The MSM is usually quick to tut-tut about the sexual peccadilloes of public figures, especially if they’re conservatives or Republicans — Mark Foley, whoever you are or were, come on down! But when the frisky Lothario turns out to be a Democrat, they’ll either defend him to til the last dog dies (Bill Clinton, take a bow!) or just ignore the story altogether (smile for the cameras, John Edwards).

Occasionally they get into a little hot water in the love department themselves. Never mind for a moment the vast interlocking network of media biggies sleeping with their sources — say hello, Bianna Golodryga, currently the fiancee of Obama Administration budget director Peter Orszag, who’s just been tapped to co-host the weekend edition of ABC’s Good Morning America — we’ll get to them another time. But it does seem that the late Abe Rosenthal’s “elephants” rule has long since passed into history, along with Abe himself.

Now comes CNN legal analyst and New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin, who years ago wrote a notable book on the O.J. Simpson case and hasn’t done much of anything since, except, well, this. From the New York Daily News:

Baby drama! CNN star Jeffrey Toobin offered Casey Greenfield money for abortion: sources

Sunday could be a bittersweet first Mother’s Day for Casey Greenfield.

Greenfield is a pretty, ginger-haired, Yale-educated lawyer and writer who last March gave birth to a love child. The baby’s father is married CNN star and best-selling New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin. (Casey’s father is esteemed political pundit Jeff Greenfield.) Ever since we broke the news of her pregnancy, Casey has remained silent about the baby drama. But now some of her friends are fed up with what they claim is less-than-gallant behavior on Toobin’s part.


In 2008, when Greenfield became pregnant, and when she told Toobin the news, he offered her “money if she’d have an abortion,” says a source. He also allegedly offered to pay for her to have another child later via a sperm donor.

“When Casey wouldn’t have an abortion, Jeff told her she was going to regret it, that she shouldn’t expect any help from him,” claims another source.

Greenfield underwent a risky DNA test while pregnant, but Toobin didn’t provide his sample and stopped talking to her, according to sources. On the day she gave birth, Greenfield e-mailed Toobin, inviting him to meet his son, Rory. A source says Toobin didn’t reply.

Toobin ultimately cooperated with a DNA test that proved he was Rory’s dad. In February, a Manhattan Family Court judge ordered him to pay child support. When he refused to pay the full amount, say sources, Greenfield’s lawyer threatened to notify his employers and garnish his wages; Toobin then paid up.

Over to you for comment on this Mother’s Day.