When the National Enquirer broke the story that former presidential candidate John Edwards was caught in a Beverly Hills hotel with what was described as his mistress and their love child the mainstream "news" media looked the other way.
Even when Fox News confirmed that a security guard summoned by John Edwards to rescue him from reporters as he as besieged in a hotel bathroom confirms that Edwards was at the scene and reportedly turned "totally white" when he learned the story reporters were following; the media still remained silent.
No report from:
- The New York Times
- Time Magazine
- Washington Post
- Associated Press
- Newsweek
- The New Republic
And yet, when the NY Times broke the story of rumors of an affair John McCain was rumored to have had with a lobbyist, the media pile on was instant:
The Associated Press went so far as to run an article featuring the words of Cindy McCain and comparing her reaction to that of other political spouses with cheating husbands.
No one is suggesting that the media push a microphone in the face of Elizabeth Edwards, who is terminally ill. But that doesn't mean that the same standard of reporting shouldn't apply to John Edwards that was applied to McCain. After all, Edwards had vehemently denied rumors of the affair on previous occasions: "The story is false. It's completely untrue, ridiculous" Edwards said.
Writing at Slate.com Jack Schafer points out that 24 hours after the news broke of Senator Larry Craig's (R-Idaho) arrest for footsie in an airport restroom the media pounced on him for hypocrisy and at least 36 daily newspapers in the U.S. had published the story. Citing Craig's hypocrisy was their justification. Edwards hypocrisy and lies doesn't seem to faze the media at all.
Liberal Editor at LA Times Covers It Up for Edwards
Not only did the story not appear in the main print editions of newspapers or magazines, Mickey Kaus writing at Slate.com finds the email that the editor of the Los Angeles Times sent to the newspaper's online bloggers directing them to hush it up:
From: "Pierce, Tony"Frankly, the revelations about Edwards are less interesting than the media's reaction to the news. I'd have no problem if they treated all such stories with the delicacy and tact that they are currently treating the Edwards' story. But that's just not the case now is it? If the subject here was Mitt Romney or any other Republican the story would be entirely different.
Date: July 24, 2008 10:54:41 AM PDT
To: [XXX]
Subject: john edwards
Hey bloggers,
There has been a little buzz surrounding John Edwards and his alleged affair. Because the only source has been the National Enquirer we have decided not to cover the rumors or salacious speculations. So I am asking you all not to blog about this topic until further notified.
If you have any questions or are ever in need of story ideas that would best fit your blog, please don't hesitate to ask
Keep rockin,
Tony
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