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Reporters found Edwards' affair tough to prove
MSNBC ^ | 9:04 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2008 | The Associated Press

Posted on 08/08/2008 7:57:28 PM PDT by jerod

AP's approach: 'Better to get it right even if we couldn't get it first'

WASHINGTON - Reporters don't like being beaten on a major political story, especially by a supermarket tabloid. And being beaten up over not reporting one is even less appealing.

But a sexual affair can have just two people who know the truth. Without witnesses, documents, photographs or some form of irrefutable evidence pointing to the truth, news organizations will not endanger their own integrity.

That made it difficult to prove — and to print — the rumors that John Edwards had cheated on his seriously ill wife while running for president. Reporters were left to poke around the edges of a potentially career-ending scandal in search of an opening.

"It's not like they didn't know it was there," said Mark Feldstein, a former investigative reporter who teaches journalism at George Washington University.

"Proof is the biggest issue," Feldstein said. "The National Enquirer is not well-regarded as a news source by the news media."....

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008electionbias; americanpravda; ap; apbias; caseofthemissingd; coverup; cyapolicy; democratscandals; dnctalkingpoints; doublestandard; edwards; edwards2008; howtostealanelection; liberalmedia; nationalguardmemos; obama2008; propagandawingofdnc; riellehunter; spinandbs; spinspin; stalinisttactics; yelllowjournalism; zogbyism
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To: jerod
The NYTs didn't have a problem insinuating, on their front page, that John McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist that proved to be a lie.
41 posted on 08/08/2008 8:59:11 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: jerod
BS. They didn't do it because of alleged lack of proof. They've done hit pieces on Republican candidates for far less. The MSM just won't owe up to journalistic malpractice before the American people.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

42 posted on 08/08/2008 9:01:25 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: chaos_5
Suuure. And Dan Rather's airing of the forged National Guard documents in an obvious effort to discredit Bush was a product of through fact-checking and meticulous reporting! The MSM/Drivebyers are full of themselves.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

43 posted on 08/08/2008 9:04:20 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

That picture is an insult to women who wear rollers everywhere.


44 posted on 08/08/2008 9:05:33 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: jerod
Amazing that given when this 'hit the fan' - the second time around; that John seems to think he can still fool the public - with help from his friends, of course - his story that this 'mistake' ended what. . .two years ago? LOL; given the circumstances as to how Enquier made their definitive case against Edwards; about two weeks ago. Depends on the meaning of 'over' I guess. . .

Meantime, did he not say he had recently grown narcissistic'? lol/ we know his narcissism has been unplugged for years! (have only to think of his 'Breck moment' per hair-combing event' caught on camera; and nothing 'recent' about that display of 'self-indulgence'. (Depends on the meaning of 'recent'. ..)

Do hope they investigate just 'who' is paying the now, 'Mother'; and from where it comes from (Campaign finance or Edward's has secret bank account?). How is all this reported per 'income tax'? We need more 'light' here; hope someone has a bright one.

Meantime, 'thanks National Enquier'. . .(sickening listening to Libs call this a 'tragedy'. Scooter Libby was a tragedy; Edwards sowed. . .and now he reaps; at least I hope he does.)

And did he have to say per these relevations of his private life; that he has now been 'beaten up and stripped bare'? /gag for sure/ Did he mean to share such personal details here? Strange choice of words, for sure. . ./double gag/

45 posted on 08/08/2008 9:07:19 PM PDT by cricket (Damn Political Correctness; before it damns us all. . .)
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To: CaptainK
You can say one thing about the Breck Girl: he hasn't done anything any Democrat before him didn't do!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

46 posted on 08/08/2008 9:07:25 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: jerod
Let the MSM rationalizations begin!

They can spare us the BS. The Pressholes were dragged kicking and screaming to this party.

47 posted on 08/08/2008 9:07:39 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (Been here before)
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To: jerod

Jokes R Us


48 posted on 08/08/2008 9:10:58 PM PDT by Ben Chad
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To: jerod

Tell us some more fairy tales.


49 posted on 08/08/2008 9:15:28 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: jerod
What a crock. The Vicki Iseman affair fabrication got propelled into the frontpage spotlight by every MSM agency - their "evidence" was bovine fart dust.

Edwards would have never confessed to the affair if the online community was not around. The internet is the best thing that ever happened for news - the paradigm of MSM control over the spread of information has ended.


50 posted on 08/08/2008 9:18:41 PM PDT by M203M4 (True Universal Suffrage: Pets of dead illegal-immigrant felons voting Democrat (twice))
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To: jerod

The National Enquirer guy was just on Hannity & Colmes saying there were tons of trails that MSM reporters COULD have followed - like getting cell phone records - but which they did not. Or info about the mistress when she was moved to the Chapel Hill apartment complex....they could have found her there. But they did not.

BS - the MSM is an ARM of the Demomarxist party.

This is part of the “pretend” going on.....intended to make average American voter to say - oh the Dems are seeming to be outraged about this - the Dem party must be normal....Obama is “different”....

Ha

Obama is just as much of a LIAR - middle America - wake up and don’t take the pretense any more.

Invesigate for yourself. The evidence is out there.

MSM is NOT going to do the work for you!!!


51 posted on 08/08/2008 9:22:18 PM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt (Tony Snow founnd out - to live is Christ, to die is gain....Thanks be to God for Tony's life!)
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To: headstamp 2

Amen....Enquirer guy - ow say8ing she has been living in a $3 Million mansion in California!!! Andrew Young and his children have been living in another mansion nearby......

Who is this Fred Barron? Who gave money to relocate her and Andrew Young.

John Edwards responsible for elaborate coverup - He moved her to apartment complex near him in Chapel Hill and then moved to California....elaborate coverup ORCHESTRATED BY JOHN EDWARDS!!!

Barron gave National Enquirer 3 or 4 different statements - but Barron has admitted supplying the money - for all this - FROM WHERE? FROM HIS OWN BANK ACCOUNT???

I DOUBT THAT VERY MUCH.

Who would investigate? Federal Elections Commission?

Can we file a citizens complaint to get this investigated by the FEDS????


52 posted on 08/08/2008 9:26:04 PM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt (Tony Snow founnd out - to live is Christ, to die is gain....Thanks be to God for Tony's life!)
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To: goldstategop
Getting a girlfriend pregnant during a presidential campaign and insisting it's not his but a friends, might be a first.
53 posted on 08/08/2008 9:32:27 PM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: jerod
What self-serving crapola on the part of Almost Pravda.

Bah!

54 posted on 08/08/2008 9:32:58 PM PDT by SAJ
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To: M203M4

Awesome cartoon, and so true. :-)


55 posted on 08/08/2008 9:37:18 PM PDT by smedley64 (UHbUHmUH- The incoherent candidate.)
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To: jerod
AP's approach: 'Better to get it right even if we couldn't get it first'

Any lie that serves the agenda.

The MSM rule: if a story hurts Democrats, ignore it until for as long as possible, then bury it in the early weekend reporting when few people will see it.

The MSM version of this story will not be, "What John Edwards did was morally wrong," it will be "Republicans are worse, Republicans are worse, Republicans are worse, let's quickly move on to the real issues confronting the American people."

56 posted on 08/08/2008 9:38:56 PM PDT by TChad
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To: LibFreeOrDie
"As if they'd never fake documents.... "

Or fabricate stories, or enhance photographs, or plagiarize someone else's work.

57 posted on 08/08/2008 9:45:55 PM PDT by mass55th
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To: jerod
That made it difficult to prove — and to print — the rumors that John Edwards had cheated on his seriously ill wife while running for president. Reporters were left to poke around the edges of a potentially career-ending scandal in search of an opening.

                     

58 posted on 08/08/2008 9:54:53 PM PDT by Libertarian444
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To: M203M4

bttt


59 posted on 08/08/2008 9:55:05 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: jerod
Right... and if Edwards were a Republican they would've printed it immediately.

I've thought it strange how the media hounded Bush over his alleged drug use, but says very little about Obama's admitted use. It's obvious the left has no problem with dems frying their brains on drugs, it may even be a prerequisite, so they were just out to smear Bush.

60 posted on 08/08/2008 9:55:27 PM PDT by Razz Barry (Round'em up, send'em home.)
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