Sorry, but the analogy to Larry Flynt's actions just doesn't fly - in fact, what's going on here is exactly the opposite. What is different here is that this gives a hint of a possible explanation for the very public about face that Ritter has done with respect to Iraq, and therefore it just demands that investigative journalists follow the leads to see whether Saddam's hand might be behind it, or whether some Democrat operative might have had some unseen connection (a.k.a. blackmail for political purposes). Ritter has been a useful tool for the Democrats and for the 'hate America firsters'. In that respect, this is the exact opposite of what Flynt did - Flynt was indeed pursuing blackmail for political purposes, whereas the overwhelming interest in this case on FR goes towards ferreting out the story behind the story - namely has Ritter been blackmailed, and if so, by whom.
You'd be correct if what Ritter was caught at was womanizing. He's a sexual predator of children.
Hmm. I disagree with you that a 40 year-old man going after a 14 year-old girl is a "peccadello". We obviously have different definitions of "peccadello". And, yes, this story is important enough to use to bury Ritter since he has called for the impeachment of the President and has been (until now) a media player in a critical national security debate.
Ritter is toast. It is time for him to go away. And he must be smacked across the face with this story until he does go away.