A Tabloid Tale Worth Telling?

When should the mainstream media pick up a tabloid story and run with it? So far, the most recent National Enquirer story on John Edwards isn't making much noise. Remember last year, when the Enquirer alleged Edwards had both a mistress and a love child? Both Edwards and the woman vehemently denied the story. In fact, a married friend of the former senator stepped forward and said the child was his.

So, most folks thought the story ended there. But now, the Enquirer says a bunch of its reporters caught Edwards meeting the woman in a Beverly Hills hotel just this past Monday. According to the tabloid, the meeting lasted until 2:40 in the morning. They go into some bizarre, almost comedic details about what happened when their people confronted Edwards as he was leaving the hotel. They say he hid in a hotel bathroom for 15 minutes. It almost sounds like one of those screwball comedies from the '30s. There's also the intriguing question of just who tipped the Enquirer off.

In the end, of course, none of that matters. What does matter is whether any of this foolishness impacts the possibility of Edwards being Barack Obama's running mate. There's also the chance the right wing blogosphere will pick up on it and call the lack of coverage another example of liberal bias. 

Stay tuned. My gut tells me this isn't over yet.