McCain Camp Knocks Down Enquirer's Palin Rumor

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(ST. PAUL, MINN.) – 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.

"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," said Schmidt.

"Legal action will be considered with regard to this disgraceful smear."

263 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 263 Comments


by c-ned May 20, 2012 2:56 PM EDT: McCain actually used the term "tabloid" in a dispariging manner. Ironic, since Palin's employer, Newscorp is ,in fact, by far biggest tabloid publisher/broadcaster/blogger/etc on the planet (and possibly the entire solar system.); Reply to this comment


by drsam8 May 18, 2012 3:47 PM EDT: I don't know whether the story is true or not but Sen. McCain is surely an expert on having an affair while still married. You can look up his personal history.
Dr. Sam; Reply to this comment


by Lindag10 May 18, 2012 9:34 AM EDT: Oh yawn!! Who believes the crap the Enquirer pumps out. Oh yeah, they did rat out Edwards, who is NOW in court trying to prove he didn't misuse campaign funds to hide HIS mistress and child. Hmmm!!; Reply to this comment


by scd2008-2009 September 6, 2008 5:40 PM EDT: Andir,

The Enquirer does its homework??? Are you for real?? What planet did you fall from? "Elvis is alive and spotted in Cancun", "Oprah is really a man", "Little green martians spotted in Lake Eerie", "Shroud of Christ found in a cave", "Big Foot seen in downtown Arkansas", "Woman gives birth to 45 pound baby". GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Now, that''s fine investigative reporting for you. Too bad Elvis, Oprah, Big Foot, Christ, and Oprah couldn''t sue. P-L-E-E-Z-E!
YOU and millions more like you are the very reason the Enquirer/Star and other trash making papers of such caliber stay in business. You''re still looking for Elvis.

Oh, hold on!!! I think I just spotted the lastest edition of the Enquirer fresh off the press. The headline states; "Elvis living on planet mars". You see, the Enquirer ran out of stories since Brittany Spears decided to put her panties back on, and Brad Pitt/Jolie gave exclusive rights to People Magizine to photograph their twins for a cool million, and they can''t figure out how to get to Mars to look for Elvis. Please go back to sleep. You need a long nap. ''Oh, wait, I just spotted a UFO...quick kids grab the camera. Is that a bird, plane, superman? No it''s Elvis!
I''ll give my exclusive to the Enquirer.

Susan Davis; Reply to this comment


by peteward5 September 6, 2008 3:22 PM EDT: SARAH PALIN BETTER SUE FAST. THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT IS NOT SOMETHING TO FOOL WITH. IF CLINTON DID NOT HAVE THE MONICA AFFAIR AL GORE WOULD BE PRESIDENT NOW.THE MORAL RIGHT BELIEVE IT NOT WHAT YOU SAY BUT THE DEEDS YOU DO. IF SHE DOES NOT SUE THE ENQUIER SHE WILL BE PERCIEVED AS A LIER TO HER FAITH AND TO GOD AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.IF SHE HAD THIS AFFAIR WHILE TRYING TO TEACH HER CHILD MORALS WHAT DOES THAT SAY? MANY CHRISTIAN MOTHERS DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT A MOTHER OF A 6 MONTH CHILD WITH MANY MANY NEEDS IS PUTTING MANY OF THOSE BURDENS ON THE REST OF HER FAMILY.SO I WARN YOU NOW IF SHE DOES NOT COMPLETLY PROVE THE ENQUIER FALSE THIS SAYS SHE IS NOT ONLY NOT READY TO BE VICE PRESIDENT BUT I SEROUSLY BELIEVE SHE IS NOT A FIT MOTHER!!!!; Reply to this comment


by ltcjack1 September 5, 2008 1:27 PM EDT: I agree with others--the McCain can legally sue-it will be up to Gov.Palin. 1) Lyda Green, President of the Alaska Senate is concerned that she will harm the U.S.government they way she harmed the state of Alaska, She is from the town of Wasilla, where Palin was Mayor. (2)Gail Phillips (republican) former Speaker of the Alaska House was shocked by her selection as VEEP candidate (2)Palin received $4,500.00 in campaign donation from the same group for which Senator Steven of Alaska is being charged. (3) Palin espoused she rejected the bridge to no where project--what she didn''t say was that she originally APPROVED IT! (4) The Bush Administration is being investigated for firing several Federal Prosecutors for other than merit--Palin is being investigated for firing of the Public Safety Officer for other than merit--her sister''s ex-husband.(5) Palin indicates she has rejected Pork Barrel projects--quite the contrary she has approved and accepted many of them. (6) As her husband was a member of a fringe organization which advocated that Alaska secede from the U.S.--if he had been successful--would that have made Palin ineligible to be a VEEP? (7) Her husband is reportedly going to assist her , if she becomes VEEP, with the children. Do we know whether he has conquered his alleged alcohol problem? (DUI Conviction). (8)Palin indicates that it was her daughter''s "CHOICE" to keep the baby; yet Palin would deny all other American women that "Choice" --a little hypocrisy.; Reply to this comment


by barbara_roko September 5, 2008 8:33 AM EDT: I''ve never in my 57 years heard such a sarcastic, bitter & uneducated "political" speech in all my life until hearing Sarah Palin speak. Guess being a hockey mom & beauty queen makes for a good V.P. Shouldn''t she stay home with the special needs baby? Senator Obama would never stoop so low as to go on & on, like a sarcastic UNfunny comedian in getting his message across to Americans, on how to make our country a BETTER place to live He has depth of an ocean. She acted like a mud puddle when she gave her speech. Not very "Christian" as she professes to be. Shame on her. Sort of like a "Valley Girl" Hitler in her remarks. The roar of the audience was scary! She is off the wall, and not Vice Presidential material at all!; Reply to this comment


by barbara_roko September 5, 2008 8:32 AM EDT: I''ve never in my 57 years heard such a sarcastic, bitter & uneducated "political" speech in all my life until hearing Sarah Palin speak. Guess being a hockey mom & beauty queen makes for a good V.P. Shouldn''t she stay home with the special needs baby? Senator Obama would never stoop so low as to go on & on, like a sarcastic UNfunny comedian in getting his message across to Americans, on how to make our country a BETTER place to live He has depth of an ocean. She acted like a mud puddle when she gave her speech. Not very "Christian" as she professes to be. Shame on her. Sort of like a "Valley Girl" Hitler in her remarks. The roar of the audience was scary! She is off the wall, and not Vice Presidential material at all!; Reply to this comment


by nothappyatall September 5, 2008 5:18 AM EDT: The Law 101. How can McCain sue for slander regarding Palin. Doesnt Palin have to sue?

Posted by xargaw

She would yes, however, now that she is a PUBLIC FIGURE, it''s too late and too bad for her, she can''t win because she is now officially a public figure and this comes under different rules where legal liability for libel/slander otherwise would come in for a NON public figure.; Reply to this comment


by tex805 September 5, 2008 4:53 AM EDT: Hmmm -

The National Enquirer is a "liberal rag"? Then why did they expose John Edwards, arguably the most liberal of all presidential candidates?

The National Enquirer "posts false BS all the time"? Hmmm - why did Edwards acknowledge his problems? And why did the N.E. send their Edwards team to Alaska to check out the many rumors about Palin?

Be worried, Palin supporters - be very worried!; Reply to this comment