If true it's damaging on 2 levels. First to Obama's credibility. But also because it would show a stunning lack of judgment by Obama and after having witnessed the way in which Clinton's affair up-ended the nation's politics. People will wonder how the guy could be so stupid and reckless after seeing what Clinton put the nation through and how he was unable to conceal an affair, and from that evaluation they'll extrapolate as to what else he's been reckless, stupid and lacking judgment about in terms of policy. I think people already have a sense of this guy as being reckless and not really thinking through his actions in the way he's governed. This will cement that. He'll be badly politically hobbled by this if it's confirmed