U.S. Sen. Susan Collins speculated on a live radio broadcast Wednesday that former Democratic U.S. Sen. John Edwards is the likely father of a child born to a woman with whom he recently admitted having an affair.
Collins, a Republican running for re-election against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, appeared on WJBQ-FM in Portland's morning show. About two minutes into the 10-minute interview, the show's hosts asked her what she thought of last week's admission by Edwards that he had the affair in 2006, while his wife was in remission from breast cancer.
Collins begins by responding with one word, “Unbelievable.”
One of the hosts then asked if Collins was shocked by Edwards’ disclosures.
“Yes, because he presented himself as this family man, who was devoted to his ill wife, his little children, his older daughter, so the hypocrisy ofit,” Collins said. “I try not to judge people’s personal lives, because you never know what’s going on. But in this case, he so presented himself as someone who he was not. Plus, when your wife is going through cancertreatment, I mean, geez.”
The hosts asked Collins about speculation that if this had been disclosed earlier, “that Hillary Clinton may be in Barack Obama’s position of running for president?”
“Interesting speculation,” Collins said. “I don’t know, it’s so hard to figure out what would have happened. But boy, it is incredible.”
One of the hosts then quipped: “Senator Susan Collins is just probably psyched – it’s a Democrat.”
After some laughter by everyone in the studio, Collins responded.
“Actually, I feel sorry for his family because how horrible, how horrible. But also, don’t you think he is the father of the child?”
The hosts broke into laughter again, and one of them said “of course he is.”
“I mean, why is he sneaking in,” Collins said. “My staff’s so appalled that I’m discussing this right now. But would he be sneaking into the hotel in the middle of the night to see a child who’s not his? I don’t think so.”
One of the hosts agreed: “I mean, you have to be so narcissistic and think so highly of yourself, to think that we would be so stupid to believe that you would actually be going to a hotel, just for no reason, just in the middle of the night for no reason. It makes no sense.”
Collins added, “At 2:30 in the morning. And then hide in the bathroom.”
The hosts then shifted topics, asking Collins whether she has had time to watch the summer Olympics. The conversation about Edwards lasted about two and a half minutes.
Station host Jeff Parsons later posted the conversation, which was captured on video, on his blog on the station's site after the show.
The video is now circulating around the Internet, mainly on political blogs written by Democrats, but also on mainstream news sites, including a blog on ABC News.com.
Parsons said in an interview that Collins has appeared on the show several times and is always relaxed and candid. He said he was not surprised by her comments about Edwards.
"Personally, I thought it was fantastic, the senator actually saying what a lot of the country is thinking," Parsons said.
Kevin Kelley, communications director for Collins' re-election campaign, said he was in the radio studio during the senator's appearance.
"Obviously, she made these comments during a light-hearted radio interview, during which she also discussed important issues such as the high cost of energy and health care," Kelley said. "Like most Americans, she was shocked by the revelations and she truly feels sorry for Elizabeth Edwards and her children."
Kelley said the Collins campaign has not heard from constituents about the show.
Reader comments
Click here to view or add comments on this story
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form