A good story finds its own delivery mechanism. That is what Tehelka showed. So much for circulation. So much for television rating points. The fourth point is even simpler.
Perceptions matter most in politics.
George Fernandes can keep complaining that he took no money nor was anyone seen offering him a deal of any kind in the Tehelka tapes. Jaya Jaitly can keep arguing till the cows come home that no one took the two lakhs of cash offered by Tehelka , that the minister they claim to have paid money to was not even in Delhi on that day. The people of India are convinced that they are both guilty of terrible indiscretion. For them, George or Jaya are no less irresponsible than Bangaru Laxman who was caught on camera tucking away the cash. In fact, that one visual of the BJP President will haunt the party for a long, long time and if they have any sense, they should simply whisk him away from the public eye for a few years.