Spin Cycle

The controversy over the picture of Obama dressed in a turban and native regalia on a trip to Kenya made the cover of both NYC tabloids, and both the Post and the Daily News labelled it a "smear."

The story couldn't be ignored. At the same time, it's only a front-page-worthy story -- and certainly only a "smear" -- if the Clinton campaign was responsible for it. So far, the only source for that claim is Matt Drudge, who ran the picture along with the claim that it was being circulated by Clinton staffers.

The campaign, after some waffling, denied that it was involved, while saying it couldn't account for the possibility that one of 700 staffers was involved. So: Is Drudge now Mr. Trustworthy? Apparently, enough for the Post, which also writes an editorial blaming Hillary.

At the same time, the denials would all be a lot more persuasive if the Clinton camp would stop pretending that it was much ado about nothing. Hillary: "Let's just stop and ask yourself: 'Why is anybody concerned about this?' "

She is not that naive. It is not a dignitary-wearing-a-funny-hat picture. There has been an underground e-mail campaign since last year to falsely assert that he's a Muslim. The particular regalia he's wearing in the photo makes him look, more or less, like Osama bin Laden's cousin.

Clinton may not have had anything to do with it, but whoever did was aiming at more than a laugh.