Politics Daily Runs Anonymously Sourced Accusation Against Al Gore’s Tongue

The national media have been much quicker to report on the National Enquirer-driven Al Gore sex scandal than they were the John Edwards story, both of which featured underpinnings of traditional journalism, such as named sources, documents, and in Edwards’ case, photographs. It may surprise some, then, that quick-to-lecture-on-journalism Politics Daily Chief Editor Melinda Henneberger is peddling a new rumor about Gore, with a single anonymous source. (h/t Drudge and Washington Examiner)

Henneberger’s column, which is now being linked by Matt Drudge via the Washington Examiner, contains the following piece of journalism:

A journalistic colleague I had no reason to doubt told anyone who would listen that Vice President Al Gore had tried to stick his tongue down her throat out of nowhere at a New Year’s Eve party in the mid-’90s, when all she’d been expecting was a friendly peck.

While she may have no reason to doubt her anonymous colleague, there’s plenty of reason to doubt Henneberger. Several journalistic colleagues I have no reason to doubt reveal that Melinda is a demonstrable liar, so anyone reading her Gore gossip should consider themselves warned.

Henneberger’s anecdote may or may not be true, but it sure as heck isn’t journalism.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

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