What critics seem to want to avoid is Klein's claim that Hillary knew all along that her husband was carrying on an affair with Monica Lewinsky - and even approved of relationships with other White House women.

If Klein is right, Mrs. Clinton's cold acceptance of her husband's philandering shatters her image as marital victim, which turned out to be the biggest political asset of her 2000 Senate campaign.

Clinton campaign insiders no doubt hope that Hillary's victim persona will remain a potent political weapon come 2008.

That is, as long as books like Klein's don't stick.

"The Truth About Hillary" author goes beyond claims in previous Clinton books, reporting that Mr. Clinton's affair with Lewinsky was practically common knowledge in Democratic Party circles.

Based on an interview with a Democratic Party fund-raiser who requested anonymity, Klein reports that Monica's mother openly bragged about the affair:

"By [April 1996], rumors about Bill and Monica had spread throughout the entire Democratic Party establishment. Marcia Lewis, Monica's mother, attended several Women's Leadership Forum events that were sponsored by the women's section of the Democratic National Committee. At these meetings, Marcia Lewis lost no opportunity to boast that her daughter was having an affair with the president of the United States."

How likely is it that such a claim escaped Mrs. Clinton's notice?

Klein notes that Hillary's White House enforcer, Evelyn Lieberman, was assigned the task of keeping her husband out of trouble.

But Lieberman, says Klein, "adopted a hands off attitude when Bill Clinton indulged in affairs with women who were labeled 'safe' by the First Lady. As a result, several of Bill Clinton's former girlfriends, who were known as 'graduates,' were given cushy jobs at the White House."

The best-selling author adds, "There were those who wondered whether Monica Lewinsky was included in this harem, since Evelyn Lieberman never said whether she informed Hillary about Bill's affair with the intern."

No less an authority than Rev. Jesse Jackson, who ministered to the Clintons after the Lewinsky story broke, has suggested that the revelation of her husband's involvement with a 23-year-old woman was old news to Mrs. Clinton.

"Hillary's not naive," Jackson told reporters after Mr. Clinton officially admitted his transgression. "There was no great shock. Hillary knows her husband well and has for twenty-five years. ... She knew what was going on."

If Hillary did indeed know about Monica, it means her entire political career has been based on a marital lie she used to foster sympathy with the electorate.

And while that won't trouble some her most devoted supporters, Red State values voters critical to the success of her 2008 presidential bid are not likely to be so forgiving.

Editor's note:
The Stunning Truth About Hillary in Ed Klein’s New Book – Check out our FREE offer!
Become a member of NewsMax’s "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" Club – get the T-shirt – Click Here Now
Join the NYPD, LAPD – Click Here Now!

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Media Bias
Sen. Hillary Clinton