Rielle Hunter/John Edwards fallout

[Spark1111]

Okay, we as a culture, are obsessed with scandal.

 

That being said, I seem to ...."feel" the tide of public opinion turning against infidelity, certainly among politicians.

 

I am sensing, OW/OM bashing gaining momentum, where as before, I sensed a small amount of respecting the privacy of the third party in a triangle by the media.

 

I mean today, reading the papers, Rielle is taking a bash for bemoaning the fact of ONLY appearing in a man's shirt and pearls on a bed for her GQ Interview.

 

Is she just....stupid? Is he?

 

And the quote that John Edwards lives in fear of Elizabeth's wrath seems so....demeaning to a woman who is fighting cancer, gave him every opportunity to reform before finally kicking him to the curb, and.....he almost attained a run for president during the course of their marriage.

 

Respected Elizabeth mean? Or just trying to get John to act like a grown up?

 

I mean the OW did get her man, but what kind of man did she get?

Thoughts on this, anyone?

[califnan]

Great topic ... and thoughts could go volumes.

 

Elizabeth's sister said the pictures were worth two thousand words ..

 

Just looked like another sordid affair, with a poor baby involved .. Rielle covering over her trashiness with typical other woman thoughts of the poor misunderstood husband with mean wife .. A compliment to the artistry of the photography and touch up - as poor Rielle is even a little on the ugly side..

[PhoenixRise]

Spark

 

I read about Rielle's meltdown over the pics in GQ earlier today.

 

The pictures Are provocative. I too have to wonder if she is stupid because SHE posed for them. She knew they were going to be published in this magazine. The fact that they asked her to pose wearing a man's shirt and pearls and nothing else while sitting on a bed covered in kid's toys didn't clue her in as to how this was going to look?

 

AND her comments about Elizabeth are just tacky. She didn't think that perhaps it would look bad if she badmouthed the terminally ill wife of the man she had an affair with?

 

As for John's stupidity...well he IS a man who thought he could have this affair, with a baby on the way, convince the world the baby of the woman he was having an affair with was actually fathered by his friend...AND he thought he could be president. So yeah I would say he is pretty stupid.

[NoIDidn't]

I don't see how one can be expected to "respect the privacy of the third party" when they keep showing up for their 15 minutes o' fame.

 

Much like the many mistresses that came forward to vie for a payoff for silence from Tiger, Rielle Hunter is in it for the cash, IMO.

 

I found the pictures in poor taste. I watched the video of the shoot that GQ released. She didn't complain once about any of the requests made to her, but she did seem a little "spacey".

 

I don't know what she was thinking. Who comes out in this country as an OW to a politician and turns around and takes half naked pictures on a bed considering what brought her to the public eye? Who, with a brain, does that? Did she not consider the symbolism?

 

I am not clear on what you mean by the increase in OW/OM bashing. If its that people are more vocal about their disdain, I think its based on these specific OW coming forward. Porn rejects and hippies. They seem to pick their targets based on wealth, not love. Notice, not one person has ever said a disparaging word about Mark Sanford's Argentinian OW. (At least not that I have seen anywhere).

 

The backlash against politicians and other public figures is because we are getting tired of their claiming to be such paragons of virtue all knowing that they are being duplicitous behind the scenes.

[threebyfate]

Rielle Hunter isn't quite right in the head. She acts like a Borderliner (BPD), emotions going one way, a split second later, going the other way. Note how she never takes any responsibility for her actions a la photoshoot?

[2sure]

We know this and Rielle knows this:

 

The ONLY reason she was asked to pose for GQ is because she is OW in this particular high profile infidelity drama. That she SAT on a bed half dressed with children's toys was playing on the home wrecker ID. She knew that.

 

Feigning indignity after being paid is whats stupid.

[quankanne]

she's a dipshxt, plain and simple. And her gushing about hers and "Johnny's" relationship ... she's living in an alternate reality.

[OWoman]

Okay, we as a culture, are obsessed with scandal.

 

That being said, I seem to ...."feel" the tide of public opinion turning against infidelity, certainly among politicians.

 

I am sensing, OW/OM bashing gaining momentum, where as before, I sensed a small amount of respecting the privacy of the third party in a triangle by the media.

 

I don't know who either of these people are, but a recent case in my home country which hit the media focussed entirely on the M politician, and - beyond mentioning her name, as she's related to someone locally well known - left the OW in peace. She wasn't the story, but he was.

 

I think what you're describing is an American phenomenon?

[Spark1111]

Great topic ... and thoughts could go volumes.

 

Elizabeth's sister said the pictures were worth two thousand words ..

 

Just looked like another sordid affair, with a poor baby involved .. Rielle covering over her trashiness with typical other woman thoughts of the poor misunderstood husband with mean wife .. A compliment to the artistry of the photography and touch up - as poor Rielle is even a little on the ugly side..

 

I agree in that the only quote I have read attributable to Elizabeth is something along the lines of..."I cannot do this anymore," before the announcement of filing for divorce.

 

And I thought, how very, very classy.

 

No rant against him, or the OW, just.....very classy.

[Spark1111]

I don't see how one can be expected to "respect the privacy of the third party" when they keep showing up for their 15 minutes o' fame.

 

Much like the many mistresses that came forward to vie for a payoff for silence from Tiger, Rielle Hunter is in it for the cash, IMO.

 

I found the pictures in poor taste. I watched the video of the shoot that GQ released. She didn't complain once about any of the requests made to her, but she did seem a little "spacey".

 

I don't know what she was thinking. Who comes out in this country as an OW to a politician and turns around and takes half naked pictures on a bed considering what brought her to the public eye? Who, with a brain, does that? Did she not consider the symbolism?

 

I am not clear on what you mean by the increase in OW/OM bashing. If its that people are more vocal about their disdain, I think its based on these specific OW coming forward. Porn rejects and hippies. They seem to pick their targets based on wealth, not love. Notice, not one person has ever said a disparaging word about Mark Sanford's Argentinian OW. (At least not that I have seen anywhere).

 

The backlash against politicians and other public figures is because we are getting tired of their claiming to be such paragons of virtue all knowing that they are being duplicitous behind the scenes.

 

Great point, NID!

 

Maybe it is the quality of the OW who ARE coming forward that are giving OW a bad name in general.

 

Yes, Mark Sanderson's OW has been graciously neglected by the media, possibly because SHE IS NOT seeking her 15 minutes of fame.

[Spark1111]

Rielle Hunter isn't quite right in the head. She acts like a Borderliner (BPD), emotions going one way, a split second later, going the other way. Note how she never takes any responsibility for her actions a la photoshoot?

 

Well, there you go....She apparently works in media and admired the work of the photographer doing the shoot.

 

So wouldn't she know MORE than the average person about retaining some control over the printed content?

 

You would think so.....

 

And to say she hadn't spoke to the media now because it would have "emasculated Johnny"....Doesn't claiming he lives in fear of the wrath of his stbxW somewhat emasculating to him?

 

I think it does for this reason alone: You cannot find a single derogatory work spoken by Elizabeth against Rielle...

 

Not so true anymore for Rielle denigrating Elizabeth...

 

And I know, I know, OW and BS should NOT be in a competition with each other, BUT society IS judging who may have more class of the two women.

 

Don't want to compete? Don't open that door, IMHO.

[Spark1111]

I don't know who either of these people are, but a recent case in my home country which hit the media focussed entirely on the M politician, and - beyond mentioning her name, as she's related to someone locally well known - left the OW in peace. She wasn't the story, but he was.

 

I think what you're describing is an American phenomenon?

 

Hey, OW, could be. Could truly be.

 

Afterall, for all our brash and arrogant bravado, people should NOT forget we Americans WERE founded by the Puritans!

[Spark1111]

We know this and Rielle knows this:

 

The ONLY reason she was asked to pose for GQ is because she is OW in this particular high profile infidelity drama. That she SAT on a bed half dressed with children's toys was playing on the home wrecker ID. She knew that.

 

Feigning indignity after being paid is whats stupid.

 

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Wonder what she was paid?

[NoIDidn't]

I don't know who either of these people are, but a recent case in my home country which hit the media focussed entirely on the M politician, and - beyond mentioning her name, as she's related to someone locally well known - left the OW in peace. She wasn't the story, but he was.

 

I think what you're describing is an American phenomenon?

 

The media focuses on the people that make themselves available.

 

I'm quite sure that if the OW in your home country had put herself in front of the media there, there would have been a story about her there as well.

 

This has nothing to do with being an American phenomenon concerning who the media covers. Now, it might be the case in your home country that the general population might not be as interested as some Americans are about such tawdry happenings. Either way, its about the OW putting herself out there, not about the media focusing on them relentlessly against their wishes.

[troggleputty]

I'm not a Rielle-basher.

 

Actually she seems like a pretty typical OW.

[NoIDidn't]

I'm not a Rielle-basher.

 

Actually she seems like a pretty typical OW.

 

I agree. But there is something new going on with many OW these days. They want to be public. They can't accept that it was "just" an affair. And so it is they that actively court the media.

 

There were Tiger's trashy OWs. That absolutely nutty woman that blew $250K to put up billboards in an attempt to humiliate not just the MM she was dealing with but his entire family.

 

Rielle is just one more in a long line of publicity seeking OW. They seem to think if they can sway public opinion of them by using their faulty rationalizations for even engaging in the affairs.

 

I don't take them seriously. I certainly don't feel that I am bashing them by stating my opinion about their actions, or lack of class. They will likely feel that your calling Rielle "typical" is a bash as well.

[OWoman]

I agree. But there is something new going on with many OW these days. They want to be public. They can't accept that it was "just" an affair. And so it is they that actively court the media.

 

I think there's a world of difference between being "public" and being in the eye of the media.

 

One can be public simply by going about one's business openly, without hiding - which a number of OW - MM couples do. They see nothing wrong in what they're doing, so see no need to hide. It's open, it's public.

 

That's very different to the cases you cited, where the OW actively seeks to publicise the A / herself, by promoting her / the A's visibility through the media.

 

The former is open, the latter tacky, IMO.

[OWoman]

The media focuses on the people that make themselves available.

 

I'm quite sure that if the OW in your home country had put herself in front of the media there, there would have been a story about her there as well.

 

Perhaps it's still coming...

 

As I understand it, the MM denied that her child was his. She "went public" in an attempt to get acknowledgement of the child, so that he would pay what was required by custom and law. She got this.

 

I've seen nothing further about her in the media since then, but I don't monitor the trash, which may well have chosen to buck the trend.

[BlueeyedJonesy]

What a classy lady....jeeze.

 

I searched for the pics and there is another one from the GQ shoot where she is holding a baby trying to look all seductive. I don't know if the child is actually hers but its pretty disturbing.

 

Reguardless of the situation and who the monster is this love triangle. Why on earth do we keep hearing these stories? why are we giving the OW a voice and PAYING her..just so she can humiliate the W. Its never the cheating lying scumbag H that they bash..its alawys the W. I'm sick of it, Tigers mistresses were nothing but fame whores...well the ones that came out...and they take it so far as the tell the media the sexual things that they did together..this is in no way helpful and it only makes the H and AP look trashy.

[IfWishesWereHorses]

BEJ I don't see it as humiliating the wife at all. I think it vindicates the wife. The OW is being shown for the trashy nutcase that she is. Her husband gave up his career and family for this unstable nut. If I was EE I would be secretly applauding. I saw an interview with her and had only the utmost respect for the way she was handling things. I guess the cancer issue puts a lot of things in perspective. EE is my hero. Very classy lady, however "mom-like" and mean her idiot husband may complain about her being.

[BlueeyedJonesy]

I don't mean this incident...i think EE was humiliated through the whole thing. Why do you have to go to the media to say that this is your baby? why not just do the normal thing and go to him...because shes AFTER publicity. There is a sex tape..LOL and if this were a man and he was posing half naked in compromising positions with a dora the explorer doll right next to him..he would be a sex offender. I just can't get over the fact that she posed with her daughter that poor child is nothing more than leverage to that witch. Sad sad story..

 

on the other hand Rielle is a great lover for a politician..she talks out of both sides of her mouth.

[NoIDidn't]

I think there's a world of difference between being "public" and being in the eye of the media.

 

One can be public simply by going about one's business openly, without hiding - which a number of OW - MM couples do. They see nothing wrong in what they're doing, so see no need to hide. It's open, it's public.

 

That's very different to the cases you cited, where the OW actively seeks to publicise the A / herself, by promoting her / the A's visibility through the media.

 

The former is open, the latter tacky, IMO.

 

OWoman, we are posting in a thread about the Media and OWs. Of course, I was talking about an OW promoting herself in the media. I was not talking about openly dating a MM.

[NoIDidn't]

and if this were a man and he was posing half naked in compromising positions with a dora the explorer doll right next to him..he would be a sex offender.

 

Wow. Never thought of it that way.

[D-Lish]

I agree. But there is something new going on with many OW these days. They want to be public. They can't accept that it was "just" an affair.

 

The OW wanted to be validated- who doesn't want to be validated?

Everyone needs to be validated, or it negates the relationship.

 

I think the biggest issue for the OW is that the wife IS validated, while she is not.

 

I don't care who you are, it sucks ass to be a secret. No OW should ever agree to it- and no wife should ever have to be made a fool of.

[NoIDidn't]

The OW wanted to be validated- who doesn't want to be validated?

Everyone needs to be validated, or it negates the relationship.

 

I think the biggest issue for the OW is that the wife IS validated, while she is not.

 

I don't care who you are, it sucks ass to be a secret. No OW should ever agree to it- and no wife should ever have to be made a fool of.

 

I agree. I understand the position of wanting to be acknowledged for your own perceived importance to the man, but this is way overboard lately. Billboards, news conferences, and magazine articles?!!!! No OW is entitled to this level of "validation".

 

I think RH just doesn't like the fact that people feel more sorry for EE and the terminal cancer while being stuck with an idiot for a H, but everyone thinks she is a low-class, no brain fill-in-the-blank.

Edited March 18, 2010 by NoIDidn't
added punctuation