Now that John Edwards has admitted to being the father of young Frances Quinn Hunter, anticipation for the tell-all account by Andrew Young, his former aide and fall man, is not what it might have been. Still, that’s not going to stop us from checking out Young’s book when it comes out Tuesday and it didn’t stop the Wall Street Journal from grabbing a copy early and passing along the juiciest details.
Don’t get too excited though. There’s not really anything new. All we learn from the excerpts is that Edwards is a self-indulgent egomaniac (which we already knew), Andrew Young is an unbelievably loyal patsy (knew that too) and Rielle Hunter really is an insane person (also already confirmed). The stories relaying these facts sure are entertaining though.
Made in USA: Young says Edwards is an Atkins-dieter who hated making appearances at state fairs where “fat rednecks try to shove food down my face. I know I’m the people’s senator, but do I have to hang out with them?” Before a SEIU candidate forum in Las Vegas, Young says Edwards made him cut out a “made in the USA” label from Young’s own suit to sew in place of Edwards’s “made in Italy” label.
Edwards’ hair: “Naturally thick and lustrous, his hair was a fixation with him. He insisted on using just one kind of shampoo — HairTec Thick & Strong Shampoo for Fine, Fragile Hair,” Young writes. He says that for years he or Edwards personally paid for the expensive haircuts rather than publicly list them as campaign expenses. He blamed the gaffe - Edward’s campaign committee picked up the tab for two $400 haircuts — on “new, inexperienced staff.”
Time together: While Elizabeth was on a book tour for “Saving Graces,” Hunter allegedly spent time at the Edwards home. Young writes that Hunter slept in their bed and entertained the children. He also writes that he listened as Edwards told her that one day they would form their own family and have a wedding where the Dave Matthews Band would play.
