Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the email address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

Newsletter subscriptions
Sign up to receive wowOwow's weekly newsletter and get our best picks delivered right to your inbox. Our newsletter content is hand-picked by the wowOwow editorial team and provides the top features, news, and commentary from our site. Subscribing to our newsletter is free and safe. We will never share your email or other information with a third-party without your direct consent.
By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.

Politics | 07/24/2008 1:15 pm

Why Is the Mainstream Media Keeping John Edwards's Alleged Love Affair a Secret?

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
John Edwards
© AP
Over the past 24 hours, Internet news sites have been reporting on this week’s explosive National Enquirer story exposing a supposed John Edwards tryst in a Hollywood hotel.

However, with the exception of the Los Angeles Times, a blog from The Washington Post online and cable TV’s Headline News’s Glenn Beck, few of the mainstream media outlets are touching this story.

One Internet outlet, Slate Magazine is also asking the question, poking fun at the media for not covering it and making a direct comparison to the mainstream media frenzy around Senator Larry Craig’s bathroom antics of a couple of months ago. Slate writes:

"So why hasn’t the press commented on the story yet? Is it because it broke too late yesterday afternoon, and news organizations want to investigate it for themselves before writing about it? Or are they observing a double standard that says homo-hypocrisy is indefensible but that hetero-hypocrisy deserves an automatic bye?"

The Huffington Post thinks that Edwards just isn’t prominent enough of a figure anymore for the public to care:

"It sure looks like Edwards is a hypocrite who misrepresented himself by showcasing his wife and kids so prominently in the campaign. But his campaign was unsuccessful. Voters didn’t buy his arguments or his life story as reasons to elect him. In short, nobody cares about this now, except as celebrity gossip. And that’s how it’s going to play when the media picks it up, as it probably will.

"The better question is, should the media have gone after this story more aggressively back during the campaign? Sounds like the answer is yes."

Tell us: Do you feel cheated by the mainstream media for keeping the alleged John Edwards affair a secret?

194 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Elisabeth S
Deni, Are you actually suggesting that we discuss something of substance that will effect us all for the next four years and maybe beyond? What a novel idea. The press used to be considered the fourth estate-we need a fifth estate-to keep track of the media. Maybe that is what is happening here on the net.
By Elisabeth S on 07/24/2008 2:29 pm
mary lou s
elisabeth, what a novel idea! are you suggesting we discuss something of substance? like the war which intertwines with the economy? oh, what shall we do?
By mary lou s on 07/24/2008 7:31 pm
phyllis Doyle Pepe
Keith Olverman (sp?) has done two nights of hammering on this McCain stuff as has the PBS News Hour , John Stewart, The Huffington Post and I imagine others.
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 07/24/2008 5:49 pm
mary lou s
deni, the blogosphere is who we have left to cover it. fortunately, we are now part of the blogosphere. it would be much better if cbs did a mea culpa on this.
By mary lou s on 07/24/2008 7:23 pm
Bonnie D-Z
He was dissmissive of his wife at a campaign rally when she attempted to insert a comment while he was speaking. She was clearly embarrassed, as were the people around her. What is that pretty face hiding?
By Bonnie D-Z on 07/24/2008 2:42 pm
Jeannot Kensinger
I will be very shocked if this is for real. Surely not. After all is said and done It is , of course, between him and Elizabeth.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 07/24/2008 4:47 pm
Diana T
JMK, Five will get you ten, he is as guilty as hell. The picture of the “other woman” is strangely similar to Prince Charles’ Camilla.
By Diana T on 07/24/2008 4:54 pm
Frank Peterson
Diana, I’m not sure that’s a recommendation for an affair—I mean Camilla???
By Frank Peterson on 07/24/2008 6:39 pm
Diana T
Well, Frank, don’t you think they look alike? That same friendly smile? The well groomed hair? God, if a guy is going to mess around, make it with someone who has some camera appeal. I’m sorry….I am having a catty moment. Perhaps it was a bad hair day. God forbid I would mention the word coyote. Baaaad! So sorry; sometimes I just can’t resist.
By Diana T on 07/24/2008 8:52 pm
Frank Peterson
lol not to worry Diana—coyote? uh-uh. :-)
By Frank Peterson on 07/25/2008 12:04 am
Diana T
Sorry about that, Frank. I couldn’t resist. I mean if I am going to get catty, I may as well go all out.
By Diana T on 07/25/2008 12:28 am
Frank Peterson
Hells bells, why not lol Gotta have some fun here right?
By Frank Peterson on 07/25/2008 12:42 am
N P
JMK Singer, I’m with you on this. Nice to see a like mind.
By N P on 07/24/2008 5:18 pm
Linda Clark
No offense intended to attorney’s in general, but I live in a community spilling over with Personal Injury Lawyers. You can’t go through a traffic light without passing one of their offices, not to mention their billboards. Oh, and did I mention the television ads, at least 5 during a 30 minute program? Opportunists, every last one of them, at least in South Texas anyway. They used to be known as Ambulance Chasers, but that term is no longer Politically Correct to use, oooops!
By Linda Clark on 07/24/2008 4:56 pm
beth willis
JPI(Just Providing Information). In North Texas attorneys in Personal Injury Law are not looking to take cases because of legislation passed to cap the settlements. I”m not a lawyer, nor is any member of my family. I know in the past, the usual ‘advertisement’ was the law firm would collect nothing if the plantiff’s case did not prevail. I’m not defending lawyers, but there is always a down side with most legislation. In Texas I think we are seeing a decline in the standard of medical care. Unfortunately, some lawyers abused the system, ethical lapses, probably a certain percentage just plain greedy, but cases of genuine liability still exist. Yeah, Edwards was successful, but what were the details? Peace and grace
By beth willis on 07/24/2008 5:33 pm