Remind Me Never to Have an Affair with Barbara Walters

Not that she doesn't have her charms. I'm sure. But for a reporter Ms. Walters seems to have a bit of trouble with that whole confidentiality thing. At least with regard to hot, extra-marital, interracial affairs.

Apparently, way back in the '70s, the many-times divorced Walters was having a fling with Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke. Brooke being the first black senator elected by popular vote.

And he was a Republican. Man, that is like some crazy, restrained jungle fever.

At the time both Walters and Brooke were very tight lipped about their dalliance because of their sensitive public positions. Scandal meant ruinization.

Of course, they could have just not had an affair, but what fun is that?

Anyway, that was then and this is now, and now Ms. Walters has got a new memoir to push so she's going on Oprah to give a personal, intimate retelling of getting it on with Brooke to millions of suburban moms. And how did she recall the romance? Was it fueled by a passion beyond all reason and control? Uhhh, Walters says she was "infatuated" with Brooke. Infatuated.

Which on the Love Meter is one step above eeh.

Seriously, is that just universal payback for all the times men have gathered together in locker rooms and hunting lodges and back by the air filters in NAPA stores to swap stories of moments that their girls made them promise was "just for us?"

Doesn't Ms. Walters have enough to write about without dragging Brooke into it? The poor guy, after thirty-some years had probably just started thinking; "well, dodged a bullet on that one." Walters had kept the secret this long, why not keep it a little longer, then just compare notes with Marilyn Monroe?

It's just that, to me, Barbara Walters seems like a really classy broad, and I mean that in the Sinatra-compliment way. Angie Dickinson classy; the kind of woman knows how to not go yammering about who did what to whom while filming Oceans 11.

The good version of Oceans 11.

By the way, I'm not saying Barbara Walters isn't classy. But if somebody does forget to remind me not to have an affair with her, at least remind me to ask: "This is off the record, right?"

Comments

[Checquoline]

I think she has been on the view too long. By the way....I wonder if she will have him on the view.

[sundae05]

No Checquoline, at first everyone could explain away her Donald and Rosie mishap and lack of judgement, but now with this publication, she WANTS to "go out" this way. I used to respect her as the 20/20 correspondent and interviewer of important people and now we will remember her for these things. Uh oh...

[RGKahn]

What a bunch of self-righteous BS. Her "affair" was talked about 30 years ago, it was an open secret. Someone on FOX called the Senator a Democrat, as if only Democrats have affairs. BW was a good looking and classy lady then, with a lot of clout. The years have been mostly kind to her. Some of the comments seem to say that the BW now is the same as the BW then. I hope you remember that when you are in your 60's, 70's and 80's. We were all young and full of "piss and vinegar" once upon a time. Remember what your parents and grand parents looked like when then got older, soon it will be your turn. Lots of Luck.

[Burnsey]

Funny that you mention this in the way that you did. I guess it doesn't matter to you that she has said publicly that she had talked to him before revealing this affair and he had told her that he was fine with it.

I guess folks like you only care about who Jammie Lynnn Spears and all the other teen girls are screwwing. Who's the classy one again???

[eaglecapri]

Burnsey,

Well, I guess the real point is still - why bring it up at all? Is there nothing else in her book that will sell books besides canoodling with a black guy?

[eaglecapri]

I was so annoyed with this. I absolutely hate tattlers. What's private is private! Videos, positions...whatever!

I mean, really, what's the point with Babwa's revelation? She already has millions! Is she that narcissistic that she needs a couple of extra bucks in her pocket and at NYT Best Seller's showing to make her feel worthy and loved? Pathetic!

[Leper]

Just a reminder: don't have an affair with Barbara Walters. That is, unless you have a necrophilia fetish.

[sandiaview]

If he wants his side told he can just re-issue his poor selling book and include his side of the story. Probably would sell a MILLION.

[nowickedwitch]

She is irrelevant, and the term "jungle fever", well...it shows what you are.

[ann1]

John---we ALL have a past unless you're 5 and under. I don't know why Ms Walters came forth with the details of her affair, nevertheless, who are we to judge. I visit nursing homes frequently and have formed awesome friendships with many of the elderly residents. Sometimes they'll share secrets from their past. Sometimes I think they share things with me to say don't make the same mistakes. I never look down on them I see the wisdom instead, sometimes I even laugh at some of their admissions. Barbara telling about her affair is no different then someone coming forth revealing they committed a crime 30 or 40 yrs ago. Perhaps it's an opportunity to release guilt or to shed that "perfect" image. Alot of people have attacked Ms. Walters saying her character is flawed. Well I think it takes character to admit your flaws. We all would be in BIG trouble if God were to expose our sins.......seen and unseen.

[Puller58]

And she used to gripe at how she was mistreated by men when she trying to make it as a news anchor. I'd like to hear some commentary from old school feminists on this one.

[lawchic]

Mr. Ridley, you are much too kind to Walters because if anything her recent revelation reveals that she is classless. I get that marriage has become so passe now a days that people literally yawn about extra marital affairs, but why on earth would she think it would not only be appropriate to write about it in her book, (outing her adulterous lover in the process), but then promote this sordid detail on national television? I mean, what the heck!?!

And the worst part is, its not like this was some, I'm head over heels, can't get enough, have trouble breathing when we are apart type of affair. No, it was merely an "infatuation." Ugh, the more that I learn about the news media and media personalities the less I want to use my tv.

Barbara Walters deserves a good butt whooping for this mess.

[observing]

I applaud BW for being honest about her life. Many puritanicals are horrified by the thought of an affair. Most of us are "dirty" in some way; it's actually called being human. Except of course lawchic. - who is perfect and wonderful and has never done anything to ever hurt anyone. Wow, who knew that perfection existed and was here commenting on HuffPo.? Everyone, bow down before perfection.Lawchic should be teaching every human being how to think, feel, act and react because Lawchic knows it all.

I would be even more impressed if you made it your mission to confront BW in person and wag your finger in her face. Because we all know people like you have no problem speaking up for what is righteous.

[PatA]

Wait a minute, how many times has she been divorced? Three times? In these days that is a rather shining example of committment. I know lots of people who (gasp) have passed the 4 and 5 mark.
Barbara is selling a book, you know. She let that guy "fall on the sword of commerce"....

[KarenZipdrive]

Oh for God's sake.
Walters is getting very old and she wanted to grab a few extra million for her golden years by writing a book with some heat to it.
Did you ever think she may have wanted to purge her conscience of screwing a married man well after his wife had died?
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Get off her leg.

[bknott]

So now we're a confessional? I doubt it. She wants to sell a couple more books. How much money does this woman need?

[Boobaloo]

What baffles me is that WaWa believes it was the Black thing that's so outrageously offensive as opposed to the fact that he was MARRIED, which makes her trash, untrustworthy and sleazy.

[rlk42]

What's even more offensive is that she was engaged to the homophobic Joseph McCarthy sidekick - Roy Cohn who died of AIDS in the 80s (yes, he was gay). I wonder if that's in the book.

[ruffmama]

I don't think it is classy at all of her to confess this now especially since she is only trying to push a book.

[plainview]

Hey, great piece. Really insightful. I love the "broad" stuff. Yea. I get it. "In the Sinatra way". That is creative writing. Here is some more creative writing....

It is like Barbara is peeling a SCAB that was all but healed and now the SCAB is being peeled back. You know.. and I mean that in the union busting scab-compliment way.

But if somebody does forget to remind me not to have a scab write for my show, at least remind me to ask: "None of those fools out on the picket lines will know about this, will they?"

[Wanjiru]

Not that she doesn't have her charms.
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...she doesn't...


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[politicky]

Well this one oughta knock some time off your comment screening.

[RobertArend]

Jealous?

[positivelyjim]

Gee, I always thought she had the hots for Hugh Downs, or Geraldo. Shows what I know.