Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

BY TAYLOR MARSH

Everyone is talking about this
story. Yeah, yeah, it’s the
National Enquirer. True, but they often get these types of stories correct.
Gary Hart. Rush Limbaugh’s addiction bombshell.

But the L.A. Times doesn’t
want any part of it. The editor laid down the law:

From: “Pierce, Tony” 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

Jonathan
Turley is concerned about the LA Times’ self-censorship.

Mickey Kaus seems absolutely
obsessed.

Another problem for Edwards is that the National Enquirer has filed
a criminal complaint.

No one wants to cover it. We all know why. Fox has no
such sensibilities. They talked to the guard who saw it.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel guard said he encountered a shaken and ashen-faced Edwards — whom he did not immediately recognize — in a hotel men’s room early Tuesday morning in a literal tug-of-war with reporters on the other side of the door. “What are they saying about me?” the guard said Edwards asked. “His face just went totally white,” the guard said, when Edwards was told the reporters were shouting out questions about Edwards and Rielle Hunter, a woman the National Enquirer says is the mother of his child. …

I got emails thanking me for not covering it, with links of some sites who
went over the top when doing so. But the nub of the issue reveals all. This
would be a bombshell story if one of McCain’s potential vice presidential picks
was found in this position. The only reason most of us aren’t covering it is
because we feel just horrible; not for John, but for Elizabeth.

But as someone who reports when I get the chance and have the budget, I must admit that I failed on this one, until I saw how the L.A. Times decided to handle it. Judging that I’d decided to give away my power on my own. This is what the press did for J.F.K. and F.D.R. They didn’t do it for William Jefferson Clinton and look what happened.

So when the traditional or new media start choosing what is important for the public to know and what we decide to self-censor, we quit serving the public and start choosing what news is good for you. I shouldn’t be in that business. On the other hand, just because it’s being investigated doesn’t mean it’s true. It just means it should be followed to find the truth.

I was wrong not to report on it in the first place.

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