February 21, 2008
McCain and the Times (David Keene)
The New York Times's attempt to link Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to a good-looking female lobbyist is but the latest sign that while he may have been a media favorite within the GOP, he’s now seen as the enemy by reporters, editors and their bosses rooting for a Democratic victory this fall.
The story was incredibly weak, but thick with hints of impropriety. One doesn’t have to be a McCainiac to recognize an essentially contrived hit piece when one appears. I’m no great fan of the senator, but he was right to hit back and hit back hard on this one.
Even more interesting was the Times’s decision to hold the story until after McCain had his nomination in the bag. If they assumed the story to be real, why wait until after New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida since what research and evidence they had for it was apparently complete by then?
The answer to that question is simple enough. The boys and girls at the Times were rooting for McCain against his Republican opponents and didn’t want to hurt him then. Now, however, when jumping on him can only help his Democratic opponent, the gloves are off.
McCain’s folks better be prepared for more hit pieces, because their man is no longer the darling of the reporters he and they thought were swooning over him on the “Straight Talk Express.”
Keene is chairman of The American Conservative Union, whose website can be accessed here.
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Think Jason Blair. Then you know the whole story.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — February 21, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
Ah, zis gray lady, she's so fickle, no?
Comment by Igor R. — February 21, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
I think there has been more to the story and maybe you journalist need to come out and say it. First off The Drudge Report wayback had an article that hit McCain on the same thing and it was quashed and the NYT did want to bring it out sooner, but was told no and after much deliberations decided to wait (anyones real guess as to why). One thing it will do is cut into mccain's ability to discuss character because no one knows the actual truth but God and McCain and Ms. Isaman and maybe Mrs. McCain..time will tell…."God does not like ugly and is not too crazy about pretty"…t
Comment by Jim — February 22, 2008 @ 7:34 am
Probably as good a place as any to say that hopefully McCain has learned what we on the right side of the world have always know. If he believed for a minute that he might have the blessings of the Times as things go forward, he is delusional. They are pathetically bias in their take on life and the future of our country and near suicidal in their attempt at any cost to seize the presidency away from the GOP. Much more likely it way a setup than coincidence on the timing. Pretty amateurish I might add.
Comment by John B — February 22, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
It has been brought up by several people that the use of the word "disappointed" by McCain in reference to the NYT article is an inappropriate term. Am I "disappointed" that Obama wants to raise taxes and uses class rhetoric? Am I "disappointed" that Islamic terrorists want to kill anyone who disagrees with them? What's next, being disappointed that pigs don't fly?
NYT is an organ of the left in the same fashion that "Pravda" was the official organ of the Communist Party of the USSR. An extreme liberal may be "disappointed" in them if they don't bash conservatism enough, but otherwise, what do you expect?
Comment by Igor R. — February 22, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
I sure hope you do not embrace the 9/11/2001 tragedy that was inflicted on NYC because according to your own words Bin Laden did the real Americans like you a favor.
In your case it is obvious pigs don't fly they post hate filled rhetoric when it suits their purpose.
McCain is not a man of integrity and we did not need him to write a letter to an commissioner on a TV deal in Pittsburgh to know this.He is a senator that was one of the Keating 5.I can not for the life of me understand why the people of Arizona kept sending him back to DC after that.
He also completely undermined Bill Frist's senate leadership with his gang of 14.McCain is a weasel and we do not need the NY Times to know that.
There are still facts in that story that need to be investigated and in the end the straight up fact is McCain is no more immune from lobbyists than any other Senator.
Comment by Linda M — February 25, 2008 @ 11:25 am