An Open Letter to John Edwards' Mistress

An Open Letter to John Edwards' Mistress

Friday, May 8, 2009

filed under: divorce logic

Rachel Sarah: Rielle Hunter. I tried to turn my head from the recent gossip about you -- but failed. To catch readers up on your story, here goes:

Once upon a time, you were sleeping with former North Carolina senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. Apparently, you'd met him while producing his "One America" pre-presidential campaign films, for which you received $100,000.

Around this time, you got pregnant, and gave birth to a baby named Frances Quinn Hunter in February 2008.

Edwards admitted that he'd had an affair, but also insisted that he wasn't the father. (How often have we heard that one?)

In the meantime, you did not follow through with DNA testing on your daughter.

Until now.

It seems that Elizabeth Edwards, John's wife, pushed your buttons during an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that aired Thursday afternoon.

The show was publicizing her book, Resilience, due out next week, during which Elizabeth Edwards called your life "pathetic." She made John look like an innocent victim -- while you came across as a racy, super-aggressive girl who left poor John no choice.

"I've seen a picture of the baby," she said. "I have no idea. It doesn't look like my children, but I don't have any idea."

Clearly, the fact that she called your daughter "it" has fired you up. According to various reports, you are now getting a paternity test for your baby. Way to be proactive.

What I can't help but wonder, however, Rielle, is this: Why didn't you have a paternity test earlier? Weren't you dying to know who the father was?

So, here's my advice:

Go and get the test. In the meantime, focus on your daughter -- and on yourself. Surround yourself with family and friends.

If Edwards is the father, you'll have many decisions to make: Will you push to get child support? Do you want John in Frances's life? Will you leave the door open for Frances to know her father someday?

And if John is NOT the father?... Well, that will be interesting, won't it?

Rachel Sarah, a.k.a. "Single Mom Seeking" blogs at SingleMomSeeking.com and co-founded SingleMommyHood.com, the first-ever website to offer "a whole new way to think about life."

18 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Rielle, Why do you care what Elizabeth thinks of you? You didn’t care about her opinions before. (Most women would have said far worse things about you if you had targeted their husbands.) I do think you should have the paternity test. Then if Edwards is the father, he can sue for joint custody and your daughter will spend half her time with the Edwards family! The advice above is good in focusing on your daughter. (I don’t think you need to be told to focus on yourself as that seems to be all you do.) You should surround yourself with family (if you have any left you aren’t estranged from) and friends (if you have any that won’t sell you out and write books about your life). One other thing you should do is pray for forgiveness. After all, you committed adultery and coveted your neighbors spouse. Committing two of the top ten sins may get you the one way ticket to hell if you don’t atone.

- Sara

Posted 05/08/09 03:22 PM

I thought this quote from Elizabeth Edwards interview with Oprah said alot about women who choose to go after married men: “I blame John, but also, women need to have more respect for other women,” she says. “It takes a lot of work to put together a marriage, to put together a family and a home. … You have to have enough respect for other human beings to leave their lives alone. If you admire that life, build it for yourself. Don’t just try to come in and take somebody else’s life.”

- Elizabeth Alexander

Posted 05/08/09 03:50 PM

Come on. Rielle knows exactly who the father of her daughter is. The reason why she hasn’t been vocal about the whole thing is that she plotted to have that baby. I have a feeling Edwards was NOT planning on having a kid with her. If I were her, I’d advise her to lay low like the snake that she is. She deserves all the venom she has coming to her and let Elizabeth at least die with her pride intact. That’s the noble thing to do. Then again, we are talking about Rielle. LOL

- Gigohead

Posted 05/08/09 03:51 PM

In addition to the hundred grand you got for the videos, you got 15 thousand a month for a year. If you aren’t flush with cash, get a job. Just don’t try for video producer, writer, camera operator, etc. (The world has seen your work and you have no marketable skills!)

- Kristyn

Posted 05/08/09 03:53 PM

Nice Sara - ditto your comments.

- candie

Posted 05/08/09 03:54 PM

Hunter: You are NOT hot!

- Greg

Posted 05/08/09 04:43 PM

This is a terrible situation for all parties involved. No one win and the innocense children are the ones who get hurt in the stream of things. I pray that God heal each and everyone of you on both sides of the fence. If John is the father or not the child is going to need a lot of love and support. The damage is done and folks be kind. “Let he who has not sin cast the first stone as the Savior start writing everyones sin in the sand.

- Larry

Posted 05/08/09 04:53 PM

All this is in the past now, and families hurt. If Elizabeth is able to forgive and go on, and John and her are trying to work things out, then let it be, they are the ones that have to build the trust back into their marriage. All people are human and make mistakes, one can learn from mistakes, don’t do it again! Pray for all those involved.

- Karen

Posted 05/08/09 05:27 PM

What’s your name again? You should just stop it. Do you have any feelings for that poor woman? I am not just talking about you, but you should have used protection. Not to say waht you did was ok, but think of what is going on in the wife’s head. Its women like you that give single women a bad rap.

- Margaret Barksdale

Posted 05/08/09 05:36 PM

While everyone is in an uproare poor johnny still get’s the pie….Hmmmmm

- Anonymous

Posted 05/08/09 09:43 PM

Wow, that was very unkind. Very judgemental.

- heathercheryl

Posted 05/08/09 10:15 PM

Why is it all her fault? He is as much to blame as she is. What did Elizabeth Edwards say…”You should have enough respect to leave lives alone? That it takes a lot of work to put together a family and a home?” I think he needs to be reminded of that as much as she does.It takes two. Women who go after married men are not right for doing so but the men have a choice to say “no” dont they? I think they are both grown adults that made the decision to cheat are both to blame.

- faith

Posted 05/09/09 06:28 AM

Dear the Rielle (Real) Hunter, John and Elizabeth Edwards have been married for 32 years. Early in their marriage they had two children. After the death of their young son they had two children later in their marriage. So, they are now still rearing two very young children. In addition, Elizabeth Edwards has stage 4 cancer. Any decent human being would not have inserted herself into their lives, and then sold stories about them to the National Enquirer for monetary gain. Lisa Druke, a.k.a. the Rielle (Real) Hunter, you fill me with disgust. I hope some day, soon, everyone can forget you ever existed. By the way, whose fault is it, Lisa Druke, a.k.a. the Rielle (Real) Hunter, that you do not know who is the father of your child?

- Cherubim

Posted 05/09/09 02:21 PM

Rielle—get REAL….You are the most disgusting human being on this earth. Saw your horrendous documentary of John. Wow, you are NO babe lady, but you flocked yourself all over John. Yes, he acted like a man and did an irresponsible thing. But YOU are dispicable. I hope the Edwards sue for full custody of the baby and offer all they can for the little girl. Even if Elizabeth is sick, their oldest daughter and John can raise her. You need to get on with your disgusting life and leave them alone.

- Anonymous

Posted 05/10/09 12:10 AM

John Edwards had wnated to take a paternity test, as been reported numerous times, multiple months ago and Ms Hunter refused it. Hm, wonder why. And wonder why she wants it now. Elizabeth Edwards is far more classy than this Hunter women.

- Chrissy

Posted 05/10/09 01:17 AM

Why is everyone throwing stones at Rielle, who says she “went after John” HUSBANDS need to take responsibility for their marriage and their wives and stop blaming the “other woman” for their infidelities. Only John and other husbands like him are to blame for “cheating” on their wives. Rielle did not cheat, who did she cheat on? Rielle is single. Not saying she was right, but let’s put the blame on the right person, John is no Angel her! As for not having a DNA test earlier, well maybe because she knows who the father is and didn’t think she needed to prove it, now for arguments sake she will prove it.

- Carrie

Posted 05/14/09 06:30 PM

It takes two! Why air dirty laundry? Put these children first.

- Lisa

Posted 05/17/09 06:41 PM

Cherubim has been outted by the NY Daily News as being Elizabeth Edwards!

- georgie

Posted 09/27/09 10:23 AM