The New York Times' story that Sen. John McCain allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist for whom he did official favors has set off a firestorm of denials and criticism.
With his wife at his side, McCain flatly denied that he was literally or figuratively in bed with Vicki Iseman:
At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interest or would favor anyone or organization.
Iseman also denies the story. The president of Iseman’s lobbying firm, Kevin Fay, released a statement:
Alcalde & Fay's relationship with Senator McCain has been professional, appropriate and consistent with his legislative, jurisdictional and constituent duties. The story is based upon the fantasies of a disgruntled former campaign employee and is without foundation or merit. Ms. Iseman is a hard working professional whose 18 year career has been exemplary and she has our full support. It is beneath the dignity of a quality newspaper to participate in such a campaign of character assassination.
Jill Abramson is managing editor of that "quality newspaper." She is in the center of accusations that the Times is practicing tabloid journalism and publishing gossip that's not fit to print.
Three years ago, I attended an invitation-only conference on Blogging, Journalism & Credibility organized by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. The participants included Abramson.
Her voice fairly dripping with contempt, Abramson scoffed at the notion that bloggers are journalists. Her attitude was captured in an Associated Press story:
The managing editor of The New York Times threw down the gauntlet as she stared across a big O-shaped table at the prophets of blogging.
Did they have any idea, asked Jill Abramson, what it cost her newspaper to maintain its Baghdad bureau last year?
The unspoken subtext was clear: How can you possibly believe you can toss a laptop into a backpack, head for Iraq's Sunni Triangle and pretend to even come close to telling it like it is?
For that you need a bulwark of experience, credibility, and financial, medical, legal and logistical support. Not to mention a staff of savvy locals. And that cost Abramson's paper a million dollars last year, she said.
The McCain story is the latest in a series of journalism controversies, including Jayson Blair and Judith Miller, which call into question whether the ‘Gray Lady’ still has what it takes to even come close to telling it like it is.