John McCain's campaign threatened legal action against the National Enquirer today for running a story about McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, allegedly having an affair with her husband's business partner."The smearing of the Palin family must end. The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Gov. Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false. It is a vicious lie," said McCain senior 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."The Enquirer also alleges that Palin unjustly fired a public safety official while she was governor of Alaska, but the story is based entirely on unnamed sources. The Enquirer has also paid sources in the past to speak with them, something mainstream media outlets do not do.
Has Steve Schmidt lost his mind?
If the goal is to get a rumored sex-scandal off the front page, there is no worse strategy than threatening legal action against an outlet like the National Enquirer. The Enquirer won't run away from a fight like that. They are popping Champagne corks as I type this. Their editors probably lie awake at night dreaming of ways to get a presidential campaign to take them to court.
The McCain campaign is really off its game. The collapse is breathtaking to witness. Working the refs with Joe Klein, Howie Kurtz, and CNN is one thing. Rolling around in the mud with the National Enquirer is something else entirely. The paper literally has nothing to lose. McCain has everything to lose.
If they can't keep their heads any better than this in a crisis, they might as well cut their losses and go home.
