Yesterday, Senator John Ensign (R-NV) admitted to an affair with the wife of a former staffer and, earlier today, he resigned from his post as head of the Republican Policy Committee.  So it goes in politics: missteps in leaders’ personal lives inevitably exact costs on their political careers.

But for CNN, this story isn’t a political one -- i.e., a story that belongs on the “Politics” section of its website.  Apparently, when a Republican has an extramarital affair, it’s a criminal story -- which is why CNN filed it under its “Crime” tab. 

For the sake of comparison, check out where CNN filed its coverage of John Edwards’ extramarital affair (Politics).  Or, check out where it filed news of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey’s extramarital affair (Politics).  Indeed, even when a Democrat does something unambiguously criminal during an affair -- such as former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s trysts with prostitutes -- it’s all just “Politics” for CNN.

Particularly as no charges of criminal activity are being made against Enslgn, CNN is upholding an absurd double-standard in its coverage.