The Volokh Conspiracy - Edwards now suggests that he was "99% honest" when he lied.

The New York Times, Washington Post, and all the others have lifted the news blackout on John Edwards. It's worth noting that Edwards has the nerve to suggest that he was being "99% honest" when he lied about his affair.

Politico has Edwards's public statement:

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS

August 8, 2008

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up -- feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

Though Edwards implies that he was being "99% honest" when he was lying, and that "I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it," he didn't just deny that the story was true. He said it was "completely false."

I have a hard time believing that Edwards is being 51% honest even now, let alone 99% or 100% honest.

I certainly don't see much reason for believing Edwards over the National Enquirer on this story. When his word is worth less than that of a supermarket tabloid, it's an indication of how far he has fallen.

In the original National Enquirer stories, they claimed to have Hunter's emails to her friends disclosing the affair, including gushing about a recent rendezvous. Further, according to the Enquirer, Hunter told friends that she and Edwards met at hotels where the campaign was staying. I wonder if these emails match up with the restricted dates that Edwards now claims for the affair. In other words, even when John Edwards claims that he has stopped lying, I wonder whether he is a decent enough human being to be believed.

I'll bet the Republicans are hoping that the Democrats are foolish enough to give Edwards a prime speaking spot at the convention.

I think Barack Obama is too smart for that.

	[Jim Lindgren, August 8, 2008 at 7:10pm] Trackbacks Edwards now suggests that he was "99% honest" when he lied. The New York Times, Washington Post, and all the others have lifted the news blackout on John Edwards. It's worth noting that Edwards has the nerve to suggest that he was being "99% honest" when he lied about his affair. Politico has Edwards's public statement: STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS August 8, 2008 Chapel Hill, North Carolina In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough. I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby. It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up -- feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help. I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say. Though Edwards implies that he was being "99% honest" when he was lying, and that "I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it," he didn't just deny that the story was true. He said it was "completely false." I have a hard time believing that Edwards is being 51% honest even now, let alone 99% or 100% honest. I certainly don't see much reason for believing Edwards over the National Enquirer on this story. When his word is worth less than that of a supermarket tabloid, it's an indication of how far he has fallen. In the original National Enquirer stories, they claimed to have Hunter's emails to her friends disclosing the affair, including gushing about a recent rendezvous. Further, according to the Enquirer, Hunter told friends that she and Edwards met at hotels where the campaign was staying. I wonder if these emails match up with the restricted dates that Edwards now claims for the affair. In other words, even when John Edwards claims that he has stopped lying, I wonder whether he is a decent enough human being to be believed. I'll bet the Republicans are hoping that the Democrats are foolish enough to give Edwards a prime speaking spot at the convention. I think Barack Obama is too smart for that.