It would have been wrong for the NYT to make this sort of assertion about the basis of Senator Lieberman's opposition to a public pan, even though it make be accurate. However, it is equally wrong for it to assert, as it did, that Lieberman was opposed to plan with a state op-out because: "even that is too much government involvement for moderates like Senator Joseph I. Lieberman." The NYT can report what Lieberman says. It does not know the actual basis for his actions. The reason as given by politicians are often not the true reasons and it is wrong to tell readers that they are.
--Dean Baker
