Conservative Reactions to the NY Times McCain Piece

Even conservatives are coming to the aid of John McCain in light of the NY Times hit piece that published today. Rush Limbaugh, a frequent critic of McCain, is not that sympathetic to the Arizona senator. He says the story is not what's in the article, but the fact that McCain's "base", the media, has turned on him:

"John McCain now knows who his friends are, and who his enemies are. He had them reversed for a while. If he's not surprised by this, he's fine. But if he's surprised by it... Houston, we have a problem.

The media would never run this kind of story about Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. They never would have run it about Bill Clinton! If the media had done this story on Clinton, it would have been fawning! 'Look at that rascal, still has lead in his pencil, even after heart surgery!'"

The best way I can describe what the Times has done is compare it to an old camp trick - unwrapping a Baby Ruth candy bar and throwing it in the pool. It isn't what it appears to be, but it's enough to keep you out of the pool. The NY Times is hoping this thinly sourced hit job will be enough to tarnish McCain for the remainder of the campaign and keep conservatives and independents "out of the pool".