Friday, February 13, 2004

Here We Go Again: Since Drudge ejaculated the rumor about John Kerry and his alleged affair with an "intern", it doesn't appear that any of the major media outlets in this country have decided to pick up on it.

A quick Google News search of Kerry+Affair in the past 48 hours showed only foreign news sites and alternative newspapers, such as Bayou Buzz and Men's Daily News (who?), passing along Drudge's "news". None of the major papers, from what I could see, have reported on this, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Unfortunately, though, the story is out there, and as the gossip gets circulated in alternative news sources and the blogosphere, the news media will begin covering it.

The news media probably won't start off by reporting on the actual affair -- no, that's beneath them. Instead they will report on whether the rumors should be reported, noting that the blogosphere is sharing the gossip incessantly, and then they will write stories about negative campaigning, repeating the "unsubstantiated rumor" indefinitely. Then, of course, the coverage will evolve into an in-depth investigation as to whether Sen. Kerry actually had the affair, complete with interviews with neighbors and friends of the alleged "intern" and whatnot.

For the record, this shouldn't be a news story. We're electing a president, not pope. These people need not be saints. Any discussion on these rumors is just a distraction from real issues.

Update: Slate's Chatterbox posts a good article (for the first time in quite awhile) about how the press will expose this story without looking like they're exposing it.