Parker: Bezos on right side vs. Enquirer

The gist of the threat was a suggestion that the photos would be published unless Bezos asserted that there was no political motive to the publishing of the texts. Naturally, one wonders what else they might be hiding at the Enquirer, other than, perhaps, a trove of Trump stories, photos and, possibly, assorted dossiers that have been stashed in a vault. Recall that AMI cut an immunity deal with investigators who were looking into Trump’s knowledge of the Enquirer’s catch-and-kill practice, including buying Playboy model Karen McDougal’s story alleging an affair with Trump.

Rather than go further down the road of threats, alleged extortion and blackmail, Bezos called Pecker’s hand last week, raised him significantly, and essentially said, “No dice.” At great risk of personal shame, Bezos published correspondence between respective lawyers in an essay on the online publishing platform Medium.

Obviously, texting intimate photos is not the wisest move, but few can be shocked that wealth apparently doesn’t insulate one from poor personal decisions. This doesn’t mean, however, that Bezos, who founded Amazon in his garage 24 years ago, can’t continue to ably function in his executive capacities, as AMI tried to claim as a justification for publishing the texts. Its argument that Americans deserve to know about the Amazon boss’s “judgment” made the story, in AMI’s view, “newsworthy” and “in the public interest.”

Alternatively, because Pecker and Trump are old friends — and Trump is no big fan of the Post or Bezos — Pecker was perhaps making up to Trump for that previously mentioned immunity deal. As for the newsworthiness of publishing personal photos, let’s clarify. Exposing someone’s most intimate thoughts and expressions is meant to appeal to prurient interests and to destroy another’s life. Full stop. Bad judgment in personal matters is simply that.

The lesson for Bezos is writ large enough, but a more-universal lesson begs attention. What he is experiencing — the possibility of having one’s intimate communications given a wide audience — happens every day to people, including teens without the means and maturity to withstand the humiliation. Maybe Bezos, by his willingness to take such a spotlighted walk of shame, can set an example for people to be both more prudent and braver when there seems to be no way out.

The world will never be free of Peckers, yet this particular one is especially malevolent. But when his company allegedly threatened Bezos and suggested that he betray the values of the newspaper he owns, it issued a challenge to karma.

May the flawed prevail over the wicked.