Following a less-than-flattering profile of John McCain‘s wife, Cindy McCain, in the New York Times, the McCain camp have put out a press release labelling the article as “gutter journalism”, writes The Nation. The release includes a Facebook message allegedly sent by NYT reporter to a 16-year-old schoolmate of McCain’s daughter, Bridget, asking for information and “advice” on the article.

Says The Nation: “OK, Cindy did come off as slightly vapid and, well, weird — especially the Princess Diana obsession.

“But the reaction from the Republican presidential candidate’s camp would make you think that Times reporters Jodi Kantor and David M. Halbfinger portrayed John McCain’s second wife as Evita.”

Read the full article here.