In the critical early days of September 2008, after Sarah Palin was nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for Vice President, the National Enquirer ran a cover story alleging that the Alaska governor had an adulterous affair. Palin, and Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, immediately and unequivocally denied the story. "The smearing of the Palin family must end," said McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt, as quoted at the time. "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. The efforts of the media...