# John Edwards' alleged lovechild: would you disqualify him as a VP choice due to this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 23, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500 "2008-07-23T16:42:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/181 "2008-08-11T03:42:32Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] He can sue, but there’s virtually no chance he can collect damages. [/QUOTE] Thus speaketh DIO, keeper of future events. [QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Not that any of this is any of our business. [/QUOTE] It’s my business if it involves the VP role. If it bothers you, right his name in. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/182 "2008-08-11T03:51:42Z")
It doesn’t involve the VP role. Edwards was never even a frontrunner for that. The rumors were that he wanted the AG spot. That’s probably out now too, though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/183 "2008-08-11T11:47:16Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] But he can still sue the NE for deliberately producing a false picture of a child that isn’t his. [/quote] For some reason you are not picking up on how difficult this would be - and he’s clearly not going to do it, regardless. To win a suit against the paper, he would have to prove the picture is false and the child isn’t his, and then he’d have to prove they “deliberately” ran it despite knowing it’s false, and harmed his reputation by doing so. He says he’s willing to take a paternity test, but Hunter says it’s not happening. So I don’t see how in the world he would prove anything the paper said is false. He might be able to prove that’s not him in the picture, but in the grand scheme of things that doesn’t mean anything. > [@](#): > > And his mistress can sue for the same thing. How is she being defamed here? The bottom line is that Edwards isn’t going to sue here. He has nothing to gain by doing so, particularly because he wouldn’t win, and if tests proved the child is his, things would get even worse. For now, whatever the truth is, it seems he is publicly off the hook about being the father unless Hunter changes her mind. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/184 "2008-08-11T18:47:00Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] It doesn’t involve the VP role. Edwards was never even a frontrunner for that. The rumors were that he wanted the AG spot. That’s probably out now too, though. [/QUOTE] Again, thus speaketh DIO, keeper of future events. You have a really bad habit of making definitive statements about things you know nothing about. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/185 "2008-08-11T19:35:59Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] Again, thus speaketh DIO, keeper of future events. You have a really bad habit of making definitive statements about things you know nothing about. [/QUOTE] You’re the one who decided he was a VP candidate. From everything that’s been written and reported, he was not on the shortlist, didn’t want it and had expressly said he wants the AG spot instead. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/186 "2008-08-11T19:41:00Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] You’re the one who decided he was a VP candidate. From everything that’s been written and reported, he was not on the shortlist, didn’t want it and had expressly said he wants the AG spot instead. [/QUOTE] Yah, I just invented that he was being considered for it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/187 "2008-08-11T19:45:57Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] Yah, I just invented that he was being considered for it. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] There is no evidence he was being considered for it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/188 "2008-08-11T21:05:47Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] There is no evidence he was being considered for it. [/QUOTE] [Yes there is.](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/edwards_nunn_re.html) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/189 "2008-08-11T21:38:49Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] [Yes there is.](http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/edwards_nunn_re.html) [/QUOTE] Ok, an undisclosed source says he was on a deep list two months ago. There’s no reason to believe he was ever seriously considered (and we don’t acually KNOW that he was considered at all), he was not one of the names on the reputed shortlist, and like I said, all the scuttlebutt was that he was in line for AG, not VP. Having said all that, I still don’t see how having (maybe) once been _considered_ as a remote possibility for a VP choice makes this story newsworthy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/190 "2008-08-11T22:32:50Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Ok, an undisclosed source says he was on a deep list two months ago. [/quote] Did you read the cite? The source was disclosed-- it was Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder (Obama’s VP vetting team), via Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan > [@](#): > > There’s no reason to believe he was ever seriously considered (and we don’t acually KNOW that he was considered at all), he was not one of the names on the reputed shortlist, and like I said, all the scuttlebutt was that he was in line for AG, not VP. Can you cite this short list? > [@](#): > > Having said all that, I still don’t see how having (maybe) once been _considered_ as a remote possibility for a VP choice makes this story newsworthy. Can you quote the part of my link where it says he was once (maybe) a remote possibility? It says he’s on the list. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/191 "2008-08-11T22:59:24Z")
This is a stuoid thing to argue about. He wasn’t one of the serious choices, but even if he had been, he’s not now, so it’s all moot. He remains a private citizen whose sex life is no more newsworthy than mine. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/192 "2008-08-11T23:59:27Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] This is a stuoid thing to argue about. He wasn’t one of the serious choices, but even if he had been, he’s not now, so it’s all moot. He remains a private citizen whose sex life is no more newsworthy than mine. [/QUOTE] I guess it’s only stupid to argue about it when you’re wrong. And since you were not being considered for anything, nobody cares about your sex life. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/193 "2008-08-12T00:05:36Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] This is a stuoid thing to argue about. He wasn’t one of the serious choices, but even if he had been, he’s not now, so it’s all moot. He remains a private citizen whose sex life is no more newsworthy than mine. [/QUOTE] Then you shouldn’t argue about it. When you cheat on your wife, it shows up on the evening news multiple nights, and you make a “heartfelt confession” on air, then your sex life will have proven to be newsworthy. But Edwards is public figure who would more than likely try and run for president again if he had the chance. Like it or not, his extra-marital sex life is newsworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/194 "2008-08-12T00:15:25Z")
It’s no more newsworthy than Paris Hilton’s latest fuck video. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/195 "2008-08-12T00:35:16Z")
That is simply factually incorrect. It’s being reported in the news, people are paying attention to it, ergo it’s newsworthy. In fact, I just watch a segment on PBS’s New Hour on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/196 "2008-08-12T00:39:44Z")
People pay attention to Paris Hilton sex videos too. _More_ people, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/197 "2008-08-12T01:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] People pay attention to Paris Hilton sex videos too. _More_ people, probably. [/QUOTE] Paying attention to a pair of tits is not the same thing as a newsworthy story. Paris Hilton wasn’t on the PBS Jim Lehrer News Hour, John Edwards was. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/198 "2008-08-12T01:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=Magiver] Paying attention to a pair of tits is not the same thing as a newsworthy story. [/quote] That’s exactly my own point. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500/199 "2008-08-12T02:23:38Z")
Yeeesh, **Diogenes**! Open a new thread to argue over when events are newsworthy so the issue can be hashed out in excruciating detail rather than nitpickunbg this thread to death. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-edwards-alleged-lovechild-would-you-disqualify-him-as-a-vp-choice-due-to-this/457500.md?page=9)