Wake County School board member Debra Goldman is a public figure, and as such her life (yes, even her personal life) is open to more scrutiny than the average citizen. That being the case, I don’t have a problem, per se, with the News & Observer‘s report today on Goldman’s legal dispute with her husband. (I won’t copy the details here; follow the link if you wish.)

Personally, I would need to take a shower or two (or three) after writing this type of story. But the biggest disappointment, though not surprising, is that the N&O and other media outlets didn’t apply the same due diligence to John Edwards as they did to Goldman.

There is a big difference between the two. John Edwards almost became vice president, yet a tabloid had to break the story on his extra-marital “exploits.” Of course, Edwards was the darling of the Old North State’s old Democratic guard (including the N&O). Goldman is just a school board member they don’t particularly like.

P.S. Funny how stories of this nature must always include a picture of the person in question looking like he or she just got out of bed in the morning.