Barbara Walters: I had affair with U.S. senator (additional barf bags required)

CNN ^ | 5/1/2008 | ap

[tobyhill]

NEW YORK (AP) -- After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."

Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.

A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says.

At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC's "Today" show, but would soon jump to ABC News, where she has enjoyed unrivaled success. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

[stockpirate]

“She did it to dig up some secret sleaze on a Republican. It’s what reporters do”

Good point, now if we could just find out what big story she broke arond that time.

It may be she just got a bad case of Jungle Fever.

[cake_crumb]

"If BaBa WaWa had an affair with Edward Brooke, she probably has wet dreams about Obama."

I was wondering about that. She probably endorses him, at least, or she wouldn't be on Ophra talking about it now.

[detective]

Fidel Castro is probably jealous.

Fidel: Knock,Knock.
Answer: Who’s there?
Fidel: Senorita.
Answer: Senorita Who?
Fidel: Senorita Barbara Walters.

[Petronski]

This is Barbara Walters, ABC News, on my back in a Capitol Hill office building.

[truthguy]

Walters and Brooke-both lightweights. Walters is trash because she was with married man. Same for Brooke. I have never thought Walters was any good at news analysis.

[CholeraJoe]

Or Fat Teddy?

[Petronski]

O Jeez. I come out and finally publically admit that I had sex with a Senator, and Barbara’s gotta one-up me.

Strange, since "gotta one-up me" is exactly how she described having sex with Senator Brooke.

[cake_crumb]

"Too bad, when I saw the headline I was hoping it would turn out to be an affair with Hillary! :^)"

The first thing that popped into my mind was Obama. I must be psychic.

[contemplator]

Why do you think?

I think it's fairly obvious, she want to sell her autobiography. From the article -

Walters is the guest of Oprah Winfrey to discuss her new memoir, "Audition," which covers her long career in television, as well as her off-camera life.

Although her motives might go deeper than that, I doubt it. I don't believe she would actively try to hurt Obama, she's in the tank for him. As for the Republican angle, it also doesnt play well to remind America that Democrats don't have the market cornered when it comes to African Americans. They try to show that Condoleeza and Colin Powell are anomalies, Edward Brooke shows that they aren't and that they are part of a long history that dates all the way back to Lincoln. No, I think she's doing it simply to sell books.

[cake_crumb]

"However, he lost much of his popularity during his second term after a contentious and widely-publicized divorce."

Maybe now we know who sparked it.

[tobyhill]

She’s the ultimate Media Whore. No telling how many other people she opened up to just for a scoop.

[Lazamataz]

She's a senator of the Phillipines.

Here's her pic:

[Political Junkie Too]

In further news, Bill Clinton denies rumors that he has ever had sex with a senator.

LOL! Maybe we can deny him the chance to have sex with a President, too!

-PJ

[TexasRepublic]

It’s twoo, it’s twoo...

"Excuse me, while I whip this out...."

[Fundamentally Fair]

After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."

Huh. My first guess was Hillary.

[tobyhill]

I wouldn't be surprised if later Nora O'Donnell comes out with her Obama Affair story.

[Enchante]

Now I’m REALLY not looking forward to the Helen Thomas memoir — is she going to have to tell us everyone SHE slept with? (well it may be a very short list)

[puroresu]

At least he was a republican

In Name Only. Brooke was one of the most liberal Republicans in congressional history. His American Conservative Union ratings for his second & final Senate term (1973-1978) were: 10, 13, 0, 3, 0, 10. That's out of a possible 100!

[stockpirate]

I must agree with you. I did not read the article.

[Alter Kaker]

If BaBa WaWa had an affair with Edward Brooke, she probably has wet dreams about Obama.

Because if she likes one black man she likes all black men? I'm not sure I get what you're saying.