Curious.
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."
Apparently, the National Enquirer has lifted itself by its bootstraps to raise above the level of supermarket-tabloid muck occupied by Weekly World News and its ilk.
Here's a partial list of the celebrities who have sued the National Enquirer for one reason or another:
Star Jones
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Farrah Fawcett
Ashley Olsen
Cameron Diaz
Kirstie Alley
Obviously, since the Enquirer turned out to be right about John Edwards, they can't just dismiss this as "It's just the National Enquirer." But why on earth would McCain want to make a bigger story out of this by threatening to sue them? Is this intended as a shot across the bow of other major news organizations? Is there truth to the rumors that have brought on the threat of litigation?
I would love to know what McCain's calculations are here.