That is fair game in politics and has been ever since the beginning. If someone writes something that is unfair about you then you refute it. The only time that you can sue is that if someone has written something that is provably false and you can show that it was done with malicious intent. If you take those protections away then you radically chill free speech. This is serious stuff guys.
I believe the plaintiff also has to show that they have been damaged by the false statements.
But that’s the point. The “The NY Slimes” writes their screed with malicious intent. The same way Blather broke that BS story about Bush. Blather lied with malicious intent. Our founders intended for a truthful press, not what we have right now.