They were happy to remind me that in this column last week I had supported The News & Observer's restrained coverage of the story first published in The National Enquirer. I suggested that ongoing coverage be tempered by the fact that Edwards "is now, after all, a private figure, and there's a point where examining his sex life doesn't serve a public interest and risks turning a respectable newspaper into 'The News and Enquirer.' "

Since then, The N&O ran two front-page stories that kept the story alive but did not shed new light on whether the allegations were true. A story Thursday assessed the effect of the allegations on Edwards' possible role at the Democratic National Convention. On Friday, the paper ran a story asking experts whether pictures of Edwards and a baby in the National Enquirer were genuine.

The column last week drew a lot of response from readers as to whether The N&O was responsible in its coverage. Following are their comments, some of which came in after Edwards' admission, but most before Friday.

* "Who is unreliable now?" -- CHRISTIE HAAS, Raleigh.

* "Now that Edwards has admitted the affair, you have a 'legitimate news story' (albeit one I care about not one whit). But to run stories in the newspaper based on National Enquirer stories is irresponsible journalism. Since The N&O ... clearly considers this story important, it should have been investigated and reported independent of whatever was published in the Enquirer. But I could not care less about this kind of 'story.' It's a personal matter and insignificant otherwise." -- DEBRA BELLER, Chapel Hill.

* "Which is more dangerous? A tabloid like the National Enquirer that thrives on sensationalism or a newspaper like The N&O that manages -- or mismanages --the news to further a political agenda? Right now, I'm going to pay more attention to the Enquirer and look to The N&O for sports scores, with hopeful assurance your political agenda will be kept out of that section." -- JOHN FEAGANS, Rocky Mount.

* "The N&O owes it to its readers to investigate a story and report the findings to its readers, in a factual manner and not just pick and choose what you would like to report based on left-wing talking points." -- JEFF SCHICK, Raleigh.

* "I'd rather see you investigating rising oil prices than spend your money investigating the private life of John Edwards." -- EVIE HENDERSON, Oriental.

* "The N&O quite enthusiastically covered John Edwards quite closely during his run for office and his subsequent consideration for VP. I also wondered, since the baby story surfaced, why The N&O was not enthusiastically covering that story. I commend your paper for wanting to make sure this 'tabloid story' was true before giving it the proper coverage. That being said, I only wish that you and the other 'mainstream media' outlets would show the same restraint when the candidate has an 'R' next to his name." -- ED HOBBS, Holly Springs.

* "I agree 100 percent with your, and the N&O's, position with regard to the story (?) in the National Enquirer." -- BILL LYNCH, Raleigh.

* "If Edwards is a simple private citizen, then I expect no more stories of him, his wife, or his scholarships. The N&O has always done everything it can to prop him up as a 'defender of the people,' and relegated negative articles of him to the back pages." -- MARC HAAKENSON, Raleigh.

* "He is not a private figure. He is very much a public one as long as he makes himself available for public office, which he does at every opportunity. Private, personal decisions among politicians give important insight into their decision-making processes and their character." -- ROB DAWKINS, Wendell.

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