Blood from a stone [Jonn]

Normally, I wouldn’t agree with someone seeking a litigious solution, but in this case it seems appropriate. Vicki Iseman has decided she’ll sue the New York Times for $27 million because they ran the absolutely false and baseless story that she had an affair with John McCain;

“That The New York Times would make such aggressive and sensational allegations and insinuations in the face of on-the-record denials by Ms. Iseman and Senator McCain only reinforced the message to readers that The New York Times in fact believed that Ms. Iseman and Senator McCain had indeed engaged in an `inappropriate relationship,’ a relationship that was romantic, unethical, and a conflict of interest,” the lawsuit says. “Otherwise, reasonable readers would conclude, The New York Times would never have printed the story at all.”

The Times maintained its defense of the story in a statement Tuesday.

“We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail,” the statement said. “As we said at the time, it was an important piece that raised questions about a presidential contender and the perception that he had been engaged in conflicts of interest.”

It “raised questions” – that’s all the New York Times wanted to do. Not present facts to the public, like a free press is supposed to do. Just “raise questions”. Well, this lawsuit can “raise questions” about the quality of reporting that’s coming out of the New York Times. $27 million might just put the cash-strapped fish wrap out of business anyway.

Category: Politics