Will Times report help McCain?
An Associated Press analysis article has an interesting take on how Sen. John McCain might benefit from a New York Times report suggesting an improper relationship between him and a female lobbyist:
In a twist, however, there were early signs that the brouhaha might actually help McCain solidify the GOP base.Conservative pundits who are some of McCain's harshest critics could have jumped on the issue to question the strength of McCain's family values. Instead, they went after the Times.
"There is nothing in it here that you can say is true," Rush Limbaugh told his radio listeners. He accused the newspaper of "trying to take him out." Another conservative voice, Laura Ingraham, contended the newspaper was trying to "contaminate" the GOP's nominee with an "absurd attack."
(Associated Press photo: Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife, Cindy, speaks at a news conference in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday to respond to allegations by the New York Times of impropriety with a female lobbyist.)
Comments
McCain has always been the liberal media's choice for the Republican nominee. They propped him up and now that he seems to be the nominee for president it's time for those same folks to tear him down. Conservatives's battle is with liberalism wherever it is. In the media, politics... even in the Republican party. This will not change any conservative minds about McCain. It only confirms how dishonest the liberal media is. Pay attention to how the media handles McCain and Obama from here on out. Contrast the treatment and the number of articles positive and negative for each candidate and remember originally this editorial board thought "The Ambulance Chaser" John Edwards was the best choice till he dropped out.
Posted by: Brian Murray | February 21, 2008 3:46 PM
It's funny how both the right-wingers and the media are focusing on the alleged affair with the lobbyist rather than the well-corroborated accounts of McCain intervening on behalf of the interests the lobbyist represented. Why must the press always focus on the titillating aspects of a story at the expense of the substance?
If the right-wingers manage to turn this into a positive, it will be because the media dropped the ball on this story, turning it into a self-flagellating examination of the alleged motives of the NY Times, rather than an examination of the integrity of a man who is trying to become our next President.
Posted by: Mike D. | February 21, 2008 3:50 PM
And once again the Gray Lady wins the contest for worst newspaper in the country. And that's sure saying something.
In this case John McCain's impeccable reputation pays the price because the NYT, which backed off this non-story in December because there was nothing to report, was afraid to be criticized in the upcoming Gabe Sherman story in the New Republic about continuing ineptitude in the Times newsroom, specifically regarding Bill Keller's handling of the innuendo about McCain. Why did Jayson Blair ever leave? He would have felt just as at home there now as ever.
Posted by: Tony Gastelum | February 21, 2008 3:55 PM
This is where all the mudslinging starts. What proof do they have that he had a fling with an intern? This is why I despise politics so much. The attacks will just escalate from here attacking the candidates, their families and children.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | February 21, 2008 8:49 PM