[skeeter]

Did you feel the same way when the media attacked Reagan as a b actor? bush for his dwi? Quayle for his draft deferment? Palin for her lack of geopolitical acumen? It was all true.

at least I've learned to recognize the tactic.

[Boogieman]

The difference between the examples you cite and this, is that those examples were, even though true, pretty immaterial to whether those candidates could perform in their job. This issue clearly would be material.