A statement from the McCain campaign (h/t TPM):

"It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election.

"Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career."

Fierce pushback, playing the "gutter politics" card as well as the unspoken "lib'rul media" card; it is The New York Times, after all. If anything can unite conservatives behind McCain...

Update [2008-2-20 21:45:15 by Jonathan Singer]:"He has never violated the public trust." Really? Really?

There's more...