18. hey... he is the HUGE POS. she is just a part of it all. it really is ALL on edwards shoulders. nt

[KG]

19. when he first showed on my radar he was saying all the right things about poverty and the environmen

then he went and built a taj mahal home and i knew he was a fraud.

[seabeyond]

22. ya. cant remember that was so long ago... i think when i started being bothered

was when he ran for VP. i had some problems. but gave him another chance during primaries. something happened though that made me step away from him

[leftyohiolib]

25. unless he raped her they entered this affair together. this isnt the shut down they are both guilty

[seabeyond]

26. he was married and had a responsibility to family, was the one to make the commitment.

are you saying this woman was as much a part of the bad of this as a man that made a commitment?

whatever

and believe this was an issue or not, i do not care and am not arguing it. to me, it shows character and integrity, or more, lack of. to others it, it matters not.

[leftyohiolib]

29. im saying what i said - btw ms hunter knew he was married

and i dont want to debate it either, so take care.

[seabeyond]

31. and i am asking you for clarification. cause i can hardly believe that you are saying this woman is

as obligated to the marriage as john edwards is, having taken vows, made the commit, signed the papers.

instead of assuming, i asked. seems you have a problem with that.

[RobinA]

35. I Always Wonder

why it is always the woman's fault. The underlying message is that men are just out of control babies and it is up to the woman to keep things right. While I think having an affair with a married man is wrong, it's REALLY wrong to have an affair while married. I had this argument with my mother when my father, quite out of character, had an affair. She always blamed the woman (who was also married). Like my father was just powerless, which he was not.

[seabeyond]

36. you know, seems pretty basic/obvious unless you fall along the old, tired sexist bullshit i guess.

thanks

[HappyMe]

37. I don't think anybody is saying it's entirely her fault.

They are both at fault.

He fucked up his marriage and Hunter fucked it up also. Edwards wasn't some nobody guy she met sans wedding ring at the library or a bar. She knew he was married. There is no excuse for either of them.

[HappyMe]

16. Wretched woman.

Way late for this pathetic 'apology'.

[seabeyond]

17. big fuckin DUH... that having been said. never to late to own it. good for her. nt

[Sheldon Cooper]

20. Well Rielle, I commend you attempt to apologize and make amends.

Really, I do. Better late than never, and any attempt is probably better than none at all. But your apology is too glib and facile. It sounds like something that took about ten minutes to write up. And I really don't think you're sorry, but keep working the program and maybe someday you can issue an addendum to this, and show full understanding of your actions and sincere regret for them.

[Dreamer Tatum]

24. She really should have consulted you first, huh? nt

[northoftheborder]

21. I knew from about the middle of J.E.'s first campaign that he was shallow. He had a good message,

but it was his only message. Even before Rielle, to drag his poor wife, ill with incurable cancer, through the rigors of a second campaign was totally selfish, even though she apparently agreed to do it. The rest of the story only confirmed my opinion of the man.

[Dreamer Tatum]

23. The replies to this OP so far are, in my view, what is wrong with DU.

Or, at least, what is wrong with many people on DU.

Rielle Hunter acted VERY badly and hurt people in a way that may not be recoverable. That's done. All she can do is own her behavior and acknowledge the pain she's caused. She might be late in doing it, but she did it. Yet the replies here seem to imply that she's wringing her hands over what EVERYONE, including DUers, think of her, and that her act of contrition is somehow incomplete without their blessing.

I hate to burst bubbles, but it is possible for someone to be authentically contrite yet not give half a fuck what someone thinks who has no dog in the hunt.

[Sheldon Cooper]

28. What on earth makes you think we care if she gives a fuck about our opinion?

She publicized her apology, we are discussing it. That's what a discussion board if for, right? I cannot imagine why you think there is something wrong with this.

[Taverner]

30. Notice how many times the word "I" comes up

[Blue_Tires]

32. Please...Just go back into hiding and stay out of sight...

[duffyduff]

33. Oh, shut up, Lisa Jo.

Go back and crawl under the rock from which you came.

The rotten apple never fell far from the rotten apple tree. Daughter of a horse killer, you followed your dad's scamming ways.

[cynatnite]

34. Fabulous for her. Now, it's John Edwards' turn. n/t

[duffyduff]

38. Lisa Jo, the person you needed to apologize to

is no longer here to accept it or reject it.

STFU.

[NCTraveler]

39. Good appology. I hope she can move forward. nt.

[cynatnite]

40. Who is going to put the scarlet A on her? I'm sure some puritan DUer would be happy to do it. n/t

[IdaBriggs]

41. Dear Narcissist Rielle --

I read your apology, even though it was really none of my business (except for having been misled into thinking/supporting John Edwards as a decent guy, which you had knowledge was "not true" and covered up - not appreciating that).

I found your "apology" to be self-serving and delusional; frankly, you annotated your book with your "mistakes" in what appears to be an attempt to get people to buy it; if I'm wrong, and you are giving it away to publicly atone for your misdeeds -- ???

Seriously, why should we even pretend - you are in it for the money, and we all know it. You want to tell your story so people realize you really aren't "that bad" of a person, despite all evidence to the contrary.

I'm not interested.

You said your "mistake" was "falling in love with John Edwards, and acting on that love." No, your mistake was having a sexually inappropriate relationship with a married man who was lying to his wife about his behavior. His behavior was completely beyond the pale, but we're talking about you right now.

I don't care if you fell in love with him. "Love" does not give you the right to hurt other people. You didn't act "out of love" - you acted as if no one else mattered but you and what you wanted.

That is the mark of a narcissist - a self involved woman who cared more about what *SHE* wanted than doing the right thing.

It means you aren't to be trusted, because the next time your personal urges conflict with "doing the right thing", we know (based on experience) what you will do.

Like when you made sure that the last days of Elizabeth Edwards had to be spent dealing with you.

Don't get me started about your partner; his behavior (while common) is not what most of us wanted to be dealing with as a presidential candidate subject to blackmail in an effort to hide his sordid liaisons.

I won't buy your book. I'm not interested in your life. I believe in karma, and you aren't the one I feel sorry for - your daughter is, because you aren't a good person, and she has to deal with you for the rest of her life.

The rest of us? We know what you are.

Please quit trying to get us to pay attention to it.

Scornfully,
One of Elizabeth's Fans