Elizabeth Edwards and the other woman

So Elizabeth Edwards, wife of disgraced former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, doesn’t want Rielle Hunter’s name mentioned during interviews.  Rielle is the woman John famously cheated with, and her baby may be his too.    Elizabeth has had a really hard time– the death of a teenage son, incurable cancer, and John’s cheating– and she claims that saying the other woman’s name will bring that woman into the light.  The thing is, Elizabeth is promoting a new book about her experiences called Resilience.  Most legitimate journalists won’t do an interview where there are restrictions placed on the questions they can ask.

Jane Podesta of the Huffington Post put it well:

After the disastrous book tour launch of her confessional Resilience, Elizabeth Edwards isn’t going quietly into the night. Now her misguided publicists are telling the media that Edwards won’t grant any interviews with reporters who mention the name of John Edwards’ one-time mistress — Rielle Hunter.

Maybe that tactic works with Angelina Jolie in empty-headed interviews about her latest refugee mission, but Edwards used to understand that professional journalists wouldn’t allow her to dictate their questions. She isn’t a Hollywood celeb but the wife of a one-time presidential candidate who still owes his followers some answers. Most reporters are refusing to go along.

Edwards can’t have it both ways — insisting that she won’t sit back as the passive political wife and disappear, while cashing in on her family’s personal crisis. Where were the fawning political handlers who once surrounded this couple, when she agreed to head off to promote this book? And what happened to the old Elizabeth Edwards who wasn’t afraid to answer any question hurled at her on the campaign trail?

I honestly get the power of a name, but come on!  If Elizabeth doesn’t want Rielle’s name uttered, then she shouldn’t have written a book about the situation.  Sheesh.