Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for President, was the subject of a very poor New York Times piece today, suggesting that McCain had an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist.  The story is heavy on innuendo and “anonymous former aides”.  A sampling:

Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity.

It’s political smear designed to weaken the strength of John McCain’s candidacy for Barack Obama or Senator Clinton.  For McCain’s part, his campaign has vowed to “make war” on the NY Times for the piece.

“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.”

And rightly so.

Update: RedState’s Erick, though not a huge McCain fan, is calling it “a hit job”.  Captain’s Quarters refers to the story at the “Slimes at the Times“.