The John Edwards Story Invites Us to Seek Out the Skeletons In Republican Closets

"Is this another skeleton in the Democratic closet that Barack Obama must struggle to overcome?" David Gregory on the revelation of John Edwards' extramarital affair.

OK, so now we know the new ground rules. The private life of John Edwards, who currently neither seeks nor holds public office, is a legitimate story for mainstream media because he was a hypocrite and because he lied.

As for hypocrisy, check out Alabama's chief law enforcement officer, who says the state can put someone in jail for up to one year for selling a sex toy. "I took a little bit of pride in the state being first in something that is good, decent and right," said Attorney General Troy King in 2004, when Alabama became the first state to refuse recognition a same-sex marriage begun in Massachusetts. That year, he reaffirmed an editorial he wrote as a law student in the early 1990s in the University of Alabama student newspaper. "The existence of the GayLesbian Alliance on this campus is an affront to the state of Alabama, its citizenry, this university and its students," he wrote. So would an Attorney General who conducted a homosexual affair with a subordinate in betrayal of his wife and three children be an affront to the state of Alabama and its citizenry? King isn't talking.

So far, the media has given Attorney General Troy King a pass, even though anyone above age 12 has figured out that King's "no comment" responses about the affair constitute a de facto admission. Welcome to the Alabama, where politics, the law and the press are beyond parody.

In July 31 radio interview, Troy King was adamant. Nobody was going to get a look at any of the skeletons in his closet. Nobody was going to examine DNA evidence that might prove King was sending an innocent man to his death. Nobody was going to examine the document that, King claims, impeaches a witness who claims that the death row defendant is innocent. (See Amnesty International's summary of the case against Thomas Arthur.) And nobody is going to get King to respond to "rumors."

Dale Jackson asked the questions, including one about the 2006 homecoming king of Troy University, King's alma mater. (You can't make this stuff up.) More specifically, Jackson, an Alabama radio talk show host, asked King about the meteoric rise in the career of John Godwin, who started working for King as an intern in 2007, when he was a 23-year-old senior majoring in broadcast journalism.

"Soon, he was on the payroll at $10 an hour, and he quickly advanced from there. As early as July 2007, Godwin was named a special administrative assistant earning more than $39,000 a year. Within nine months of arriving as an intern, Godwin was King's executive assistant, drawing more than $57,000 a year - close to what entry-level lawyers earn in the office." The Birmingham News, July 29, 2008

[Some perspective: Median household income in Alabama, which has declined consistently since 2001, was $38,0000 in 2006, 20% below the national average.]

The last few minutes of Jackson's interview were devoted to Godwin's employment and related matters:

Jackson: "Somebody went from being an intern to somebody making $57,000 a year in less than a year. Can you justify that promotion?"

King: "Sure I can. We don't make promotions here that I can't justify."

Jackson: "OK"

King: "I have a chief of staff I have people who make recommendations to me. And one of the things I've known my whole life Dale is it may be expensive to hire good people but it's even more expensive to hire bad people because they make bad decisions and they're not good stewards and they don't work hard. And paying people a little bit of money who doesn't do an effective job is for the people of our state is a lot more irresponsible than paying good people what they're worth. And that's what we're doing here."

Well, that settles everything. And soon enough...

Jackson: "Another story that's out there right now a story that eventually you're going to have to answer to a story that eventually you're going to have to address so I figure I'm going to be the one who asks the question. There have been these rumors all over the blogoshere , there are rumors everywhere I get them every single day, I don't see it going away, I see it getting worse, worse and worse. And the rumor says that you were caught with a male aide [i.e. John Godwin] by your wife, she threw you out of the house because you were gay and that there was some sort of problem going on there. Is there any part of that rumor, any part of it..."

King: "Hey Dale.."

Jackson: "That is true in any way shape or form?"

King: "Hey Dale, to this point, the answer has been the same as it is today. I don't discuss rumors."

Jackson: "So your answer is a no comment basically."

King: "I don't talk ...I don't discuss rumors."

Jackson: "Do you think there is going to come a time when you think this is going to become an issue you're going to have to address?"

King: "I'm not gonna...You're persistent, but I don't discuss rumors. I haven't and I'm not going to..."

Jackson: "Do you think that this is a legitimate story in the state of Alabama if it was another individual? Would you not think that it would warrant an answer from the person in question because honestly Mr. Attorney General honestly a 'No, it's not true' or 'No, parts of it are not true' etc. would do a lot to kill the story? but a no comment in opinion says, 'What's up?'"

King: "I can't speak for what somebody else might do. All I can tell you Dale is. I have lots of things to do, and one of them is to not discuss rumors I am not going to begin discussing rumors. Sorry, but I'm not going to do it."

Jackson: "Alright so there's a no comment on that. Attorney General Troy King thank you for taking the time to talk to us."

Jackson reacted later on his blog, aptly named The Attack Machine:

"'All I can tell you is... ... ... I have lots of things to do and one of them is to not to discuss rumors.'

"Wow! How much time does 'not discussing rumors' take up in an average day?
"Why not just deny it?
"I am not gay here is how the conversation with me would have went:
"Q: There are some rumors floating around that you are gay, Dale are you gay?
"A: No, I am not gay, those rumors are false.
"Lets just say his non-answer answer really makes me wonder. Why not just clear the air?"

Duh. The National Enquirer may not pay someone to stalk and photograph the comings and goings of Troy King, but some enterprising backpack journalist may want to make a name for himself. According to one source, King and Godwin are still exercising together at the Montgomery Central YMCA.

Comments

[readytsf]

Easy, Dave. No one has lied under oath so far. Or obstructed justice. No need to call Larry Flynt just yet...........

[jqcitizen]

It seems like the same old story, over and over.

Is there something in your private life that you want to keep private? Just file for public office and no-one will ever find find out about. it. -IS THAT STUPID OR WHAT?

Remember Gary Hart asking for media attention. He got it and then complained about it.

[mcw123]

Please. It is incredibly rich of Democrats to act as if we have never jumped for joy or henpecked any Republican caught with his pants down. Go back to any of the McCain/Iseman affair posts. The comments are practically the same, only the positions have changed. Same goes for Spitzer and Craig and the littany of politicians too drunk on ego and power to keep their penises in their marital beds. They do it to us. We do it back to them. Each side cries foul. The cycle continues for all eternity, one more hypocritical distraction from all the things that really matter.

[liz]

I am willing to say each episode of scandalous behavior is judged on its own merits without reference to the past or to other people. There is no excuse for Edwards' behavior, and he deserves whatever banishment he gets. I do think we do not know the entire sordid mess, given what a sordid messy person the "videographer" appears to be and the kind of people who have been involved in the story. She is no innocent victim.
So, OK, give McCain a pass for Cindy. He did make it a part of the public record in his earliest ghost-written books. He acknowledged the ugliness of it and implied he had tried to make things as right as possible with his first wife and children. Publically, the first wife seems to agree. It does happen that a married person genuinely falls in love with someone else, and can make a decent break and a decent life afterwards.
BUT, I think the Iseman affair was very quickly swept under the rug by the media, and that there is a lot more fire where that smoke came from, in the sexual, the financial, the ethical, and the political realms.

[Scarllatti]

Yes, McCain and his lobbyist Madam. Remember? The one that that rabid right-wingers shouted down when the NYT timidly reported it.

[Michale32086]

And that was ultimately dropped because there was NO proof of ANYTHING improper..

Yea, I remember...

SO????

Michale.....

[InofTouch]

Don Siegelman is a better story.

[Uosdwis]

This is a loser for Dems. To the talking heads, this one incident (and Clinton's) obviously outweighs ANYTHING the republicans have ever done, including Bush lying America into a war. There's nothing we can do, the press is controlled by corporations, they'll beat this to death.

[Michale32086]

@djarvis

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
There IS a skeleton in John McCain's closet that you never hear about from the MSM - the affair he had on his first wife after he came back from Vietnam.

You never hear people in the media talking about this.
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Because it was 30 years ago and has little if any bearing in the here and now...

Plus McCain never lied about it and has been completely up front about it to the press and the public...

It's so hypocritical. When the Mark Foley incident broke, many on the Right compared the Foley indiscretion to the Studds indiscretion.. Everyone on the Left pooh pooh'ed that away by claiming it was 10-12 years ago and too far back to have ANY bearing..

Now, when one of the Democrat Golden Boys get caught in a major scandal with likely criminal proceedings and investigations coming, NOW all of the sudden, the Left wants to reach back THIRTY years to try and fade the heat...

Won't work, though... A hypocrite is a liar is a cheat.. And the Democrats have all 3 in John Edwards...

Quit yer whining and take your lumps.. The Dem Party will impress John Q Public a LOT more by doing that, then they will by trying the old, lame "yea, but..." defense...

Michale.....

[luziannagirl]

The difference in a partisan witchhunt vs a valid set of standards for personal conduct is whether both party's candidates are treated equitably by those doing the measuring. Michaelle says the 30-year mark means it's so far in the past it "has little bearing on the here and now".

Fine. Then why are Republicans so hot after reminding us that over 30 years ago, longtime church-going Christian Barack Obama lived in a predominantly Muslim community, had a Muslim stepfather, and at least part of his name is of Muslim origin? Obama doesn't appear to have lied about it.

Michale has again rather nicely demonstrated the use of the double standard, and the assumption that not enough voters will notice the glaring difference in Republican words and Republican behavior.

Thank you.

[DerekRC]

Barack Obama's father was a muslim.

[NewArtz]

If those in government would like for the public to get out of their bedroom, then it would behoove them to get out of ours.

[djarvis]

There IS a skeleton in John McCain's closet that you never hear about from the MSM - the affair he had on his first wife after he came back from Vietnam. She had been disfigured in a car accident while he was away and when he came back he had an affair with Cindy Hensley, a rich heiress. He ended up divorcing his first wife and marrying Cindy (currently Cindy McCain). You never hear people in the media talking about this.

[elizaW]

That McCain story has been around forever but no one cares because there is no story. A man is allowed to leave a marriage that's not working and move on. McCain has been married to his present wife for decades. Besides, he never made his family the cornerstone of his campaign the way Edwards did. Give it up. Edwards has proven to be a disaster for the Democrats and no amount of trying to dig up thirty year old non-stories about McCain's first marriage is going the change that.

[thefringecenter]

No one cares? I care. He committed adultery and unlike Edwards he is a nominee for President. I also care about Cindy's (past?) drug adiction. And I care that she stole the drugs. Obama will have to explain Edwards behavior all the way to election day. That is why it matters and that is why I care. As for your assertion that McCains adultery is an old story, poppycock. The MSM hasn't spent one second on it and never will.

[sueno]

Why are you talking about McCain ?

[Rockwell]

I was big John Edwards supporter in the beginning and I was very disappointed when he dropped out. Now I have to say we dodged a bullet and I have to also say that I am disgusted by his breath-takingly selfish and arrogant behavior. I'm not just talking about cheating on his wife when she was so ill. I'm talking about running for president when he knew damned good and well that this story could explode in his face and ruin Democratic chances to retake the White House.

I've turned away in disgust from John Edwards. Just as I look on with disgust at Gingrich and McCain for whoring around while their wives were suffereing illness or injury. It shows a selfish and disturbing character flaw. If we can drag Edwards thru the news because of his bad decisions why don't we talk about the character flaws of Cindy and John McCain. Before they were Mr And Mrs, he was a cheating husband and she was the other woman.

Republican moral hypocrisy is what drove me out of the party 20 years ago.

[Colmore]

There is an old saying "A man who marries his mistress creates a job opening" Maybe THAT is McCain's method of "creating jobs"

[babyboomerorig]

As dissapointed as I am with Edward's affair, it doesn't come close to the charges that have been brought up with the Republicans and their addiction to child porn/indecenies that have been discovered.

Want the list??

[Michale32086]

Tell ya what...

Justify or mitigate what John Edwards did without mentioning ANY OTHER PERSON...

Can't do it, can you??

Michale.....

[punkingale]

www.republicansexscandals.com

[waters96]

It's time for the corporate media to ask McCain about his repeated adultery during his first marriage, and to unearth the facts about the affair with the lobbyist. Since Edwards is not a nominee for anything and McCain is the Repub nominee, it's time to apply the same intrusion into McCain's private life that Edwards has endured. At least Edwards has come correct about it. I've heard no mea culpa of any type from McCain. Once we have his denials on the record, the country can make it's decision about whether his lies make him qualified to be president.

[Truthfighter1]

if i were McCain and his camp i would stay away from this Edwards thing, it will give everyone the oppurtunity to bring up the fact the McCain cheated and left his wife for Cindy while his wife was criple.

lol...i so hope McCain and his cronies jump on this...PLEASE!!

[Scarllatti]

Bet me, these guys are so dumb that they will walk into this mine field very wide awake. Watch.

[suntzu]

"Is this another skeleton in the Democratic closet that Barack Obama must struggle to overcome?" David Gregory on the revelation of John Edwards' extramarital affair.

Of course, that McCain has a skeleton in HIS closet was not worth noting to Gregory.

If there is anything Obama must struggle to overcome, it is the abysmal stupidy of the MSM, with David Gregory as one of its leading lights.

[nk007]

David Gregory must come clean and tell his viewers that he is a McCain surrogate. Why in the world bring up Obama when discussing Edwards' personal failings? Edwards' affair is a personal affair and has absolutely nothing to do with the party. Calling it "another skeleton in the Democratic closet" is despicable and unworthy of a person who calls himself a journalist. Only a Republican attack dog would say something like David Gregory said.