Another angle to consider here is that this story will be used as a lead-in to rehash McCain's real affair while they have everyone's attention. The truth is bad enough - McCain was still married and living with his first wife in 1979 while bumping uglies with a then 25-year-old Cindy. McCain later divorced his first wife (who had remained faithful and raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam), married Cindy, and then launched his political career. This got a little play in 2000 during the Republican primaries, but not much. I doubt his affair will become a persistent theme this time, but it could happen.
Don't forget, we are currently in the "Bread and Circuses" phase of the empire. Vacuous phraseology now trumps substance and meaning.