Bingo. This is a tactic that will be used over and over again. Quote some online source, get the LMSM to pickup the story in the form of accusations by Reid or whatever leftist-pol, then later as the truth comes out blame the online source (in this case salon.com.) while maintaining it is the "seriousness of the charge."
It's call have your cake and eat it too.
Further evidence of what stupid mugs the Republicans in the "Gang of 14" are.
"Extraordinary circumstances" are very easy to come up with, if you want to. And the Rats want to. The Dim Bulb from Searchlight is just their rat-faced front man.