Why was the media in the tank for Edwards, and what other secrets of likable Dems are they hiding? The LA Times sent an intern into the breach; the NY Times handed the story to two grizzled veterans, Richard Pérez-Peña and Bill Carter.
A snippet:
The New York Times looked into the Enquirer reports last fall, though none too aggressively, editors said.
Bill Keller, the executive editor, said in an e-mail message that Mr. Edwards’s dark-horse status and the “added hold-your-nose quality about The Enquirer” contributed to the lack of interest by The Times and the mainstream media generally.
Like Mr. Downie, he said that the questions seemed irrelevant once Mr. Edwards was out of the race, but that recently, The Times had “tried to ascertain whether the cloud generated by The Enquirer’s reporting had influenced the Obama campaign in its thinking about a future role for Edwards.”
The former VP candidate who eventually came in second in Iowa was a "dark horse"? By that standard, the only candidate they would have covered seriously last fall was Hillary.
MORE: Glenn Reynolds contrasts the media discretion about Edwards' indiscretion with the coverage of McCain's "relationship" with a lobbyist.
Edwards lied again last night. It was simply too much to watch this unctuous slime tell the star-struck ABC team a tale that will soon unravel. Just this morning the mother’s family called on him to take the DNA test he offered last night. He feigned ignorance of the complex logistics surrounding his mate’s move first to Chapel Hill and then to a multimillion dollar home in Santa Barbara. She was closely followed by the poor sap with the felicitous name of Andrew Young, which reminds us of another accomplished liar, Bill Clinton. Can the illegal use of campaign funds (not including those used to pay the Unfortunate Miss Rielle) be ruled out? No, I say. Rule them in.
He is much of a trial lawyer when, confronted with pictures clearly from within the hotel room, he does not yet realize that someone with access to his unloved mistress is handing information to the National Enquirer. If Nixon taught us anything it was that a limited, modified hang-out was simply an invitation to further questions.
As to the MSM and their investigations of sexual wrongdoing, just remember this . . . a kiss is just a kiss if the kissor is a Democrat. The scandals involving these fellow travelers were all broken by the NE: Gary Hart, Jessie Jackson, Bill Clinton and John Boy Edwards. For an extra 10 points, find a connection between and among them and explain the relevance of Halifax.
Posted by: MarkO | August 09, 2008 at 02:06 PM
"...what other secrets of likable Dems are they hiding?"
Excellent question. But they won't answer it. They have only one priority and that is to get a Dem - any Dem - in the White House. Whatever it takes they will do.
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 02:07 PM
I like the "LUN" process --- Byron York has the Time's striking parts of their story
LUN
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
OT: But isn't it illegal to hold "dual citzenship" in the US? Apparently it is in Kenya.
Rocky Mountain News reported this morning on things you might not know about Obama, including this:
He Holds both American and Kenyan (since 1963) citizenship.
LUN
Posted by: Jane | August 09, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Jane- It isn't illegal anymore. You just have to pay your taxes to the US where ever you live as a citizen, and it's all good.
Posted by: MayBee | August 09, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Seems fair to assume that the MSM was planning to delve into the details of McCain's divorce at some strategically-timed point, noting the adulterous start of his relationship with Cindy just to be thorough. One alternative to these lame attempts to explain their failure to cover the Edwards story (I think my favorite so far is the one from AP) is that it direcly impacts that strategy.
Posted by: Extraneus | August 09, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Rats. Put a "not" in there regarding my view of his trial lawyerness. Sorry.
Posted by: MarkO | August 09, 2008 at 02:38 PM
The Association of Trial Lawyers includes a special section for coverups, payoffs, and voter fraud. It's members have secret decoder rings for the"big-time democrats".
It is also how they tell the difference between members and the dead people voting.
If this Hunter woman continues to be "unloved" she may decide to talk.
OT-how soon did O's mother travel to/from Kenya @his birth?
Posted by: glenda waggoner | August 09, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Hey! I'm a card carrying member of ATLA and they forgot to give me the decoder ring! First thing Monday I am going to demand one and then post the code right here!
Posted by: Jane | August 09, 2008 at 03:22 PM
It is also how they tell the difference between members and the dead people voting.
Posted by: glenda waggoner | August 09, 2008 at 02:54 PM Comment of tbe thread. LOL
Posted by: Larry | August 09, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Jane,
Kenya makes dual nationals renounce their other citizenship by the age of 23 in order to retain Kenyan nationality.
Posted by: Elliott | August 09, 2008 at 03:59 PM
So did he?
Posted by: Jane | August 09, 2008 at 04:13 PM
AP asks the tough question, "Is Edwards scandal worse for Obama or McCain?"
I think it's worse for the AP than for either of them.
Posted by: bgates | August 09, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Why on earth would the Edwards scandal be worse for McCain?
Posted by: Jane | August 09, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Hey, they managed to make the Lewinsky scandal worse for Gingrich.
Posted by: bgates | August 09, 2008 at 05:34 PM
A little inside baseball about the ABC interview. Edwards specifically requested Woodruff interview instead of Brian Ross who had actually done the leg work.
From the LUN is this priceless little snippet:
"According to multiple sources, Edwards was apoplectic that ABC News broke the story on its website and began promoting it early on Friday, giving the rest of the media a chance to play catch-up and site ABC News’ report."
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 05:52 PM
I'm looking forward to reading the Clinton Campaign Internal Memos. I think they will be lots more fun than this Edwards affair.
Unifyingly so.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 09, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Oh...and thinking ahead to the debates, one of which will be moderated by Bob Schieffer, comes this additional snippet:
"Edwards subsequently made solicitous calls to multiple reporters including CBS News’ Bob Schieffer, who also talked to a distraught Elizabeth Edwards.
My, my, they're just all so cozy, doncha know.
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 05:54 PM
cc,
They are all on the same team - one hurts, all cry.
Let's just make sure they're all crying in November.
Especially Captain Zero.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 09, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Let's hope so Rick!
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Rick, I can't wait to read those memos. My, but the Clintons and Edwards seem to be surrounded by double dealers.
I am less and less sympathetic to Elizabeth with the passage of each day.
Posted by: clarice | August 09, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Maybe she and Mrs. Spitzer can form a club? They could call it the Anything For Love
Of PowerClub.Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 09, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Now Hillary Clinton has been cheated by 2 men. First Bill Clinton and now John Edwards. He has caused her the most harm. Had he dropped out when charges were made on Oct 11th of last year, Hillary would have destroyed Barack Obama.
Posted by: macman | August 09, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Well Mdme Rielle says "NO DNA TEST".
And now we know what went on in that late nite meeting.
"As long as you don't say I word, I will marry you as soon as the ball and chain croaks. It won't be long now."
Posted by: Jane | August 09, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Oh gawd,Jane. I think you are so right. And, Rielle (pronounced Riley????) is so waiting in the wings.
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 07:27 PM
I certainly hope she didn't fall for that one.
Posted by: clarice | August 09, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Hi Clarice! Wow, have I missed you!
You know, I think she has "fall"en for that one, which tells me she is a woman in love! God bless her. Wait, until she realizes that she is being played like a coal miner's daughter. Ah, sheeze, it's gonna get ugly.
Posted by: centralcal | August 09, 2008 at 07:35 PM
There's always the possibility that the Midnight Rendezvous was less tryst than final settlement. Ms. Rielle may be just living up to her end of a 'mutually beneficial' agreement which contained a rather strong forfeiture clause.
Or it could have been True Love and they will ride off into the sunset together.
On two of Captain Zero's unicorns.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 09, 2008 at 07:37 PM
centralcal, she doesn't have a lot of options:
(1) Keeping mum publicly has resulted in money for her and her baby ostensibly thru a supporter--but perhaps thru campaign funds;
(2) Talking about it, will probably make her the target of a lot of hateful stuff--Edwards might then pay her the money directly but he's unlikely to have to give her more than she's getting already.
Of course, she could always do a kiss and tell cheapo best seller but really it's hard to see how after a quick spurt of cash and publicity that would do her and the baby much good.
I suspect the guy who set up the meeting with Edwards at the hotel is himself growing fond of Rielle and certainly has been looking after her--if he's shrewd and a friend, he'll counsel the fist option.
Posted by: clarice | August 09, 2008 at 07:54 PM
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Posted by: roro44 | August 09, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Rick:
From your Clinton Memo link:
Wasn't Josh Green the one who penned that article that Hillary muscled off the publication schedule by threatening to cut off access to Bill?
Posted by: JM Hanes | August 09, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Oops. Forgot to paste in the Memo URL.
Posted by: JM Hanes | August 09, 2008 at 10:58 PM
nearly 200 internal memos that the author, Josh Green, obtained -- 130 or so of which he plans to scan in and post online
Darn the luck, they ran out of room on the internet before the last 70 memos could be posted.
Posted by: bgates | August 09, 2008 at 11:22 PM
JMH,
I remember the threats but I don't know if it's the right guy. I've seen a few snips of the memos - the Clinton campaign staff has that same refined 'hooker just off the docks style' that the Clintons brought to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 09, 2008 at 11:43 PM
From the ones I read, Rick, Mandy baby has a real fixation with the f word. Refined bish that she is.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet | August 09, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Jim,
It's really unsurprising. Why would the Clinton's ever want anyone around who possessed a higher character than they do?
We're heading back to "does not share my values" as the kicker in November. Captain Zero doesn't rise any higher than an Edwards or a Clinton.
As we'll see again shortly.
There's not gonna be a single sighted newt left in the US by the time the Dem convention starts.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | August 10, 2008 at 12:17 AM
from hunter's emails that HuffPo got
um....icky....Love Lips? Super icky.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Top,
During the 2004 campaign, my sister would gross out anytime Edwards came on tv. I never noticed until she pointed it out to me, and then I couldn't help but notice, how he licks his lips all the time. They are always wet. Super icky, indeed.
Posted by: Sue | August 10, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Yep. It was Josh Green. When the Hillary got his GQ profile killed, it looks like he found a more supportive niche at the Atlantic. Sounds like maybe he's produced that rarest of beasts: a sequel that's better than the original.
Posted by: JM Hanes | August 10, 2008 at 12:56 AM
They all deserve each other, don't they?
What a gang.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet | August 10, 2008 at 01:09 AM
Sue
His weird caricature like lip PURSE/slight nose flair in combination with the lip lick just so icks me out.
It's like nails on a chalkboard.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 01:34 AM
Sue
His weird caricature like lip PURSE/slight nose flair in combination with the lip lick just so icks me out.
It's like nails on a chalkboard.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 01:34 AM
I'm so proud of America and Mark Phelps - Michelle Obama isn't though.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 01:43 AM
I'm so proud of America and Mark Phelps - Michelle Obama isn't though.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 01:43 AM
Make that MICHAEL Phelps - had Spitz on the brain
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | August 10, 2008 at 01:44 AM
here is what Hunter said about Elizabeth (among other things)
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Posted by: شات | August 10, 2008 at 03:32 AM
OT:M Simon gets an instalanch--reporting essentially what the consular officer told me in Paris--the European economies are heading into a recession---and we're not--http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2008/08/blazing_economi.html
Posted by: clarice | August 10, 2008 at 04:50 PM