Ralston or O’Reilly?

By Dana Gentry

Friday, May 23, 2008 | 4:50 p.m.

Jon says he’s feeling a bit like Bill O’Reilly of Inside Edition days after our taping today on the story circulating about Jim Gibbons’ alleged affair. Both of our guests, Las Vegas Sun political reporter J. Patrick Coolican and UNLV journalism Professor Stephen Bates, who spent four years working for special prosecutor Ken Starr during Whitewater and the Monica Lewinsky scandals, downplayed the newsworthiness of the Elko newspaper's implication.

Here's why we decided to repeat the story:

It's credible. We caught up with Dawn Gibbons last night at a local fundraiser. She looked the best I've seen her in years and appeared focused on her role as first lady, despite the distractions. Find out on tonight's program what she revealed about the Elko newspaper's allegation.

The news of the Gibbons’ divorce and revelations of alleged infidelity give credence to the charges leveled by cocktail waitress Chrissy Mazzeo, who says Gibbons complained marriage wasn't all it was cracked up to be and groped her in a parking garage just weeks before the 2006 election.

Professor Bates suggested on the program that the allegation of infidelity is not as unseemly here as it might be in other places because, hey, this is Nevada. I know the professor is not alone in his assessment of our state's collective morality, but as a native, let me say, we yearn for upstanding, moral leadership as much as the next guy... or at least leaders who are what they claim to be.

Bates suggested the hypocrisy of a governor who cloaks himself in the flag and Mormon family values while allegedly philandering is only a marginal issue. All politicians play family guy (or gal) to get elected, Bates said, but no one really buys the act.

Coolican agreed any statements made by the first lady are worthy of coverage, but maintained the Sun would not have written the editorial.

Also on the program, we Face the Facts about the rumblings of potential opponents who may be gearing up to take on the governor in 2010, even from within his own party.