Thursday, July 24, 2008
'Consider how the press treated ...'
Jack Shafer thinks the MSM isn't jumping on the National Equirer's John Edwards/love child/hotel-rendezvous story because a.) the story broke too late and the media wants to check into it b.) there might be a double standard for covering 'homo-hypocrisy' scandals and 'hetero-hypocrisy' scandals. But I'd word the first point differently and throw in a third reason. Reworded a.): The media simply doesn't believe the National Enquirer, no matter what time of day it breaks a story, and will need lots of time to confirm or rebut its story. The new c.): John Edwards isn't a Republican. My third point is as plausible, if not more obvious, as Jack's homo/hetero-hypocrisy theory, right?
Update -- Upon quick reflection, both Jack's hetero- and my he's-not-a-Republican theories can be blown up at the same time by considering 1.) The treatment of Gary Hart and Bill Clinton 2.) Coverage of Eliot Spitzer. 3.) The antics of Eliot and Larry Craig, both firmly falling in the hetero- and homo-hypocrisy categories, repectively, were confirmed by law-enforcement agencies. ... So many sex scandals, sources and evidence to sort through! ... I guess that leaves us with a.). That's not a bad reason to proceed cautiously on a story.
Update II - 7.25.08 -- Howie finds a local he's-not-a-Republican double standard. ...
Jack Shafer thinks the MSM isn't jumping on the National Equirer's John Edwards/love child/hotel-rendezvous story because a.) the story broke too late and the media wants to check into it b.) there might be a double standard for covering 'homo-hypocrisy' scandals and 'hetero-hypocrisy' scandals. But I'd word the first point differently and throw in a third reason. Reworded a.): The media simply doesn't believe the National Enquirer, no matter what time of day it breaks a story, and will need lots of time to confirm or rebut its story. The new c.): John Edwards isn't a Republican. My third point is as plausible, if not more obvious, as Jack's homo/hetero-hypocrisy theory, right?
Update -- Upon quick reflection, both Jack's hetero- and my he's-not-a-Republican theories can be blown up at the same time by considering 1.) The treatment of Gary Hart and Bill Clinton 2.) Coverage of Eliot Spitzer. 3.) The antics of Eliot and Larry Craig, both firmly falling in the hetero- and homo-hypocrisy categories, repectively, were confirmed by law-enforcement agencies. ... So many sex scandals, sources and evidence to sort through! ... I guess that leaves us with a.). That's not a bad reason to proceed cautiously on a story.
Update II - 7.25.08 -- Howie finds a local he's-not-a-Republican double standard. ...
