A perfect example of why I hate the media.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/01/this-isnt-the-person-i-campaigned-with-back-then-kerry-says-of-edwards-per-source.html


Taking this because it does not really matter. I am not trying to start a thread about John Edwards either. It is just the title that makes my blood boil.

Did Kerry actually say that? Who knows? A source that is "close to Kerry" said ABC that Kerry said that. Did he use this exact word? Was he paraphrasing? We'll never know. But the title becomes a fact. He said that (for whatever this means. How is he not the same person? Just because he cheated on his wife? For other reasons? This is a race to get a big title and no substance).

This is the same low standard journalism that brought us Halperin's book.

Did Edwards change or did the perception of who he is change? Senator Edwards was know as being easy going and smiling. Kerry's contact with him was reportedly minimal in the Senate. They were not on the same committees. Edwards did work closely with Kennedy on the Patient's bill of rights and reportedly impressed him - but not enough that Kennedy would support him over Kerry or stay neutral. Kerry also knew him on the campaign trail, where at least one book - written before the general election was over - spoke of him having sharper elbows than his image would suggest and another contrasted him Kerry, in that Kerry became warmer with people with the cameras off and Edwards was the opposite - but in that, Kerry was the anomaly.

I doubt Kerry had any idea that Edwards would lie, cheat, and mistreat everyone close to him in the way he did. That likely was not how he acted pre 2004. If he had, he would have had no long term staff or supporters. It also was very likely that Elizabeth to some degree validated him - and in 2004, she seemed the real thing. Kerry in the few times he has said anything has shown great sympathy for Elizabeth and the family. No one would have picked him if they knew that he could act like this - and many advising Kerry to take him new him better than Kerry.

And holy crap, in this instance, doesn't really matter because this whole affair was crazy-town.