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Could it be that the big mystery is finally solved over who fathered Rielle Hunter’s child?  Maybe.  Several media outlets are reporting a secret DNA test was performed on a bit of John Edward’s biological matter and it proves with certainty that he indeed fathered this little girl.

This is all happening as a federal grand jury is deciding whether or not hush money was paid to Hunter two years ago as well as who knew about it if was paid.  Both Hunter and Andrew Young have testified over the past few weeks.  Young is the one who took the fall when the story broke and announced he was the father of this child, despite the potential of jeopardizing his own marriage.  That was his last public appearance and statement since 2007.  Even as he approached the courthouse, he had no comment over his role in this cover-up, if there was one.  Lawyers for both Young and Hunter have said their clients are fully cooperating in the investigation.

The grand jury is investigating whether campaign funds from Edwards’ run as the Republican candidate for vice president were used to pay Hunter to keep quiet about who fathered her now-two year old daughter, Frances.  It’s also seeking to find out the truth about whether or not payments for “videography” were legitimate.

This, of course, reopens the question of what Elizabeth Edwards might now do.  Many have said she was simply waiting for confirmation before filing divorce papers.  Other, however, insist she intends to stand by her man.  This has all taken place as she’s struggled with cancer.

If the grand jury determines the money given to Hunter was done so illegally, Edwards could be facing jail time.  Even worse, the good deed he convinced Young to do could also land his former confidant in jail too, even though that’s unlikely.

There are reports Edwards will be making a public announcement about his paternity.  In the meantime, all eyes are on the missus and are waiting to see what she does, or rather, what she doesn’t do.

We knew it was only a matter of time; and now, that time has come.  It looks as though a long-awaited paternity test for Rielle Hunter’s child might finally be conducted.  Who knew Elizabeth Edwards, wife of John Edwards, would be the catalyst for making it happen?  And she was so clever about it too.  She was calculating in her efforts and chose to quietly go about her business and then pounce only when the timing was right and the opportunities were presented.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, she was nonchalant in her answers to Winfrey’s questions regarding her husband’s possible paternity.  She said she supposed it would be easy to determine and that it really had

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nothing to do with her.  She went on to say that the child would be a part of her husband’s life, but not part of hers.  There are ribbons of truth between the lines of that statement; it’s just a matter of deciphering them.  No one’s quite sure how the inclusion of another child in their family wouldn’t be part of her own life, unless, of course, she was contemplating divorce.

Many have insisted the child is Edwards’, even though he still denies it and says the affair didn’t coincide with conception.  That’s always amazing; men who are faced with a pregnant mistress always claim the timing couldn’t be right and there’s no chance they could actually be responsible for procreating with anyone other than their wives.

Aside from her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Edwards will be releasing an autobiography next week and in it, she refers to the little girl whose paternity is in question as “it” and says learning of her husband’s affair caused her to become physically ill, which is understandable.

So now the lines have been drawn.  She’s basically dared both her husband and his former mistress to complete the paternity test.  John Edwards has already said he’d be more than willing to submit to such a test, but that was when Hunter adamantly insisted no such test would ever take place and that she had nothing to prove to anyone.  Now the recent publicity with the imminent book release as well as the attitude of Elizabeth Edwards, she’s behaving like a woman scorned who now indeed has something to prove.  I think we already know where that proof lies.

Links to family lawyers, and local lawyers

. Gary Condit

Our federal government now has time on its hands to go into the romance business.  Feeling reassured?  You’re not alone - most aren’t.  Politicians and fidelity go hand in hand about like Oprah Winfrey and the Texas cattle ranchers.  Consider those who’ve not put their marriages first, got busted and then had the whole sordid story unfold in the public eye:

Bill Clinton - Nine words: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer - His call girl scandal caused him to resign as governor. 

Former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey - Before being outed as a homosexual, he admitted to being “as avid a womanizer as anybody else on the New Jersey political scene”. 

Gary Condit - He was briefly a person of interest in the abduction of Chandra Levy in 2001 because of a romance between the two that he initially denied.  This ultimately ruined his career although he was never charged.  An imminent arrest, thanks to a DNA match, of a former gang member was announced in February 2009.

John Edwards - An admitted affair with a former campaign worker ended Mr. GQ’s political career.  As his wife struggles with cancer, he was working double-time to keep his affair secret and out of the media.  What’s even more bizarre is how this magically dropped out of the media spotlight just as it was heating up.

Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer

These are just a few of the most recent scandals that come to mind.  Granted, I doubt the creation of the government’s website for Romance and Marriage 101 will have any of these fellows as guest commentators, but it’s almost laughable that those responsible for this new brainchild are actually managing to keep a straight face as the announcement is made of the five million dollars that will be used to bring this site live.  We can’t forget, either, the hundreds of other scandals our elected head honchoes find themselves in - including bribery, theft, DUIs, writing worthless checks - the list is endless.  And yes, they’re human…but they’re held far more accountable since they’re the ones breaking the very laws they’ve written.

Granted, there are major costs associated with divorce and single parents.  And most people agree with the sanctity of marriage, both morally and legally.  It just feels like a kick in the teeth to most us who’ve watched so many scandals, courtesy of politicians and lawmakers from every state, play out on the evening news day after day…after day.

There is another storm brewing too.  The gay community says it’s their tax dollars that will be contributing to this new program, yet they’re not given the option of marriage in this country. 

Public opinion is less than optimistic, to say the least.  The site, if you’re interested, is www.TwoOfUs.org