In reacting to that New York Times piece Wednesday night:

“It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign,” said communications director Jill Hazelbaker, in a prepared statement sent about an hour after the Times posted their story online.

Sorry, Jill, but this is nothing new, and it has not been directed only at John McCain. The NYT does tend to reserve its attacks for conservatives, so perhaps McCain attempts to be seen as one are starting to pay off.