To all those pitching fits about the attention being given to Edwards' admission

[cali]

and blaming it on the MSM and shallow Americans and prissiness, etc:

This is classic human drama. This kind of stuff has engrossed human beings for thousands of years. It's about power and money and hubris, sex and lies. It's about personal betrayal. It's about human frailty and the public/private persona.

It's human nature. It's an issue that's immediately recognizable and at least on a basic level, easily grasped.

It's one of the great themes in great literature.

[TexasProgresive]

1. Besides that if it were, say Huckabee

and wasn't given at least the same attention by the media there would be a lot of complaining here at DU.

[cali]

2. well, sure. and thern there are those DUers indignantly insisting

that sexual matters of politicians are none of anyone's business, except for the family. Of course, they hardly say that about repukes who do similar things.

[razorman]

5. Absolutely true. Let's face it. There are plenty of miscreants in both parties.

If we give a pass to one of our own simply because we like their politics, we would have no moral standing to criticize the other side when their people get caught. People who live in glass houses, and all that.

[fasttense]

3. And attacking sovereign nations on lies to gain political capital

is just so boring.

Seems destroying a Nation's economic prosperity to line the pockets of your uber wealthy friends is also just ho-hum.

Torturing POW and ignoring the law is also just another very dull interruption to sex scandals.

It's not that Edwards' scandal is being reported in-depth, it is that real crimes are not.

[cali]

8. It's simply a matter of human nature.

That's all I'm saying. I'm neither justifying it or attacking it. It is what it is.

[KharmaTrain]

4. It's Also Why There Are Tabloids As Opposed To Newspapers

The oldest axiom in the advertising trade is "sex sells"...and nothing gets attention like a good scandal. I remember someone saying OJ was the ultimate "titilation"...as it covered almost every taboo...interacial sex, murder, infidelity, race...a ton of hot buttons that all parties, including (especially) the corporate media played to maximum effect. It was also the crossing of the "journalistic Rubicon" where "Respectable" journalism was trumped by a 24/7 cable and hate radio machine that re-defined what "news" is. And they found that, as the old axiom said, it sold and sold and is still selling.

Yes, it's the classic drama...thousands of songs have been written about it (99.9% of the blues genre), best sellers written and the public's fascination with morality plays of the human condition will be the gist of an industry...but the lines of proportionality need to be looked at here...Perpsective as you will.

I can see the Edwards saga as a big topic for weeks ahead on the tabloid shows and press...and if people want to indulge or convulse in it, they can knock themselves out...however, is this the role of the beltway "journalists"...the main focus of the supposed best investigators and reporters? And does this theme rank ahead of bigger ones like people losing their homes, jobs, health care or loved ones in a war for profit?

Cheers...

[fasttense]

6. Well said. n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

14. you left out a word.....

when it comes to political coverage, only 'democratic' sex sells



''he stuck out his thumb, and pulled out a.....''

[KharmaTrain]

16. That's Cause We Have The Better Sex

:rofl:

Now you've gone and done it. You've ruined the only thing this old man thinks is worth watching on the Olympics!!


:hi:

[Gabi Hayes]

19. this might help

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Beach-Volleyball/ss/events/olympics/080908olybeachvolley

[KharmaTrain]

21. Shows You How Desparate I Am...

I was watching it on Telemundo! :rofl:

[Gabi Hayes]

22. what channel?

I found Laurence FIshburne speaking spanish on Miami Vice: MeTV

[KharmaTrain]

23. Channel 44...

Or Channel 14 on the cable. I've got Olympics all over the place...and its almost all women...soccer, volleyball, handball...sure looks like NBC/GE knows what audience they're going for.

I think I'm gonna catch up with Bill Moyer's...then indulge in the great American past time. Thank goodness his assholiness is looking after the welfare of our patriotic women's beach volleyballers...ya think he gave the same "talk" the the guys? :rofl:

[Gabi Hayes]

7. Nowadays, instead of Madame Bovary, we'll be getting:

[RNdaSilva]

15. Are you related to...

Gabby Hayes

[Gabi Hayes]

17. I'm his French daughter

that's me on the right, buckeroo!!

hahahahahahaaaaa

[baby_mouse]

9. You're right, but I wish people would learn to seperate it from policy. NT

[cali]

10. that's an excellent point. n/t

[Burma Jones]

11. It's Melodrama

Cheap and easily digested, like junk food.

[Th1onein]

12. So what?

This is DU. This is an election year. We should not eat our own right now.

[RNdaSilva]

13. Getting plenty of attention here...

every other thread.

[a kennedy]

18. and MSM is off Senator Obama's back for awhile......

:applause:

[fascisthunter]

20. It's also being used by the right wing to distract from critical issues

and paint all democrats as untrustworthy.

You are correct but I wanted add just this tid bit.