Did Palin Have an Affair?

Posted by Tana Ganeva, AlterNet at 12:31 PM on September 8, 2008.

Republicans are having a hissy fit over a National Enquirer story that alleges Sarah Palin had an affair with her husband's business partner. The story, slated for September 15th publication, says that Todd Palin found out about the affair and ended his relationship with his business associate, Scott Alan Richter. At the Atlantic, blogger Andrew Sullivan also recently uncovered proof that Richter filed a motion to get his divorce papers sealed.

The McCain campaign is trying to kill the story, accusing "the media" of unfairly attacking Palin and threatening to sue the Enquirer if they go ahead with coverage of the alleged affair.

McCain adviser Steve Schmidt: "The efforts of the media and tabloids to destroy this fine and accomplished public servant are a disgrace. The American people will reject it."

Continued Schmidt:

Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin look forward to discussing the issues that Americans care about, fixing broken government, creating jobs, making our country energy independent and securing the peace for the next generation by bringing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a victorious end.

Hmmm. Remember when the Enquirer broke the story about the Edwards affair, and Republicans stood politely on the sidelines refusing to engage in baseless smears until it was absolutely clear the story was true? Recall how they respectfully backed off from attacks on Edwards and his family, fearing it would distract from the issues?

No? Me neither, because that's the opposite of what happened.

Here's Michelle Malkin's understated criticism of Edwards from August 8:

Well, the shoe has dropped. Does this mean he'll get to speak at the DNC now? The other big Democrat liar/cheater's already secured his spot, you know ... What a crapweasel ...

And what did they say about the Enquirer, that awful, salacious rag that traffics in baseless allegations, at the time? As Political Base points out, Jonah Goldberg from National Review argued this about the Enquirer back when they broke the Edwards story:

I]t's worth pointing out that while the Enquirer may or may not be scrupulous in its choice of stories -- that's in the eye of the beholder -- it is pretty scrupulous about its facts. They win lawsuits. They've broken a host of stories the MSM guys couldn't.

Anyway, Republican hypocrisy aside, this is why politicians (Dems and Republicans alike) shouldn't base their entire campaigns on the cuteness of their offspring or perfection of their marriage.

Tagged as: national enquirer, affair, palin