John Edwards Finally Owns Up to Fathering Love Child

[HMG]-John Edwards, the former vice presidential candidate and presidential hopeful with his trademark megawatt smile, finally admitted something the rest of the world has already known: That he is the father of the two-year-old daughter of his ex-mistress. Edwards released a statement to NBC, which was read on air this morning. In the brief statement, Edwards acknowledged paternity of Quinn and apologized for publicly denying that he was the little girl’s father, who by-the-way is the spitting image of Edwards:

“I am Quinn’s father. I will do everything in my power to provide her with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace,” says Edwards.

Edwards says that he has been providing financial support to his ex-mistress Rielle Hunter for his daughter, and that he hopes someday Quinn forgives him for his sleazy behavior:

“It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me.” Edwards goes on to issue a blanket apology for his actions, without mentioning his wife. “To all those I have disappointed and hurt these words will never be enough, but I am truly sorry.”

What a long strange trip it’s been for John Edwards, now 56. The handsome and well-liked politician went from being a popular presidential hopeful and dedicated advocate for the poor, to one of the most reviled politicians in history, ever. He cast himself as the embodiment of a devoted father and husband to his cancer-stricken wife Elizabeth. But his life and political career came tumbling down in August 2008, when he admitted to cheating on his dying wife, after repeated denials, with Rielle Hunter, a videographer for his presidential campaign. Worse than the affair were the lies. He denied fathering Rielle Hunter’s baby. And during his campaign, he convinced a trusted campaign aide, Andrew Young, to take the fall for him and falsely claim paternity of Hunter’s daughter Quinn.

NBC reported that Edwards and his wife Elizabeth are now separated and living apart. Edwards also wanted to make sure that the public had the facts straight about when he began his extramarital affair with the New Agey Rielle Hunter. Edwards said that he began cheating on his wife in 2006 when her breast cancer was in remission, and before she learned in 2007, that her cancer had spread and was incurable. So, see? John Edwards is a great guy, because he didn’t cheat when his wife was literally dying. He only cheated when he thought there was a possiblity that Elizabeth may lose her life from her battle with cancer.

Elizabeth Edwards, now 60, is still undergoing treatments for her incurable breast cancer.

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