Just letting y'all know that this is out there.
UPDATED: Reports out of Washington, DC: PRESIDENT OBAMA in a shocking cheating scandal after being caught in a Washington, DC Hotel with a former campaign aide.
A confidential investigation has learned that Obama first became close to gorgeous 35 year-old VERA BAKER in 2004 when she worked tirelessly to get him elected to the US Senate, raising millions in campaign contributions
I would need to know more about this "confidential investigation." But as Mediaite notes, this story is thin at best. But it's out there, and these days (especially on the right), that may be enough. Anyone remember Bill Clinton's black child? Or John Kerry's intern? Both stories were debunked utterly, but not before gaining some traction in the crazy conservative Rushosphere.
And frankly, even if this is true (and it appears to not be), I don't think what he did (or didn't do) in his personal life in 2004 is relevant to his Presidency. I think many people assumed in 1992 that Bill Clinton was something of a horndog, but that didn't stop him from being elected twice, nor did it prevent him from being a very good President.
I'm willing to give the National Enquirer the benefit of the doubt these days (which is why I'm not deleting this diary), but there's not much to this story yet. I have no idea whether this is true, but won't dismiss it out of hand either.
But like I said, this is out there (obviously on Drudge, but other places too). Let's hope it's not true, and that the Enquirer owes Ms. Baker an apology. Again, that's my hope. As it stands at this stage, this is pure gossip, but in this century, gossip usually equals news, true or not.
Update: Most people here think I should delete this diary. I should delete it because, apparently, it's already been diaried today. But I won't delete it on the grounds that the Enquirer claim may be a right-wing attempt to smear the President. That's not why I diaried this. I'm not sure this is true either, but that's not the point. This "story" is out there, and people will be talking about it, and people will be discussing it at work on Monday. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm not "spreading this story." Y'all probably knew it already. But to stick your heads in the sand and pretend this doesn't exist only enables the President's critics. Now go watch Jay Leno.