edwards affair

Ann Coulter did her best to drop a bomb on the October 10 episode of "Tucker" on MSNBC. At the conclusion of her interview, Ann Coulter announced (video) that the National Enquirer was just reporting that John Edwards had an 18-month affair while on the campaign trail. You can read the story here.

Before going any further, this allegation must be met with a healthy degree of skepticism. First of all, the story is originating from the National Enquirer, which in and of itself, raises questions as to the story's reliability. Secondly, Coulter had a notorious run-in earlier this year with Elizabeth Edwards on an MSNBC episode of "Harball." Coulter would have every motivation to repeat a salacious tabloid sex allegation about John Edwards.

With that said, though, you would think that the mere allegation would be worthy of a media frenzy based upon its recent behavior. The media have extensively covered the "bathroom sex" case of Senator Larry Craig. Before that, the media happily reported when Sentator David Vitter's phone number showed up in the records of the "DC Madam." Even before that, the Mark Foley story lingered for a month during a crucial point in the 2006 campaign.

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Sex scandals aside, the mainstream media also pay attention to Ann Coulter, devoting plenty of press coverage to Coulter's printed statements about some of the 9/11 widows. The media also condemned Coulter for her aforementioned exchange with Elizabeth Edwards.

So now we have a tabloid allegation of marital infidelity by a presidential candidate. And the allegation has been repeated by Ann Coulter on MSNBC - so it's not as if it can be completely ignored at this point.

But there are big differences between this story and the others mentioned. The sex scandals listed above all involved Republican politicians. And there is less possibility to frame Ann Coulter in a negative light here.

It is not unprecedented for the press to cover a sex scandal involving a Democratic candidate for presdient. Going way back in time, Senator Gary Hart ruined his presidential chances with an extramarital affair, which received plenty of press coverage at the time.

In this case, though, the question has to be asked: will the mainstream media pursue this allegation at all? If the media is to be consistent in its energized pursuit of sex scandals involving politicians, then it will be beating down doors to either confirm of refute this allegation. But will they? The first thought is that the media would be inclined to ignore the allegation, but the potential boost to the Clinton campaign might give the mainstream media a reason for following this storyline. Time will tell.

The questionable gossip magazine claims that John Edwards had an 18-moth affair while campaigning.

According to the National Enquirer, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards had an 18-month long affair with a woman, who worked with Edwards during his campaign. The gossip magazine quotes unnamed "sources" for the political juice. According to these "sources" close to the woman in the John Edwards affair, she worked with the presidential candidate in the past and work soon turned into a romance, complete with phone calls and emails. Friends of the woman claim that after a while she admitted to them having an affair with John Edwards, but it's "difficult because he is married and has kids."

Chances that John Edwards is having an affair are one in a million, considering the source of the rumor. But if this turns out to be true, it could ruin not only the political career of the former North Carolina Senator, but his personal life and image, considering that is wife is currently fighting a loosing battle with stage IV breast cancer.

John Edwards is currently listed with odds on becoming the next US President at 14/1 at Bodog Sports and 8/1 to be chosen as the Democratic candidate for the 2008 US Presidential Election
John Edwards finally made the tabloids for something besides his hair.

It seems Mr. Edwards - he with the cancer stricken wife - has been dallying with a frisky filly who used to work on his campaign. The affair has been going on for the last 18 months - at least, if you can believe anything in the National Enquirer.

But where did this story come from? And what are the chances that it will be widely disseminated in the media?

Let us look at the media landscape:

Univision is operated by Haim Saban-a major league supporter of the Clintons who intends to lead the way in registering Hispanics as citizens to increase their voting power. Univision has also apparently been manipulating the news in a way favorable to Democrats (see below);

Ron Burkle, Los Angeles billionaire and friend of the Clintons was negotiating to purchase the Tribune company-owner of vast media properties around the nation;

Alan Patricoff owns a major chunk of the Huffington Post-he is a NYC-based investor with very solid ties to the Clintons extending back years;

Now the National Enquirer-which initiated and is promoting the Edwards affair scandal is revealed to be owned by a Clinton ally RogerAltman, is rumored to be a possible Clinton Treasury Secretary.

The Clintons and their sometimes ally George Soros also founded Media Matters- a so-called media monitoring group that instead acts as a left-wing media attack machine against anyone who might challenge the Clintons.

What was that Hillary about the vast Right-Wing Conspiracy? Me thinks thou protest too much... What was all that hubbub about the "Fairness Doctrine".

I think that is an exmaple of the pot calling the kettle balck-or is it just psychological projection?