The kafuffle over Herman Cain and women is another example of a blood rule of American politics: If you have a skeleton, someone will splatter it on the national windshield. If … that is … you become a serious contender. And if … mainstream media don’t want you to win.

Example: Gary Hart, presidential candidate. His romps with women were no secret within the media. One of the big network reporters was romping with him. Yet nothing ever leaked. Until he became a serious contender. Mainstream media types did not want him to win. So they strung his dirty linen across our tv screens. (Had Fox News and the Drudge Report existed then, he would not have made it as far as he did.)

Example: John Edwards’ secrets were no secrets. Yet mainstream media ignored them. Until he became a serious contender.

Example: A few years back the candidate for vice-president had slept with a judge for years. Innumerable people knew about it. Why was it never leaked? The candidate and running partner had little or no chance of gaining the White House. A member of Congress confided in me, “Since they were never going to win, the juicy scandal remained in the closet.”