Schmidt Blisters New York Times; Calls It "Pro-Obama Advocacy Organization"

Ostensibly, the conference call was convened to explain their new ad about Barack Obama's ties to Chicago machine politics. But when a reporter referenced a New York Times story this morning, McCain strategist Steve Schmidt could not help himself:

"We are first amendment absolutists on this campaign," he said. "Of course, it is constitutionally protected with regard to writing whatever they want to write. Let's be clear and be honest with each other. Whatever the New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization.

"It is a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day, attacks the McCain campaign, attacks Gov. Palin and excuses Sen. Obama."

"There is no level of public vetting. There is no level of outrage ... let's not be dishonest and call it something other than what it is. Everything that is in the New York Times that attacks this campaign should be evaluated from that perspective."

Schmidt's particular bill of complaints included the lack of scrutiny directed at Sen. Joe Biden's son Hunter, a lobbyist.  The Times has covered the story, twice.