McCain aide: NYT not legit news source

Steve Schmidt, a McCain campaign senior adviser, declared on a conference call with reporters Monday that The New York Times is "not ... a journalistic organization.”

His lengthy broadside, prompted by an article Monday documenting ties between the campaign and lobbying for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was the latest in a series of grievances with the Gray Lady that that aides to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have aired publicly.


“Whatever The New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization,” Schmidt said. “It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day impugns the McCain campaign, attacks Sen. McCain, attacks Gov. [Sarah] Palin. It excuse Sen. Obama. …

“Everything that is read in The New York Times that attacks this campaign should be evaluated by the American people from that perspective — that it is an organization that has made a decision to cast aside its journalistic integrity and tradition, to advocate for the defeat of one candidate — in this case, John McCain — and to advocate for the election of the other candidate, Barack Obama.”

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."

Bill Burton, the Obama campaign's national press secretary, called Schmidt's accusation laughable, and said the Times had published more than 40 "probing stories ... over the course of the campaign about Barack Obama, his life, his religion, his childhood, his politics, his time in the state Senate, his time in the U.S. Senate, his family, his religion, his friends, his fundraising and all other manner of associations."

Burton attached a list of 42 citations, pasted below.

On Monday, the paper published an article on page A18 tying a McCain campaign manager, Rick Davis, to lobbying group set up by troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

When CNN’s Dana Bash asked about the article, Schmidt unloaded.

“Let me first say: We are First Amendment absolutists on this campaign,” Schmidt said. “The press, and anybody who wishes to cover this race from the blogosphere perspective or from a media perspective, … of course is constitutionally protected with regard to writing … whatever they want to write. But let’s be clear and be honest with each other about something fundamental to this race.”

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.”

Burton's list of Times articles probing Obama:

1. In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice [New York Times, 1/28/07]

2. So Far, Obama Can’t Take Black Vote For Granted [New York Times, 2/2/07]

3. Obama Had Slaveowning Kin [New York Times, 3/3/07]

4. Disinvitation by Obama Is Criticized [New York Times, 3/6/07]

5. Obama, in Brief Investing Foray In '05, Took Same Path as Donors [New York Times, 3/7/07]

6. Obama Says His Investments Presented No Conflicts of Interest [New York Times, 3/8/07]

7. Charisma and a Search for Self In Obama's Hawaii Childhood [New York Times, 3/17/07]

8. Clinton Camp Challenges Obama on Iraq. [New York Times, 3/22/07]

9. After 2000 Loss, Obama Built Donor Network From Roots Up [New York Times, 4/3/07]

10. A Candidate, His Minister and the Search for Faith [New York Times, 4/30/07]

11. An Obama Patron and Friend Until an Indictment in Illinois [New York Times, 6/14/07]

12. In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd. [New York Times, 7/30/07]

13. In 2000, a Streetwise Veteran Schooled a Bold Young Obama. [New York Times, 9/9/07]

14. Loyal Network Backs Obama After His Help. [New York Times, 10/1/07]

15. Obama’s Account of New York Years Often Differs From What Others Say. [New York Times, 10/30/07]

16. It’s Not Just ‘Ayes’ and ‘Nays’: Obama’s Votes in Illinois Echo. [New York Times, 12/20/07]

17. Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate [New York Times, 2/3/08]

18. Daschle Uses Senate Ties To Blaze Path for Obama [New York Times, 2/5/08]

19. Old Friends Say Drugs Played Bit Part in Obama’s Young Life [New York Times, 2/9/08]

20. Seeking Unity, Obama Feels Pull of Racial Divide [New York Times, 2/12/08]

21. Obama Walks a Difficult Path as He Courts Jewish Voters [New York Times, 3/1/08]

Obama in Senate: Star Power, Minor Role [New York Times, 3/9/08]

22. A Free-Spirited Wanderer Who Set Obama’s Path [New York Times, 3/14/08]

23.cPastor Defends His Predecessor at Obama’s Chicago Church [New York Times, 3/17/08]

24. Obama’s Narrator [New York Times, 4/1/07]

25. Wright Remains a Concern for Some Democrats [New York Times, 5/1/08]

26. A Strained Wright-Obama Bond Finally Snaps [New York Times, 5/1/08]

27. A Pulpit-and-Pews Gulf on Obama’s Ex-Pastor [New York Times, 5/2/08]

28. A Fiery Theology Under Fire [New York Times, 5/4/08]

29. Obama Secret Service Agent Tied To Sex Joke [New York Times, 5/15/08]

30. The Story of Obama, Written by Obama [New York Times, 5/18/08]

31. Following Months of Criticism, Obama Quits His Church [New York Times, 6/1/08]

32. Many Blacks Find Joy in Unexpected Breakthrough [New York Times, 6/5/08]

33. Where Whites Draw The Line [New York Times, 6/8/08]

34. Obama’s Organizing Years, Guiding Others and Finding Himself [New York Times, 7/7/08]

35. As a Professor, Obama Enthralled Students and Puzzled Faculty [New York Times, 7/30/08]

36. Delicate Obama Path on Class and Race Preferences [New York Times, 8/3/08]

37. Big Donors, Too, Have Seats at Obama Fundraising Table [New York Times, 8/6/08]

38. Is Obama the End of Black Politics? [New York Times, 8/10/08]

39. Obama’s 2003 Stand on Abortion Draws New Criticism in 2008 [New York Times, 8/20/08]

40. Obama Aides Defend Bank’s Pay to Biden Son [New York Times, 8/25/08]

41. Once a Convention Outsider, Obama Navigated a Path to the Marquee [New York Times, 8/27/08]

42. Obama Looks to Lessons From Chicago in His National Education Plan [New York Times, 9/10/08]