Because they don't report the news, they try to shape it. Robert Novak reports that the NYT was shopping around for Republicans willing to help them harass Tom DeLay out of office -- and I doubt they were going to put a disclaimer on top.
On March 24, former Congressman Bob Livingston was sent an e-mail by a New York Times editorial page staffer suggesting he write an op-ed essay. Would Livingston, who in 1998 gave up certain elevation to be House speaker because of a sexual affair, write about how Majority Leader Tom DeLay should now act under fire? In a subsequent conversation, it was made clear the Times wanted the prominent Republican to say DeLay should step aside for the good of the party.
