Yesterday, Steve Schmidt's head exploded during a conference call in which he declared war on everyone from the New York Times to my own mother.
Schmidt said that the Obama campaign has been "abetted" by a compliant media that gives more scrutiny to the Republican than to the Democrat.
Then, naming the Times, he said: "There is no level of public vetting with Sen. Obama’s record, his background, his past statements. There’s no level of outrage directed at his deceitful ads. This is an organization that is completely, totally, 150 percent in tank for the Democratic candidate, which is their prerogative to be. But let’s not be dishonest and call it something other than what it is."
Today, the New York Times responds to McCain's hackneyed but playbook GOP tantrum:
Bill Keller, the newspaper's executive editor, said in a statement of response: "The New York Times is committed to covering the candidates fully, fairly and aggressively. It's our job to ask hard questions, fact-check their statements and their advertising, examine their programs, positions, biographies and advisors. Candidates and their campaign operatives are not always comfortable with that level of scrutiny, but it's what our readers expect and deserve."
This week, McCain will learn the perils of picking fights with those who buy ink by the barrel. Not the brightest move, as he's already given them decades worth of fodder, and he's about to receive the PWNED treatment from Obama on Friday.
Like Bill Keller said, readers "expect and deserve" the truth, not an onslaught of platitudes, lies and phrases plagiarized from the Democratic nominee. The growing consensus is that truth is a scarce commodity in the McCain campaign. Luckily, the Obama campaign has plenty of facts to spare them, which allows us to view McCain's campaign in its full dumbassedness:
Burton's list of Times articles probing Obama:
- In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice [New York Times, 1/28/07]
- So Far, Obama Can’t Take Black Vote For Granted [New York Times, 2/2/07]
- Obama Had Slaveowning Kin [New York Times, 3/3/07]
- Disinvitation by Obama Is Criticized [New York Times, 3/6/07]
- Obama, in Brief Investing Foray In '05, Took Same Path as Donors [New York Times, 3/7/07]
- Obama Says His Investments Presented No Conflicts of Interest [New York Times, 3/8/07]
- Charisma and a Search for Self In Obama's Hawaii Childhood [New York Times, 3/17/07]
- Clinton Camp Challenges Obama on Iraq. [New York Times, 3/22/07]
- After 2000 Loss, Obama Built Donor Network From Roots Up [New York Times, 4/3/07]
- A Candidate, His Minister and the Search for Faith [New York Times, 4/30/07]
- An Obama Patron and Friend Until an Indictment in Illinois [New York Times, 6/14/07]
- In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd. [New York Times, 7/30/07]
- In 2000, a Streetwise Veteran Schooled a Bold Young Obama. [New York Times, 9/9/07]
- Loyal Network Backs Obama After His Help. [New York Times, 10/1/07]
- Obama’s Account of New York Years Often Differs From What Others Say. [New York Times, 10/30/07]