THE "FAIR AND BALANCED" L.A. TIMES

COUNTY FAIR found that the LA Times political blog The Ticket made 3 false posts in McCain's favor and now the newspaper falsely suggests and equivalency between the many lies of the McCain campaign and the minor spin of the Obama campaign. Here's the gist of the story.

Shading -- or ignoring -- truth on the campaign trail

Political innocents may wonder why a candidate such as McCain, whose campaign is premised on 'straight talk' -- and to a lesser extent Obama -- have veered from the truth. Because it works.

By Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 14, 2008

For weeks, John McCain and his campaign have made claims contradicted by reality: Barack Obama favors sex education for kindergartners and insulted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; Palin sold her state plane on EBay and turned down federal money for the "bridge to nowhere."

Obama has argued that McCain doesn't understand voter concern about the foundering economy and -- attention, Michigan voters -- has refused to support loan guarantees for the auto industry.

If you count the lies and misinformation in the story, McCain leads Obama, 4 to 1. A better headline would be, "McCain forfeits 'Straight Talk' nickname."