Emergency diaper management caused me to miss the beginning of the McCain press conference dealing with the Times story. He said none of the story’s insinuations were true, that there was never an inappropriate or romantic relationship, and he never exerted influence on her behalf. Here’s the comments from the latter half or so:

“I think the American people will be very fair in their judgment… We all know presidential campaigns are very, very tough. I’m confident we will continue on the path to victory.”

“I’m so disapponted in a story based on anonymous sources and so forth… I have a 24 year record as a member of Congress. I’m confident my record will be reviewed. People who know me will talk about how fairly and objectively I’ve managed the Commerce Committee.”

“This is a very disappointing event, to pick up the paper this morning, or to hear about it last night, appearing after months of inquiries of the New York Times.”

McCain said he last saw the woman in queston “several months ago, ran into her at an event.”

On John Weaver’s meeting with the her that the article describes, McCain said, “I don’t know anything about it. And since it was in the New York Times, I don’t take it at face value… I never discussed it with John Weaver. As far as I know, there was no need for it, but you’ll have to discuss it with him.”

UPDATE: One of McCain’s media guys, Patrick Hynes, has a radio program up in New Hampshire. Hynes asked the New York Times reporter, Jim Rutenberg, to appear on his program. He declined, and indicated no one from the Times would be doing media interviews about this story.

Apparently what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander.