According to the National Enquirer, Barack Obama is said to have engaged in some kind of illicit relationship with a female fundraiser, Vera Baker, in 2004. Baker and Obama are said to have met at the Hotel George in Washington, DC. The hotel is noted for the portraits of George Washington hanging in every room.

Though I oppose President Obama on most issues, I am reluctant to condemn (yet another) President to round after wearying round of accusation and innuendo. Yet, the source paper has earned a reputation recently for holding its fire until it has the target firmly verified. John Edwards was a presidential contender whose self-destruction was hastened by the Enquirer’s solid reporting. Barack Obama may be a more successful contender; time will tell whether he is a more innocent one as well.

Baker has previously denied the allegations of a relationship with Obama. The Enquirer’s allegations depend heavily on the testimony of a driver who claims he saw odd behavior at the hotel, and on the existence of a hotel security tape said to show some as-yet unspecified damning behavior. If the tape exists, we will eventually see it. President Obama, if he is hiding anything in his past in this department, would be well-advised to come clean about it now. It always comes out; get it out as early as possible once it becomes clear it’s going to come out regardless.

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Bob Hayes is a writer and senior partner at DocRocket, a web content provider.