We love this trick. If you're a politically-motivated journalist who wants to publish something unjustifiable and unseemly - anything from hysterical claims about Israeli atrocities to how Jeri Thompson is a bimbo - you have several options. You could do the right thing and, you know, not print it. But it's election season, and there's an agenda to be pushed. So that's a no-go. Next option: make the story about how other people are saying it. If it's good enough for trashing Israel it's certainly good enough for America's next First Lady:

For the record, yes the question is both crass and sexist. But they're not saying she's a trophy wife. They're just saying that lots of other people are saying she's a trophy wife. Clever!
It's the equivalent of really unsophisticated push polling - "if rumors that Hillary Clinton has a gay black son who kicks puppies turn out to be true, would that make you: more likely to vote for her, less likely to vote for her, or have no effect?"

It's also, by the by, in deep tension with the left's other attacks on Thompson - to say nothing of being based on par for the reality-based-community course shoddy facts. The other "Fred can't get the values voters" meme is that he was a roving bachelor during his stint in DC. And indeed, he did seem to have some of Washington's fitter birds hanging off his arm at various times. But if that's the case - and here's where we get a little pedantic - then his relationship with Jeri Kehn can't be about her looks. Despite dating all sorts of stunners, Thompson seemed perfectly content to remain a bachelor - until he met Jeri. Certainly he gave no indication that he was ready to settle down and start a second family - not a path that bachelors are particularly well-known to take. How did Mrs. Thompson make an honest man of him? We're thinking it might have had something to do with her impressive professional success, her considerable charm, and the deep mutual affection that the two of them share.

Incidentally: never question us in front of the children again.

References:
* Beit Hanoun Meme Watch - (3) Stupid Headline Tricks - Hey Listen, Calling It A "Massacre" Is Still Bias, Even If You Think You're Being Clever By Quoting Someone [MR]
* Will Her Face Determine His Fortune? [NYT]
* NYT on Fred: “Is America ready for a president with a trophy wife?” Update: Nixon called Fred “dumb as hell” [Hot Air]
* Meet Jeri Thompson, the Powerful Republican Consultant That Grassroots Liberals Will Be Attacking As A Bimbo [MR]

Previously:
* Your End Of the Week Fred Thompson Fix
* Fred Thompson On How To Be A Careful Conservative
* Fred Thompson Oppo Research Strongly Correlated With Fred Thompson Winning Polls. Which He's Doing.