The Rielle World

[question everything]

Slate Magazine
politics
The Rielle World
What if John Edwards had won the Democratic nomination? What if he were president?
By Christopher Beam
Posted Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

The National Enquirer is reporting what everyone already knew—that John Edwards is in fact the father of Rielle Hunter's child—and a North Carolina TV station says he may admit paternity. This news has been met largely with shrugs. Edwards is not only a failed candidate, he is a failed politician, with next to no influence among Democrats. Still, the news raises two tantalizing hypothetical questions: What if Edwards had won the Democratic nomination? What if he had won the presidency?

First question first. It's easy to forget how close John Edwards came to being the Democratic nominee. When Edwards entered the presidential race in December 2006, many people saw him as the Democrats' best hope. Unlike Obama, he had legislative experience. Unlike Hillary, he'd spent two years touring Iowa and beefing up his populist credentials. And no one blamed him for Kerry's loss in 2004. He was smart, good-looking, and Southern—just like every Democratic president since Johnson.

(snip)

If Edwards were the nominee, he likely would have behaved differently. He probably wouldn't have met Rielle Hunter at the Beverly Hilton on July 21, for example. He probably would have cut off all communication whatsoever with Hunter. Hush money would have flowed. Former confidante Andrew Young, whose forthcoming tell-all memoir promises to deal Edwards yet another blow, would be the best-paid man on the planet. Sure, details of the scandal would have trickled out. It's just impossible to say when or to what extent. Without the incriminating photos in the Enquirer, it would have been easy to tamp down, Clinton-style. Democrats would have refused to believe it; to do so would have been partywide suicide... But McCain wouldn't have needed to say anything. The lies would have spoken for themselves. Edwards' moralizing and trotting out of family would have in retrospect looked hypocritical. McCain's "straight talk" would have seemed all the more appealing. Even if Democrats stayed loyal, Edwards would have lost independents. It's safe to assume that if Edwards had won the nomination, McCain would be president.

It's hard to overstate the ripple effect on American politics, especially the Democratic Party. Democrats would have blown their best shot at the presidency in a generation. Every bit of joy and enthusiasm and relief that spilled out after Obama's victory—imagine the opposite. Despair. Disillusionment. Recriminations would be shouted, scapegoats slaughtered. Liberals in their fury might even embrace McCain, who would suddenly realize he doesn't have to tack so far right to win. Edwards would become a curse word.

(snip)

Could Edwards have won? Possibly. If, somehow, the news had never leaked. If Rielle Hunter had been bought off or mysteriously disappeared. If the McCain campaign somehow botched the oppo. So let's say—again, because we can!—that he did win and this news emerged after his victory. This would have been a disaster of a different sort. The scandal would have overshadowed his first-term agenda. His poll numbers would have dropped so low as to render him impotent. His credibility—so necessary in debates like health care reform—would be nonexistent. Resignation might be the only solution, leaving us with a President Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden or Chris Dodd.

(snip)

Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2224266/

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And this is why we still discuss it here. Yes, it is a private business between him and his family. However, for many of us who supported him and believed in him, for many of us who have not heard the word "poverty" since Edwards ended his race - this affair has too wide implications.

[Adelante]

1. He was never close to being the nominee

Even if Obama weren't in the picture, Hillary would have beaten Edwards easily for the nomination. It was she who took the white working class base he expected would be his.

[karynnj]

3. exactly - he really never was above 15% of Democrats

(there were a few statistic blips.)

[badgerpup]

2. He let a LOT of people down on this...

...not just his family.

What IS it about 'teh crazy' that guys allova sudden lose the use of their northern heads?


I've read some of Rielle Hunter's blog.
:wtf:
Talk about self-centered...that woman makes a gyroscope look scattered.

[argonaut]

4. What a scumbag.

I hope those rumors about his campaign staff having a 'self-destruct' strategy were true.

[janx]

5. "Son of a mill worker..."

:rofl:

[jenmito]

6. Lawrence O'Donnell said he always thought Edwards was "the emptiest of 'empty suits.'" I agree. n/t

[kskiska]

7. Rielle claims her name is pronounced "Riley"

She invented it, but no one is pronouncing it that way.