John Edwards Cheating On His Cancer-Stricken Wife?

Mickey Kaus writes:

Edwards Scandal(?) Update: Drudge isn’t biting, at least not yet. A bizarre number of people, including several kf emailers, seem to think that you just can’t have a sex scandal unless Drudge is driving it. In part because they assume he has a low evidentiary threshhold, he’s become something like the new accepted Arbiter of Truth. No Drudge, no story! But–from what I can tell–Drudge doesn’t link to lots of stories, for both traditional (evidence, relevance) and idiosyncratic reasons. This isn’t the first time kausfiles hasn’t met Drudge’s journalistic standards! And while it’s to his credit that he makes up his own mind and doesn’t jump on every salacious rumor that comes along, that means it’s not true that there’s no scandal until he ratifies it. … Update: Noted astrologer Jerome Armstrong has Rielle Hunter’s denial.

Via Ben Smith, who notes that 20% of American Media, which runs the National Enquirer, is owned by an investment firm run by Clintonite Roger Altman. That makes it possible for the press and others to discount the Enquirer story as a Hillary-promoted smear. But a) I think I know how the story started to come out, pre-Enquirer, and it had nothing to do with Hillary’s campaign; b) The story, as suggested below, arguably helps Barack Obama in his race against Hillary, who has a better chance against a divided field; c) If Roger Altman already controlled the National Enquirer for the Clintonites, why would Clinton-buddy Ron Burkle be moving to buy it? …

More: Smith also has a too-broad denial from Edwards: "The story is false." (As every press secretary knows, that could logically mean there’s nothing to the story; it could mean an affair didn’t start "18 months ago" but rather 8 months ago). …

Update: The AP has Edwards adding "It’s completely untrue, ridiculous" and saying the story was "made up." By the Enquirer? Or by one of the people the Enquirer cites? Either way, it’s a direct attack on the integrity of someone. …

With Edwards’ denial, both the MSM and Drudge now finally mention the allegations. …

Edwards’ peculiar vulnerability should the allegation be believed is suggested by this Reuters lede: