Why No Medical Records?, Ctd.

By Patrick Appel
A reader writes:

I am glad you hold Andrew Sullivan's influence in such high regard. But to think that the McCain-Palin campaign didn't release Sarah Palin's medical records so they could discredit Andrew Sullivan is ludicrous. Sorry, for as much as we love him, most people in the US have never heard of Andrew.

You have just ruined any clout you had to defend Palin's case by offering this bizarre rationale as to why the McCain-Palin campaign didn't release her records.

This reader misunderstands my former post. I don't think that discrediting Andrew was the primary reason the McCain campaign didn't release medical records. But Goldfarb sliming Andrew via Howie Kurtz shows that they did use the rumors in this manner. My main point was that the rumors helped Palin more than they hurt her. The rumors enraged the GOP base and created sympathy among even those on the far left. Killing the story wasn't worth their time.