(Disclaimer: this is not a political statement. This is about adultery, its treatment in the media, and whether Old Bay seasoning plays a role.)

I guess it all comes down to what's "news" and what's "entertainment." Does the news media inform us or entertain us? Is news just a subset of entertainment? Who sets the standards and applies the tar or teflon?

Julia Roberts - "America's Sweetheart" - is still in the mainstream media's good graces despite being a blantant philanderer and homewrecker. Teflon.

Yet, Bill Clinton got the attention he deserved. Tar.

Of course, there are HUGE differences in the responsibilities of the two professions in these examples.

Which brings me to Maryland, where I've had a front row seat not only to Clinton's follies, but more recently to those of our Governor.

Haven't heard? I'm not surprised, but I don't understand why.

Briefly, Maryland Governor Paris Glendening has been conducting a blantant affair for several years with virtually no public outcry, despite being documented "sufficiently" in the media. I emphasize the word, "sufficiently," because while the facts have been reported, little media criticism has taken place. Even the obvious employment favoritism toward the other woman is well known, but hasn't seemed to raise an eyebrow. It's like our Governor has been transported back in time to the hush-hush era of President Kennedy when his indiscretions were "accepted" by the media. (Maybe the Mothership has some sort of time warp activated?)

We pause for this commercial break from the Maryland Board of Tourism: The day before Lincoln was assasinated he was in Monroe, Maryland. The day before Kennedy was assasinated, he was in Marilyn Monroe.

Now, back to our story.

Here's a letter to the editor in this morning's Washington Post:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Storybook Romance

Saturday, August 24, 2002; Page A21

I am writing in regard to your Aug. 19 Metro article "Baby Glendening Arrives."

I am sure the birth of baby Bri is quite a joyful occasion for Gov. Glendening and Jennifer Crawford. However, I am a bit perplexed by your spin, fuzzy math and history on not reporting the whole story.

You have the sitting governor of the state of Maryland, and a Democrat, who divorced his wife of 24 years to marry a woman nearly half his age. His new wife gives birth to their child seven months after this. Furthermore, let's not forget that during their affair the governor rapidly promoted Crawford through the ranks of state government, where she ultimately landed in his office as assistant chief of staff.

Seven months after the wedding, the headline is "Baby Glendening Arrives." Where's the scandal?

This makes Clinton-Lewinsky look like "Bill and Monica sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

-- Colton G. Perry </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yep, we all here at MB are familiar with this story line.

I don't know Mr. Perry, but his obvious questions certainly echo my own and no doubt those of many others 'round here. What are he and I missing? Should we just shut up and go back to our crabs and beer? Does Glendening get off because HE likes crabs and beer?

Part of the mix, of course, is the fact that Glendening is not running for re-election. If he was, his political opponents would certainly raise a stink. But - get this - our Lt. Governor is running to succeed Glendening in the Governor's office. Her name: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. The maiden name is no fluke - yep, of the Kennedy bloodline. I swear I am not making this up - (That Mothership again?)

Hmmmmmm - maybe Mr. Perry will write another letter asking Ms. Townsend if she advised Glendening against promoting his girlfriend up through the ranks of State government?

Another fact is that Maryland is VERY much a single party state - which one doesn't matter - but it is clearly the same one as that of our Governor. So perhaps that also explains part of the muted media muckraking.

Oh well, my mistake - once again - is trying to make sense out of nonsense.

But with entertainment like this, who needs Julia Roberts?

<small>[ August 24, 2002, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: worthatry ]</small>

Hey Dave,

Although I couldn't agree with you more, one thing you said really hit home...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">... go back to our crabs and beer</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It's times like these when I really miss the East Coast. I have some fond childhood memories of a sun-ripened chicken leg dangling off a string in the Chesapeake. Hey, at least it's an option for you---for me, I just gotta go and grab a brat...

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

K you talking about brats and beer you must be near my hometown of Milwaukee. lol Take care. wu
Quite "Entertaining" Dave.

Our illustrious governor was lambasted because she took a state helicopter home when her baby was suffering from pneumonia - but the fact that she and her husband lied on the marriage license and left out one of his previous marriages "because we wanted to put the past behind us," according to her, received barely a mention in the media. And then there was the little issue of how he married wife number 2 before bothering to divorce wife number 1.

WAT -- While I haven't lived in the D.C./Maryland area for years, somehow I had heard the Glendening saga. I have worked in periphery of political campaigns and politics for over 15 years and the political world is rife with As and men leaving their wives for women half their age. Somehow, most of these stories don't make it into the media until somebody is running for a high stakes political office. It's flat out disgusting and only rivals the movie industry for rampant As. The common thread as best I can tell...huge egos. Yuck.

I will be arriving the fine state of Maryland late Friday night and heading out to the shore to meet my extended family for a weekend of beer, crabs, assorted other unhealthy but tasty foods, the ocean and unconditional love from my nieces and nephews (largely due to the fact that I feed them lots of french fries, ice cream cones and let them stay up late).

Easy:

1) All male actors get a free pass. If their wives had only taken care of themselves, their husbands wouldn't have strayed. Some of this is contingent on who the OW is. If people like the OW, that helps. (See also: Harrison Ford/Calista Flockhart)

2) Female actresses who play nice people get a free pass. (See also: Julia Roberts)

3) Democratic politicians who stray are liberal Godless degenerates who are destroying the moral fabric of our nation. Even if they go to Church every Sunday. (See also: Gary Hart, Gary Condit, also You-know-who)

4) Republican politicians who stray either a) committed a "youthful indiscretion, even if they were 41 when the affair occurred (Henry Hyde); b) are being set up by the "liberal media" (Bob Livingston); c) have been forgiven by God and that makes it all even-stephen (former Utah rep. Helen Chenoweth) or c) marry their OWs, and that makes it all OK (Newt Gingrich, who did this twice, Tim Hutchison, Florida State Sen. John McKay)

See? The rules are quite clear, it seems to me.

We can always count on Dave to keep us entertained!

Seems to me we had a similiar situation going on in NYC with Rudy. It didn't stick much to him , either (teflon)... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

Dazed and Confused - I knew I could count on you to put the political spin on this. I had you in mind when I made the disclaimer trying to avoid politicizing this.

But since you started it, lessee, what party is Jesse Jackson in? Oh, you didn't realize Glendening is a Democrat? Seems they're getting the Republican treatment. Hmmmm, maybe Jesse likes crabs, too. Once again, for the record, I'm a registered Independent.

Dave

<small>[ August 26, 2002, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: worthatry ]</small>

Hi WAT,

I looooove crabs and beer. Spend two months in Baltimore as a student...had the BEST time ever.

Do you know what really "comforted" my self-esteem after my H's A? I read the magazine's a little closer (that is People Magazine and not the usual JAMA) and found out that some phantastic, beautiful, intelligent women like Nicole Kidman (Oscar nominated) and Halle Berry (Oscar winner!!!)have to deal with the same lousy "cheating husband thing" like me. I feel sorry for them. But this just proves the point that WSs are SO in fog...(MEN: if you had Nicole or Halle at home -what's the need to cheat????!!!!)

BTW: It didn't stick to Tom Cruise either (teflon)