Say all you want about The National Enquirer, but Democrats of all people should know the scandal rag is one of the few places that does any honest investigative journalism anymore — or even can afford to. Don’t believe me? How do you spell John Edwards? The folks at the New York Times are still trying to get that one right.

Now the Enquirer has another hot story: “Bill Clinton Underage Sex Lawsuit Shocker!” It begins in the mag’s inimitable prose:

Bill Clinton has been identified in a sex lawsuit involving underage girls – and the sleazy scandal threatens to blow up his wife Hillary’s bid to be president! In a bombshell exclusive, The ENQUIRER has obtained shocking court documents that reveal details of Bill’s close relationship with billionaire money manager Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex creep. According to the legal papers, Clinton traveled on Epstein’s private jet numerous times and partied on a Caribbean island owned by Epstein, who served 13 months for soliciting a minor for prostitution. “While it’s been reported that the two men were friends, Bill’s name is all over the legal papers, which are chock-full of sordid claims about Epstein,” a source told The ENQUIRER. “This could end up being the final nail in the coffin of Hillary’s bid to be president!” The documents filed in Florida’s Palm Beach Circuit Court, are part of a legal dispute between Epstein and lawyers Scott Rothstein and Bradley Edwards.

Okay, is this real or is it Memorex? Beats me, but I wouldn’t bet against it, if past performance (excuse the double entendre) is any indication. Bill was said to have been photographed as recently as February at a L.A. fundraiser next to a couple of prostitutes from one of the Nevada ranches. If it can be shown he was hanging around one of Epstein’s orgies or even near them — Epstein’s being sued on sexual slavery charges — it’s certainly bad news and most likely curtains for Hillary. It’s also good news for Elizabeth Warren and even Jerry Brown, whose ears must be burning at this moment. (Yes, the governor of my home state — just sworn in for a record-breaking fourth term — has never given up his presidential aspirations. This may be his chance.)

But is all this hanky-panky fair game? Shouldn’t private lives be separated from politics in the French manner (okay, the French aren’t really separating it anymore either)?

The answer is ludicrously obvious, especially in this case — of course they’re fair game! The Democrats have opened the door wide by trumpeting one of the most ludicrous lies of the 21st century, accusing Republicans of a so-called on “War on Women” and piggybacking on reactionary academic jargon about “patriarchal rape cultures,” etc. Doesn’t that seem absurd in the face of the behavior of the 42nd president — whether or not in this particular instance he is to blame? At the very best, he has execrable taste in guy buddies. But it looks a whole lot worse than that.

To be clear, I don’t think a politician has to be squeaky clean. Few are, unfortunately. But the absolute flaunting of morality, not to mention constant lying by our leaders as the Clintons do to cover up their continual transgressions, has concrete policy ramifications. The idea should be that the United States is an honest broker, its word taken at face value in world affairs. Obama has made a farce of that, trampling all over it with lies about Syrian red lines to ISIS jayvees and on and on. Resurrecting our country’s reputation and ability to do positive things in the world is now going to take considerable work, to put it mildly. Electing someone as tarnished — in so so many ways — as Clinton will make that resurrection nigh on to impossible.

Frankly, I hope Bill gets wrapped up deeply in this scandal — not because I wish him ill (who cares at this point?) but because I want to save our country from his wife. I wish them both a healthy retirement in Bedford. May they not yell at each other too much.

(Artwork created using multiple Shutterstock.com images.)