MOTHER JONES BY E-MAIL

«--Previous Post | Blog Index | Next Post--»

Has National Enquirer Taken Edwards out of Veep-Play?

Usually, there's no reason to pay much attention to the scandal news of the National Enquirer. But in a recent report, the mag claims that several of its reporters witnessed and confronted John Edwards at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where a woman, who months ago was alleged by the magazine to have become pregnant due to an affair with Edwards, was checked in--with her child. (The woman and Edwards initially both denied they were romantically involved.) The latest story is full of firsthand details--Edwards fleeing the Enquirer snoops, hiding in a bathroom, being escorted out by a security detail--that perhaps even the Enquirer would be hesitant to fabricate. After all, it can be sued by either Edwards or the woman.

Blogger Mickey Kaus has complained that the MSM hasn't touched the matter: "Will this be the first presidential-contender level scandal to occur completely in the undernews, without ever being reported in the cautious, respectable MSM?" But it's tough for responsible journalists to figure out how to handle a report from the gutter about a potential vice presidential candidate. Yet whether you read about this matter in the Times or not, the veep-vetters of the Obama campaign have probably paid the story notice. If Edwards is still in contention, he better have for them a rather convincing denial to allay suspicions that this time the scandalmongers of the Enquirer might have actually gotten it right.






Comments

Wait a minute, Enquirer has busted alot of politicians, Gary Hart,Eliot Spitzer,teddy Kennedy numerous times, in fact, many members of the Kennedy family, That Republican caught cruising in a mens room. Enquirer has the goods. Now I'm going to their web site.

Posted by: Franklin Grimes on 07/23/08 at 4:10 PM  Respond

When the original Enquirer story about the affair with Rielle Hunter came out, Edwards categorically denied the relationship, stating: "The story is false. It's completely untrue, ridiculous." As he rejected the Enquirer's charges, Edwards was making his wife and their marriage a central component of his campaign. If Edwards had had no affair, he wasn't a hypocrite, not then and not now.

But if Edwards had an affair and lied about it, shouldn't he suffer scrutiny akin to that of Craig? At least three-dozen daily newspapers in the United States published the Craig news the day after the Roll Call scoop, according to Nexis, but this morning not a single U.S. daily mentioned the Enquirer piece.

Posted by: Ashly on 07/23/08 at 6:01 PM  Respond

ashly,

the craig story exploded because he'd tried so hard to hide it from everybody. and craig's story wasn't just a sex scandal; it was a GAY sex scandal from a conservative family values senator. gay sex, hypocrisy, and cowardice, all in one story. it was a great time for all media.

if it can be shown that edwards was cheating, then maybe he'll get some of the scrutiny craig did. it's just not that sexy of a story to go after a 2x failed presidential candidate while obama and mccain are sniping at each other daily. they're sucking all the air out of the room.

Posted by: homer on 07/24/08 at 5:20 AM  Respond

homer, as a stupid man, like in the Simpson's, you just don't get it. He cheated on his dying wife. You pigs just think that the woman should "stay by her man."

Posted by: Ashly on 07/24/08 at 7:32 AM  Respond

I really dislike the tendency of the media to focus voter attention on the private lives of candidates. I was a newly hired teacher at a high school in France when the Lewinsky affair was dominating the news. I was constantly being called upon by my French colleagues to comment on and account for Bill Clinton's behavior. I was so relieved when the American public told the press where to go and supported Clinton on the basis of the results of his political actions. I was able to point out to my colleagues how discerning the American public had shown itself to be.

I think Edwards had a run as the vice presidential candidate and couldn't even nail his home state. THAT'S the reason he should not only be eliminated but never should have been considered in the first place.

Posted by: kathy giannini on 07/24/08 at 3:22 PM  Respond

Hotel security showed up and intervened. The reporters charge that not only did one security guard threaten to break their camera but that security also violated several statutes of the California Penal Code, including false imprisonment and preventing a guest from entering land.

The ENQUIRER reporters were registered guests at the hotel, while Edwards was not.

Police recorded the criminal complaint and will turn it over to detectives.

Posted by: Fly on the wall on 07/25/08 at 7:41 AM  Respond

ashly,

you are a fool. i say this as someone who had to go the the dmv yesterday, which makes me an authority on human stupidity. your own stupidity is truly glaring, so i feel comfortable making a professional estimation of your intelligence.

it's been 5 days now, and the edwards story isn't picking up much steam. it might, when obama announces he's close to picking his veep candidate, and the reporters have to do a story on "what happened to john edwards?" for now, it's just mccain attacking obama's patriotism, and obama creating photo-ops to look presidential.

yes, edwards' wife is dying, and if he cheated on her that's despicable. but i'm a stupid male who expects her to "stay by her man"? you could tell all that by the way i called him a "2x failed presidential candidate"?

to recap:

John Edwards - small potatoes. couldn't carry his home state in '04 and didn't even win one primary this year. if he cheated, that's unforgivable, but the media hasn't noticed yet.

ashly - twit and fool. sexist enough to project her own assumptions on others, foolish enough to believe herself the victim in her own attacks. may god have mercy on her soul.

the internet - greatest invention of the late 20th century. easy enough for a fool to use, simple enough to let that fool remain anonymous.

Posted by: homer on 07/28/08 at 4:56 AM  Respond

ZOMG, Ashly got owned!

Posted by: Bob Jones on 08/12/08 at 11:56 AM  Respond

Post a comment





 

RECENT COMMENTS

Gay Marriage Ban Succeeding in California (7)
ALB wrote: As a No on 8 volunteer, I'll tell you exactly what the pro... [more]

Fear-Mongering and Fox (18)
James Handy wrote: Amen to you shade tail, gk, and others. For looking in the... [more]

George W. Bush: Helping Candidates Lose Election in Other Countries, Too (4)
James Handy wrote: I guesshe didn't get enough out of messing up Mccains run,... [more]

Palin Report: The Mavericky Governor "Abused Her Power" (10)
bha wrote: T. Hunt you are asking Campbell to read the report. Campb... [more]

Alaska Judge Cracks Down on Palin's Emails (2)
bha wrote: We can only hope that after all this is done and Palin ret... [more]

The Long Saga of John McCain and the NRA (9)
Six Of One... wrote: Christopher Leppla tells us: The reference is if you gi... [more]

John Lewis: John McCain's Wise Man? (70)
Jeannie wrote: Poor Rep. Lewis, I failed to see you post anything about F... [more]

Be Careful, Kids — Monkey Business Can Start Wars (7)
العاب wrote: niceeeeeeeeee ah ah... [more]

After $700 Billion Bailout Collapses in the House, GOP Mounts an Absurd Blame Game (44)
Dave Fennell wrote: Clay and William Wexler, RIGHT-ON! I've been bopping arou... [more]

Pre-Palin, McCain Slammed Paltry Foreign Policy Cred of Mayors and Governors (6)
Mr. Squibbs wrote: LSN, You've made some fair points. But when a 72 year-old... [more]

XML RSS Feed

Powered by
Movable Type 3.33

Jail.org - Inmate Search
Criminal records, instant public records & people search & current court records. www.jail.org

U.S. Public Records Search
Search County & State Court Records, Criminal records, Vital and Adoption Records www.PublicRecordsInfo.com

Records.com - People Search
Public Records and Background Checks. Instantly Search Criminal Records, Addresses and Court Records www.Records.com

Court Records & County Records
Find Instant Public Records, Criminal Records as Well as County Property Records Search. www.PublicRecordsIndex.com


















New Trade Theory and Me

Wingnut Watch

Treason Watch

Econ 101


More MoJo voices...



bookIN PRINT

CLICK HERE
for more great reading

headphones IN TUNE
New music every issue

CLICK TO LISTEN

Advertise Liberally

This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones, and gifts from generous readers like you.

© 2008 The Foundation for National Progress

About Us   Support Us   Advertise   Ad Policy   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Subscribe   RSS