Jon – I agree with all of your points and there are so many more one could make about the party of Pelosi, Kennedy et al.
But good Lord this is just one of the dumbest “gotchas” in modern memory. I can only assume the adults at TPM regret running this in the first place. They probably got seduced by an exclusive “story” and ran with it before thinking it through. That it hasn’t been picked up outside the more feverish leftwing blogs — so far — is a sign that TPM stepped in it. At least I hope that’s the case. Regardless, I think it reveals a certain level of desperation and panic on the left side of the aisle.