The elaborate twin stories in The Washington Post and New York Times which suggested Sen. John McCain is guilty of favoring — and romancing — Vicki Iseman, an attractive female lobbyist, way back in the year 2000 have rankled dozens of analysts. Some support the Arizona Republican, some don't. Collectively, they were annoyed by the tag team timing of the stories, their use of unnamed sources and because they were based on an event which happened eight years ago.

The critics smelled a rat, and were particularly irked by the New York Times' accusations that lawmaker was sweet on lobbyist.

"The story is not the story. The story is the drive-by media turning on its favorite maverick and trying to take him out. The media picked the GOP's candidate, the New York TImes endorsed him while they sat on this story, and is now, with utter predictability, trying to destroy him," said talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.

Media Research Center president Brent Bozell Rush Limbaugh called the Times story a "patently politically motivated, hit job. A 10-year old piece of gossip." Human Events editor Jed Babbin said, "The New York Times is not in the news business. They're political activists posing as news people."

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, meanwhile, said the unfolding McCain situation was "eerily similar" to the Monica Lewinsky matter of a decade ago. In January, 1998, rumor-fueled news coverage revealed that former President Bill Clinton had dallied with a White House intern — sparking stringent White House defense work, a story within itself.

-- Jennifer Harper, reporter, The Washington Times