This is my fourth diary about the ongoing, developing story of the John Edwards primary affair / cover-up scandal. One thing that's come up time and again with some people is the idea that there's no solid evidence of a scandal. As Kos member berryberry pointed out in a comment in my last diary, there's quite a bit of evidence but it's mainly circumstantial.
For die hard Edwards apologists, however, that's not enough - they continue to claim stridently that there's nothing to see here.
Thankfully, we have one piece of irrefutable proof that shows any journalist or reasonable person that there is something to this story that bears further investigation.
"Dissent Is Not Disloyalty" has been a popular slogan to quickly explain to people who progressives can hate the war but love the country. I'm reminded of that slogan as I think about the reactions I've gotten to my writing about the John Edwards scandal.
As a long standing member of the DKos community, this hasn't been a fun subject for me to write about. I realized when I wrote my initial story - also cross posted on the Huffington Post - that I was ahead of the curve on the story. I'd reached some conclusions that few other progressives seemed to have reached at the time. I could tell, however, that in the fullness of time the facts would bear out my conclusions so I took a deep breath and wrote as carefully and honestly as I could.
I'm a fellow Kossack and I've had the odd experience of having my first non-comedy pundit piece on The Huffington Post - Say It Ain't So, John: Why Progrsssives Need To Get In Front Of The john Edwards Affair Rumors - become the most popular blog post on HuffPo in the last couple of days while simultaneously become vilified harshly (and sometimes violently) among the people here.
So, a few quick notes for the Kos community to consider...but if you want to get up to speed on the all accusations and see the supporting materials, the best place I've seen everything laid out so far is on the gossipy blog Deceiver. I wish it were Talking Points Memo or Raw Story but nope; Deceiver is all over it. The writing is snarky but the links and information are all there so when you're done here, go click and read. There's also a good summary by the editor of Wonkette published today.
UPDATE: I'm done posting comments on this thread. I'm planning another post dealing with some of the issues here.
Before I dive in, let me get the 'objectivity' thing out of the way. As a citizen journalist whose main claim to fame is producing satirical comedy, I can be upfront about my political leanings. I'm a recovering libertarian and currently I'm a registered Democrat who is excited to be voting for Barack Obama in November. I like John Edwards and up until a few days ago, he would have been my first choice for Vice President on an Obama ticket. I'm far from Puritan - anything two or more consenting adults want to do is fine by me. I also think it's obvious a person's sexual life doesn't keeps them from being an effective politician.
I'm judging this situation using two standards; 1) what's the truth? 2) how's it going to play out in the media?
What better way to fight the right than with entertaining satire? This humorous little video is something I created in order to parody John McCain's new campaign ad called "Love". Gosh, that John McCain sure does talk about the 1960s quite a bit and his ad (which I've included after the jump) is exhibit A! So, I made my video like that but with a couple of comedic twists of my own. It's a video diary -- call it a Vidiary, if you will.
John McCain's economic adviser Phil Gramm has shown the same sort of misguided judgment as we've seen from the Bush administration for the last eight. In this humorous piece I've produced, I ironically compare Gramm and McCain to late night self help hucksters. Please enjoy this piece of satire but also make sure to take real action against this sort of rhetoric. Every comment you leave on my YouTube page helps fight the GOP hate lie machine.
Barack Obama : is he opposed to war (as he was in 2007) or against the war (as he says he is now) or ending the war (as he will be in 2009). For someone is supposed to be able to talk good, he sure seems to be prone to editing.
This is an old video I made early in the primary....but James Dobson reminded me of it today by attacking Barack Obama and everyone else who doesn't just agree with James Dobson. Enjoy.
Maybe I should edit / update it or something. Aside from the very beginning it's all very current, really. And no, I'm not trying to sound like a Sheen. That's just how my voice comes out.
HOLLAND, MICHIGAN -- Speaking to a packed auditorium presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate Illinois Senator Barack Obama as his Vice-Presidential running mate. Candidate Obama praised Senator Obama's judgment, energy and commitment to change in announcing what he called 'the dream ticket that's such you a dream that you keep hitting the snooze button just to keep on dreaming it.'
President George W. Bush and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain were legally married in a small ceremony at the apartment of 'a close friend' in West Hollywood, California late Tuesday night. The wedding came on the heels of California becoming the second U.S. state to legalize same sex unions. The ceremony was presided over by California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wore his camouflage military outfit from the film "Predator" in order to 'not appear too fruity', Schwarzenegger aide Julia Rodriguez stated.
A reportedly 'devastated' Senator Joe Lieberman could not be reached for comment.
When he introduced articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush last night on the floor of House of Representatives, Dennis Kucinich may have been many things - brave, idealistic, and thorough - but he was also wicked boring.
I'm talking to you, D-Man. Yes, you pointed out all the ways that the Bush administration has trampled on the constitution but where's the sizzle, Dennis? Where's the catch phrase? (Suggestion: "Impeach THIS!") Where were the Abu Ghraib Dancers? Couldn't you at least get your wife to sit in the background pretending to listen to you while sitting next to a shirtless Matthew McConaughey? (And really - is there any other kind of Matthew McConaughey?)
Hey, you lucky country, you! Just as the Iraq War revealed so much sad truth about President Bush, Hillary Clinton's campaign has revealed just how fortunate we all are that she won't be President.
After eight years of George W. Bush's tragic attempt to avenge his Father's failure in Iraq, the last thing America needs is another Grudge Presidency that's trying to rewrite history. Scientists have proven that the Hillary '08 campaign was run with the same level of crazy that you'd get if you gave Amy Winehouse nine hits of acid, tied her to a chair and made her watch Natural Born Killers on an endless loop while throwing slices of uncooked Oscar Meyer bologna on her at random intervels.. Even four years of Hillary Clinton could create a butterfly effect that leads to an obliterated Middle East, thirty-eight dollar a gallon gas and a federal ban on blow-jobs.
A little break from primary madness...here's an interview my son did with Tory Christman, an ex-Scientologist. I'm biased but why do I feel like my 15 year old is more fair and balanced then much of the MSM?
At a rally outside a medical supply discount store in Clearwater, Florida Democratic Presidential Wishful Hillary Clinton announced she would create a new federal agency called The Department Of Goalpost Relocation, whose specific task would be to keep track and re-configure the U.S. Government's justifications for doing whatever it wants to do.
I just happened to be right down the street with a camera and mic covering a movie premiere on Hollywood Blvd. when the YouTube sensation protest group Anonymous was a few hundred feet away.
I turned the camera on one of the spokesman and let the say whatever they wanted about the protests and Scientology.
