OBAMARAMA

In its Sunday retrospective on Sen. Obama’s election as president of the Harvard Law Review, the New York Times wrapped up a generally objective overview by quoting Ron Klain, “who preceded Mr. Obama at the law review and later served as Vice President Al Gore’s chief of staff.” Klain’s quote, which closed the article, was not favorable:

“The things that make law school politics fractious are different from the things that make American politics fractious,” said Ron Klain… “The interesting caveat,” he said, “is that [Obama’s] is a style of leadership more effective running a law review than running a country.”

You think Sen. Obama’s style of leadership is better suited to the law review? Fair enough. The Times wants to end a profile of Sen. Obama with a snarky dig at him? Okay, whatever.

But if that’s the case, it might be good to add — as Media Matters rightly points out — that Ron Klain is working for Sen. Joe Biden, who is challenging Sen. Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Hmm, yes, that might be good information for us to have.

Or better yet, don’t end your article with a quote from an unequivocal political opponent.

UPDATE: The paper has added an “Editor’s Note” today acknowledging that “Mr. Klain’s affiliation with the Biden campaign should have been disclosed in the article.”