SOMETIMES THE ENQUIRER IS RIGHT

or…

(How To Become A Media Consumer)

Toronto - In an August 8/08 ABC Nightline interview, John Edwards admitted to an extra-marital affair as first reported in October, 2007 by the National Enquirer. The former Democratic South Carolina senator, Senator John Kerry’s former 2004 vice-presidential running mate, former 2004 and 2008 presidential candidate, and former good husband added however, that he was not the father of his paramour’s child. She, Rielle Hunter was a former campaign worker and another campaign aide, Andrew Young, claims to be the father of a baby girl, Frances Quinn. Her birth certificate lists no father.

For a moment let us look at the consequences to John Edwards, the affable cross between Robert Urich and Potsie Weber. He is quickly a political outcast. Americans don’t easily accept political sexual antics unless you’re President ( Jefferson, Van Buren, Harding, Clinton etc. - Ed) or a Kennedy, preferably both. Edwards was never really that close to either. For a time though, he was almost a too-good-to-be-true candidate. The youth, the smile, the pulled himself up by his own shoe strings history, standing by his college sweetheart wife’s battle with cancer, losing an adult son to a car accident. He had groove, he had meaning. Add the stress of politics and working for the American good and one might almost forgive him a dalliance, but one is not quick to forgive, the lie. We assume that all politicians know that at the first sign of trouble:

1) admit to your mistake, and

2) throw yourself on the mercy of the public. Beg forgiveness.

John Edwards did not.

Further, Edwards eluded the truth by blaming the media, the tabloid trash etc., but then quickly using the media, ABC Nightline, to begin his slow-dance back into the hearts of the American public. In statements by John and Elizabeth Edwards published by the New York Times, (post Nightline interview), Mr. Edwards again uses the term, “supermarket tabloid” and Elizabeth uses the phrase “the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences” to describe part of what her family has been through.

I am disappointed in the media finger pointing. I always am. The story broke in 2 phases. The first report by the Enquirer last year and a 2nd story in July of this year where two Enquirer reporters said they had a confrontation with security at the Beverly Hills Hilton after attempting to confront Edwards trying to leave the hotel unnoticed. (A Hilton, how perfect!) Upstairs at the hotel were Rielle Hunter and the young baby. Edwards has since admitted to this visitation as well.

After October 2007 some so-called traditional media did comment on the story, but more as a “how will John Edwards answer these rumors?” angle, rather than investigating or asking, “Are they true?” Perhaps they did this because on the political front, “Who was John Edwards really?” A former many things but a current not-so-much. Why bother? Why “front-cover” John Edwards when Barack Hussein Obama in Muslim garb will sell more magazines?

The Enquirer has had it right all along. “Enquiring minds do want to know.” And further, all reasonable average hard-working people have a pretty good sense of truth. We know when something ‘seems’ possible and when it stinks to high heaven. Either way we need to know more. Media, like any other product, fights for their niche, their brand, their image among all consumers. “I am the New York Times and you’re not.”

“This is CNN… and that is only TMZ!” Because of the glut of media, yes we do at times get manipulated, but overall we know, and need to know more. The distinction between journalism and tabloid is mostly in the minds of the media, and is marketed to us so for their benefit.

John Edwards brushing us off by using the catch phrase “supermarket tabloid” is somewhat ironic. In a supermarket at least 15,000 products line the shelves and coolers. We pick them up, read food labels, touch, squeeze, smell and sometimes sneak a sample before we buy. Are we less consumers of media? If you answered yes, then stop it. Stop it now. Become an educated consumer of media. Remember, if we don’t consume, we make cons of u and me.

I am not trying to equate equally the importance of Beyonce wearing Versace with a Tibetan protest. I’m simply saying it’s all out there, and someone gathers this information and someone shares it. Too much of anything is bad for you they say, but not when it comes to information. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. That means, not enough information is what’s dangerous. That’s the true meaning of that old axiom. I’m sorry Elizabeth Edwards, but “the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences” is not the problem. The desire for an affair outside of the marriage without regard for the human consequences is where the trouble began. To paraphrase Hallmark Cards’ motion to dismiss Paris Hilton’s lawsuit against them: She has become a household name based in large part on her efforts to draw attention to herself. Having done so, she has subjected herself to public scrutiny. The First Amendment of the United States does not allow her to respond by welcoming the fawning and flattering, but silencing the critical. Apply this to John Edwards.

Many people consume media like water. Some sip from the tap, others shop for bottled water. Of course there are people who will take tap water, wash it over, flavor it, put it in a bottle and sell it right back to you. Read the label. Then there is always Tea Leoni and her on screen father in the movie Deep Impact, standing on the beach knowing full well the wave is coming, and simply opting to watch it sweep them into the next life. Which one are you?

Read the label and use your own sense of truth to establish credibility.
Shop and compare and since a lot of it is free, do many taste tests.
Take the information out for a test drive, see how it feels out there.
Remember, if someone is right about something, it doesn’t mean they’re right about everything. Further, if many agree on something, it doesn’t automatically make it the truth.
If someone is wrong about something, it doesn’t mean they’re wrong all the time.
Media is mostly people like you and me, people sitting in rooms making decisions about information. In other words, don’t give media more credit than it is due.
Don’t see and hear only what you want to see and hear.

Sometimes the New York Times is wrong and sometimes, the National Enquirer is right.

~ Larry Fedoruk

about the author: Larry Fedoruk hosts the daily Larry Fedoruk Show at Astral Media Inc’s 610 CKTB AM Mon-Fri from 2-5 PM est, and Co-contends CKTB’s ‘Knockout’ from 1-2 pm and 7-8 pm.