My best guess: the fellow-travelers at the Old Grey Lady of the Evening are afraid that the allegations of a cocaine saturated homosexual (some refer to it as "gay") union between the Democrat (who wants us to think he has the moral compass or the to be president) and a perfect stranger (who IIRC VOLUNTEERED to take a POLYGRAPH!) might make some think in less-than-swooning terms about their hero, Mister Obama.
So, to cut THAT story off at the kneecaps, they trot out this cowardly Dan Ratherish ambush, so McCain has to publically defend himself, and Mr. And Mrs. Sixpack forget about OBAMA'S COCAINE HOMOSEXUAL UNION w STRANGE MAN.
The Obama story has huge LEGS potential. For starters, look at Larry Craig, and how precipitously he was dropped like a wide-stanced, Idaho potato(e). And, the (alleged) casual nature of cocaine use suggests that there might be some (powder and free-base) "there" there.
So, my FRiends, let's not let the Obama-homosex-cocaine allegation drop, until we can get a thorough, impartial investigation.
Oh, please. Leave Rudy alone. His campaign is over now.