Posted on 02/21/2008 9:55:29 AM PST by montag813
Commentary: Insufficient sourcing weakens paper's argument
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - The New York Times' front-page story on John McCain on Thursday was an example of shoddy journalism.
The piece raised the possibility that McCain had had a fling with a lobbyist 31 years his junior. It offered no legitimate basis, other than the whispers of unnamed sources - the most questionable form of reporting in a democratic society.
McCain said in a televised press conference Thursday morning from Ohio that the story was "not true" and added that he was "very disappointed" in the Times. McCain was no doubt worried that the speculation would hurt his chances of rallying evangelicals and other conservative Republican voters who have been cool or downright hostile to his campaign so far.
The Times' story is weakened by insufficient sourcing since it is based on anonymous sources. Because the paper didn't name them, it opens the possibility that a former McCain aide is using the Times to get revenge on the presumptive Republican candidate or help one of his political enemies.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
The New Joke Times is very assiduously attempting to remove the last remaining vestige of credibility that they lost 15 years ago.
Any odds on how soon McCain will be on Hannity and Colmes in the coming days?
If John learns the lesson not to lie down with leftist dogs, he might still actually come around and defeat Obama. If he doesn’t, he will go down in flames like Dole. The NYSlimes is an evil agenda driven media outlet but nobody should be surprised. Especially John.
Maybe, but it's not timed properly to do that IMHO. The weekend before the election hit on Dubya with his DUI in 2000 would be the correct timing. But I guess New Republic was about to out the Slimes for holding the story.
“... they were afraid another outlet had a McCain hit piece ready to go.”
Supposedly, the New Republic magazine was going to come out with a story about the NYT sitting on the McCain rumor. So, the New Republic was going to have to repeat the rumor to tell the story and, therefore the NYT decided to jump first.
I really wonder why the NYT would run such an obvious crap story. It was debunked before the paper hit the stands, and even the RATS (with the usual exception of the retard olberman) were running from it. I really suspect some kind of trick, or else the NYT people are even stupider than I thought, and that would be hard to do.
McCain has been avoiding shows like Hannity and cuddling up to the NYT. One thing the conservative talk shows would not do is something like this, Senator. We conservatives either like you or not; we don’t fake it and stab you in the back.
And now that the NYT has attacked, he needs some old friends.
It’s not about the facts, it’s about the news cycle. Silly.
While the NYT straineth at a gnat in McCain’s eye, they swallowed the camel in Bill Clinton’s oval office in one bite.
He’s still a Republican as far as they are concerned and thus is on their enemies’ list. I thought they might wait a little longer to launch a Dan Rather type attack on him. They will likely look for other rumors to blow out of proportion as supermarket tabloids typically to about other types of celebrities.
The “Gray Lady” is senile and really should be moved to a place where someone can take care of her.
Remember the TANG!!!!
Lucy Ramirez at it again a la Rather?
I think they may think they are helping Huckabee (they aren't), who is their dream GOP candidate: a caricature of how they see Republicans.
-Eric
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