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How much would you have paid to learn about John Edwards? And to whom?

Before you judge the mainstream media too harshly for its reluctance to tackle the John Edwards story, listen to what Sharon Waxman says.

In the MSM world, Waxman was most recently a Hollywood correspondent for the New York Times.

She’s also written for the Washington Post, and even — during some foot-loose years in Paris — for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

tabloid.jpg

Waxman still writes out of Los Angeles and posted this observation about the John Edwards story on her blog:

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years about tabloid journalism: it is usually the principals involved who provide the crucial details, for money. That’s why the information is so often on the nose.

How does the News of the World manage to be there just when Michael Jackson or Elizabeth Taylor leaves their plastic surgery appointment? It’s not by chance. Usually the doctor tips them off. Sometimes they even have the celebrity’s agreement.

My guess is that there is a simple reason why the mainstream media is unable to confirm the Edwards-Hunter affair during these past weeks. Because very few people knew what had been going on. Edwards’ staff didn’t know. Elizabeth Edwards didn’t know. The group may have been as small as three: Edwards, Hunter and her pal Bob McGovern.

One of those, in my view (and not Edwards), sold the information….

Last week I spoke to a reporter for the Raleigh News & Observer who said he spent five days in Los Angeles trying to confirm any aspect of the Beverly Hilton story. He came up with nothing. Zero. Zilch.

Not because he wasn’t trying. Because without a checkbook, the Raleigh News & Observer was not going to be let into the world of Rielle Hunter.

Photo credit: Associated Press

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Comments

By Churchil

August 14, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

The question should read: How much would the Clinton’s have paid for the info on Edwards? The mainstream media did not want this story to be true. And don’t give me this unconfirmed sources garbage. The NYSlimes ran a front page story this year on McCain’s affair with a lobbyist that never happened (The entire made up story was based on unnamed, unconfirmed sources!!). The NYSlimes, The Atlanta Urinal-Constipation, The Washington Compost, CBS, ABS, NBS, CNNBS and PMSNBS give cover to morally bankrupt Democrat politicians all the time. Nice try there media libs, but you along with Edwards have been caught with your pants down. Peace.

By Tim 88

August 14, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

Wow, unbelieveable. Another defensive MSM piece doing some handwringing over protecting a liberal democrat and you knoiw what? They all agree with each other. They all did the right thingbecasue of journalistic integrity.

Amazing isnt it?

Not to worry, peopl arenent as dumb as the media wants to beleive they are. They know a media coverup when they see it and they know why. Liberals protecting liberals.

By Robert Lewis

August 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Andrew Young of the John Edwards story: The arrests for worthless checks, DWI, burglary, criminal mischief, the federal tax lien

webofdeception.com

By Cherubim

August 14, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this

John Edwards was set up. I believe Miss Hunter was and is a plant put their by some unknown polictical forces. When trying to figure out this New World conspiracy ask yourself this question: Who has the most to gain?

By Corie

August 14, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this

John Edwards talked about Dad’s mill, While sleeping with a chick off the pill, He lied and fibbed to the MS press, And, awoke early to preen and dress.

His wife, Elizabeth, knew the lie in 2006, But supported John in Iowa while sick, They stole Hillary’s honest votes daily, And laughed on cue, and hiding Rielle.

Why did John lie like a cheatin’ rat ? No “New Deal” for the average Democrat, While Obama and Hillary fought on the stump, John Edwards watched Rielle grow a bump.

Now John’s love child is common news, And Fred Baron has money to lose, Rielle, now nursing, has jetted away, Even Geraldo has joined the fray!

John’s affair has hurt his poor kids, More than Clinton’s cigars ever did, A sordid tale that some call a crock, The only winner, a loser named Barack!

Like dogs in heat, Edwards did pant, Defined forever, just like Hugh Grant, Tabloids paid to get the sleeze, Is it John’s baby, mister please?

While Elizabeth cries over her brood, Baby mama with John was not a prude, Gone the innocent days of Tom Sawyer, John gettin’ love like a real trial lawyer.

By deaf& dumb

August 14, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

The MSM knew all about JFKs womanizing & it created the Myth of Camelot...the perfect couple...The MSM created the Beaver Cleaver, the Edwards perfect marriage...another Myth...Credibility of the MSM is Zero.Less than zero...minus 50

By deaf& dumb

August 14, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

The MSM knew all about JFKs womanizing & it created the Myth of Camelot...the perfect couple...The MSM created the Beaver Cleaver, the Edwards perfect marriage...another Myth...Credibility of the MSM is Zero.Less than zero...minus 50

By Julia

August 14, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

The thing that is amazing here is that Edwards gave up the Vice Presidency, a potential Presidency, his relationships with his wife and children, the good will of his supporters and the people who gave money to him … all for sex with some woman he knew very little about. And she knowingly took at all away from him…

By yuenchungkwong

August 14, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

Hunter’s Choice - Is there Rielle Love? by yuenck 08/14/2008, 7:27 PM # Rate this topic Delete Favorites Reply

Allow me to raise a new angle: with all the stories swirling around, Rielle Hunter is now worth millions in books deals and tabloid interviews, even for playing herself in a movie; how long can she hold out? Would she remain in hiding waiting for Elizabeth Edwards to die so she could marry John, or would she make a break for it now?

I posted this in Slate Fray just now

By jJohn

August 14, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this

What a wimpy, lying journalist. Edwards did not come forward until ABC was about the break the story. This story was out in October of 2007.

The media loves John Edwards and Obama, and wants to protect them.

My father was a journalist for 40 years. He never insulted people’s intelligence the way you do. You arrogant quisling.

By peter

August 14, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

John Edwards is going down…

By Churchill

August 14, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Hey Peter, Rielle Hunter, (or whatever her made up stripper name is) already beat Edwards to that. Peace.

By Rufus

August 14, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this

Journalistic Integrity. MU HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

By katie

August 14, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

As it turns out, it was both of Hunters sisters and her so called good friends. So friends & family. Personally I figured it had to be her or someone she told, all that was accomplished was to destroy what is left of his marriage and drag Elizabeth down. There isn’t enough money in this world for me to every do what they have done to Elizabeth. I am a cancer survivor and I know for a fact she doesn’t need any of this now. This could speed up her cancer. She should pack up herself and her children and take a long vacation, leaving him to handle this alone for a while. He’s a big boy and he will have to learn to handle it on his own.

By stud

August 14, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this

Some people get off on blogging about oil, hating others over political philosophy, how big their bank account is, me I like women, making love to a stranger or your wife either way I’m happy while you belittle each other, yeah she’s going to Pilates class.

By griddle jim

August 14, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

A better question is:

How do you have to pay MSM journalists before they are willing to investigate the biggest story of the year?

By simonsays

August 14, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this

if it is a democrat moral lapses are ok. That is what all the leftists say. It is only news because republicans are the only one that try to be moral. I know it sounds nuts, but I have heard that excuse several times from the pundits in the MSM.

By ydthin

August 15, 2008 2:44 AM | Link to this

the last 8 years have proven that republicans are more likely to get caught with male prostitutes or children whereas with democrats it’s a mistress…neither activities are laudable. Americans cannot accept the true nature of the politician: megolomaniac, narcissistic, etc. There are a million dead Iraqis and five million new Iraqi orphans thanks to the lies that our sitting president told to get us into this immoral and illegal war. Those lies for some reason don’t interest us, don’t move us to gripe about why our journalists don’t cover that story enough. Perhaps it’s not personal enough? None of us can declare war but most of us have been cheated on? The sad truth is that this is very revealing about ALL Americans, it makes ALL of us appear to be narcissists, just like John Edwards.

By Emily

August 15, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Theb three of them all need to go away, Edwards, his adultress mistress and his over ambitious wife. Both of the Edward’s are ambitious to a fault and will do anything for power. I think she even used her illness for sympathy votes for her cheating and worthless husband. My how the mainstream media finally took to this story, FINALLY. Had it been a Republican, you’d have more press going after this than they did Obama an his European Rock Star Tour 2008. Disgusting…the three of them are, toss them all three in a hole and cover it up.

By Copyleft

August 15, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Yeah, this’ll sink Edwards’ campaign for sure! Oh, wait… he’s not in the running.

So the question is: Is the right-wing’s TIMING off… or their AIM?

(snicker)

By jwatl

August 15, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

What does Roy Barnes have to say about the Edwards affair??

By Rollo "LA Misfits" Jones

August 15, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Cheater’s Rap

John Edwards talked about Dad’s mill, While sleeping with a chick off the pill, He lied and fibbed to the MS press, And, awoke early to preen and dress.

His wife, Elizabeth, knew the lie in 2006, But supported John in Iowa while sick, They stole Hillary’s honest votes daily, And laughed on cue, and hiding Rielle.

Why did John lie like a cheatin’ rat ? No “New Deal” for the average Democrat, While Obama and Hillary fought on the stump, John Edwards watched Rielle grow a bump.

Now John’s love child is common news, And Fred Baron has money to lose, Rielle, now nursing, has jetted away, Even Geraldo has joined the fray!

John’s affair has hurt his poor kids, More than Clinton’s cigars ever did, A sordid tale that some call a crock, The only winner, a loser named Barack!

Like dogs in heat, Edwards did pant, Defined forever, just like Hugh Grant, Tabloids paid to get the sleaze, Is it John’s baby, mister please?

See Barack in Hawaii like Bobby Vinton, Unaware the DNC plans to elect a Clinton, Edwards may face time from the tax man, But not if a pardon is part of Obama’s plan.

While Elizabeth cries over her brood, Baby mama with John was not a prude, Gone the innocent days of Tom Sawyer, John gettin’ love like a real trial lawyer.

By grib

August 15, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Edwards is a slimeball lawyer, a liar and a cheat. Anyone that doesn’t think the American Public is aware of the bias of the MSM is in denial. Fox News verified the Report with a interview of the Hilton’s Security people the very next day. Nobody else could because nobody else wanted to. The NY Times belongs on a roll in the men’s room. There is NO integrity in the MSM.

By Sally Jo

August 16, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

And no mention anywhere of John McCain cheating on the wife who raised his children and waited for him while he was in VietNam. She had been in a car accident, and the mistress (now wife) was what, 20, 30 years younger than him? This behavior has no political boundaries. Republicans, Democrats…a pig is a pig. Complain all you want that MSM is ignoring it because Edwards is a Democrat, but where are you hearing about McCain’s despicable behavior?

By Jean

August 16, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

McCain has been honest about his past. John Edwards is still lying about his. His wife, that he drug around everywhere, is dying of cancer. John Edwards is a dirtbag slimeball.

By Rapper Ray

August 17, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Cheater’s Rap

John Edwards talked about Dad’s mill, While sleeping with a chick off the pill, He lied and fibbed to the MS press, And, awoke early to preen and dress.

His wife, Elizabeth, knew the lie in 2006, But supported John in Iowa while sick, They stole Hillary’s honest votes daily, And laughed on cue, and hiding Rielle.

Why did John lie like a cheatin’ rat ? No “New Deal” for the average Democrat, While Obama and Hillary fought on the stump, John Edwards watched Rielle grow a bump.

Now John’s love child is common news, And Fred Baron has money to lose, Rielle, now nursing, has jetted away, Even Geraldo has joined the fray!

John’s affair has hurt his poor kids, More than Clinton’s cigars ever did, A sordid tale that some call a crock, The only winner, a loser named Barack!

Like dogs in heat, Edwards did pant, Defined forever, just like Hugh Grant, Tabloids paid to get the sleaze, Is it John’s baby, mister please?

Vote for John Edwards, give me chills, Meet you for sex in Beverly Hills, John, don’t need to prove you ain’t a gay, Just pony up to compare your DNA.

See Barack in Hawaii like Bobby Vinton, Unaware the DNC plans to elect a Clinton, Edwards may face time from the tax man, But not if a pardon is part of Obama’s plan.

While Elizabeth cries over her brood, Baby mama with John was not a prude, Gone the innocent days of Tom Sawyer, John gettin’ love like a real trial lawyer

By Independent

August 17, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

couldn’t have said it better! Props to Churchil and Rapper Ray!!!

By Robert Lewis

August 17, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

This is how the Chairman, David Pecker, and Editor, David Perel of the National Enquirer register to vote. One of the two has a concealed weapons permit.

webofdeception.com

By Independent Pecker

August 17, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

I’ll be votin’ like the rest of use intelligencia, scandal rules the day, so far I give the edge to McCain for leaving his wife who waited for him and cheating on her for a yr. prior, obama admits drug use and of course he’s black, that’s gotta sway alot od u rasist repubs to leav the ole double-wide on votin’ day, stay tuned for more crap, ie swift=boating after all it’s fun to skewer those who serve while toasting those born with a silver pecker in their moath. whoorah

By Kristin

August 17, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

I have a very hard swallowing this load of crap. Sorry. The folks that traveled with Edwards and his honey had at least an inkling or they are as dumb as rocks. We were told repeatedly that Edwards was throwing himself at the media just to get some attention during the primaries. Look when a new gal shows up with barely any sort of credentials and is given access to the candidate it just plain does not take genius intelligence to figure out that the guy is a cheating scum. The media backed off this story because it was Edwards, a darling democrat. I am certain if it was McCain entertaining some woman with the shallow past as this woman has, you can be sure that those two would have been peppered with questions and allegations their head would swim. The MSM are no longer capable of reporting a story if it goes against their political views. SHAME. Their loss of integrity will have serious consequences.

By ted bush

August 17, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this

he cheated whoop-de-doo, where is your outrage about mcfart cheating, selective morality, Repubs are so predictable

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