(Or how Michael Ware plus Lara Logan divided by Joe Burkett equals a neocon’s successful smear.)
So when does gossip become news? It used to be when it crossed from “scandal sheet” to “legitimate news outlet,” and that was a clearly delineated line. Ahh, for the good old days.
As we witnessed with the Drudge Debacle, the internet has now given us “if it’s repeated enough times, it MUST be true.” So a supermarket tabloid can quote the divorce lawyer for an angry spouse quoting a stale, unsubstantiated rumor originally written by someone who dislikes both parties he named; the tabloid story gets quoted by media sites that ought to know better (are you listening, HuffPo?) and then by online sites for established newspapers that ought to know better (the list is long); the story mutates and grows to laughable lengths (they argued in the Green Zone! no, punches were thrown at the Baghdad airport! no, it was fisticuffs in a frontline foxhole, as bullet whizzed by overhead!) — and by some weird alchemy each new version is granted MORE legitimacy as the tale grows stranger?
Don’t bother us with the facts, damn it; we want to be entertained!
Look, I have no idea whose marriages were already falling apart at the time the alleged affairs happened, and — here’s a concept! — it’s none of my business. Divorce proceedings are messy things, and even wholly innocent people often get splattered.
But the fact remains that all of this is predicated on an unsubstantiated rumor. Could it have happened? Sure. I don’t know anything about this Joe guy, but in my personal opinion, if Lara and Michael didn’t have a affair, they are idiots. (Okay, that was shallow; mea culpa. Still: two gorgeous people, in the midst of all that insanity, and with too few people who can even comprehend what their lives are really like… If this was a Lifetime movie, the ratings would be huge. I’m just sayin’.)
(Oh, and before anyone gets all righteous and huffy: YOU go live in a war zone for a couple years, where you could be killed — or worse — at any moment; spend day after day after day looking at death and destruction, walk through blood and splattered brains and body parts; compile a list of your friends and co-workers and contacts who have been kidnapped and tortured to death or slaughtered in their homes. Then and only then do you have the right to whip out your Puritan ethics and measure other peoples’ lives against your own snowy-white one.)
So: start with a dubious tale written by an anonymous self-described neocon and targeting two people he doesn’t like; add in a woman scorned and her win-at-any-cost lawyer; mix well and add spices as the dish is passed along from place to place. The pungent stew you end up with may have some bits of truth in there somewhere, but you’d be hard-pressed to identify what they are. Skepticism is your friend, until and unless the parties themselves decide to set the record straight, and why should they? It’s still none of our business.
And none of this — whether all lies or all truth or some twisted amalgam of both — changes the fact that Michael Ware and Lara Logan have been reporting what is really happening in Iraq. Who they may or may not be sleeping with is irrelevant.
So I guess it doesn’t equal a “successful” smear after all.
Cyn, you are the voice of reason. Thank you for your eloquent analysis of the craziness of the last week.
Cyn, did you hear me applause ? I know we are separated by more than 5,000 miles but I did my best to do them loud! The “Woo hoo, Cyn” were maybe more audible. Great post…
This is why you are our leader. Here! Here!
Cyn, you are, of course, right.
This trend of quoting sources that don’t quote or investigate the original source is appalling. This is one of the failings of the electronic age, I’m afraid. It is also the denegration of the free press. As long as they can quote “some” publication – the writers feel free to perpetuate, and sometimes embellish, questionable stories. Disgusting – and not real journalism.
Until people are officially divorced, they are susceptible to criticism and accusations about their social behavior when they’re in the public eye. So, Ms. Logan was an easy target, fair or unfair. Michael Ware, on the other hand, is simply being used (probably lied about) to help paint Lara Logan in a certain light. He’s not been named as a party to anyone’s divorce.
The greater concern – besides to truth and fairness – is that Michael still lives within the dangers of the war zone …. and has repeatedly said that his personal life must remain secret for security reasons.
An irresponsible and aggressive attorney used an unsubstantiated rumor to help her client. Irresponsible journalists reported the accusations and added uninvestigated claims – without considering the repercussions. Lazy SOBs.
Granted, none of it is our business. That doesn’t stop the chatter, so it’s almost useless to say. But I can’t imagine anyone begrudging Michael whatever pleasures he can find under the circumstances. If he and Lara hooked-up, then good on them. (Although, considering Lara’s married, it doesn’t cast a good light on her.) They seem, in many ways, well matched. Whatever. Michael, get what you can get, bro.
I’m sorry there is so little integrity out there. Journalism has so often turned into a game of telephone …. repeat whatever you’re told knowing full well that the story will mutate along the way.
Way to go Cyn!
Rumors like this can ruin peoples lives & careers
Well said, Cyn!!!! I wish all those tabloids make their first stop here and read that great post. They need a lesson. It’s nobody’s business but the parties involved.
All hail our wonderful leader!
All I can say is look on the bright side, the general public is paying almost $4.00 per copy for The Enquirer to read about Michael’s love life. Nobody would pay five cents to read about mine!
OK, I admit it. I did put the useless rag in my shopping cart and removed it when I saw the $3.95 price.
Nobody knows what any parties involved have or have not done, but I would bet it’s nothing any one of us have not done. (or would like to do! LOL)
Oh and,
Lara’s friend who confirmed all this to the post, must be “Identical Cousins” with Linda Tripp.
I saw the story on the internet Saturday and my first thought was how much Michael must hate this. He is so private and rightfully so.
It’s too depressing to think of Michael being there for as long as he has living a monks existance.
I agree with all of you Michael should get what he can when he can because he doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring.
I feel even more guilty about wishing Michael was back when he takes an extended break. I can’t even imagine how great it must feel to be out that environment even for a short time.
This tabloid story is so ridiculous, so wrong and so nobodies business, that I wrestled whether or not I should even comment on it in a blog read by many. Obviously no one should take what has been written as “truth” nor should any weight be given to so called “friends” quoted in blogs, articles, etc. True friends would not be talking to the press about this. They are “Linda Tripps” as Mavis aptly put it.
Whatever agenda the authors/originators of these rumors had, they had no care as to the family of these individuals they would also be harming in the process. It is them, that I feel the most sorry for. It is them, that the tabloid press often give no second thought to.
I agree Suzlynn…One should definitely live for today! I would add, however (with no judgment whatsoever), that you should do your best under the circumstances, not to hurt others in the process.
I’ve posted on the subject on ATC today, as well:
Anatomy of a Smear
I couldn’t agree with you more..People are way too puritan like these days!! I went through the same thing my self and my family looked down on me and still do a bit 8 years later..I always say we should always walk a mile in another’s shoes before we judge! I like Michael Ware and Lara Logan they are good people doing great work!