The New York Times announced today that it might mention Ron Paul in a story sometime before the end of 2007. Supporters of the candidate engaged in a blizzard of blogs, e-mails, and YouTube videos so intense that the internet collapsed from all the activity.
The Times has not mentioned Paul in an article since 1997 about his work as a Republican in Congress, and a 1988 article when he ran for President as a Libertarian. The Ron Paul campaign and supporters have often complained about being ignored by the mainstream media, with the Times as a particular target. An earlier report that the Times endorsed Ron Paul turns out to have been a spoof.
Janet L. Robinson, president of the New York Times Company, was overheard at a dinner saying that she found "this Ron Paul character" interesting and that she was going to discuss an article on him with Chairman Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. Bloggers got wind of the story and rumor lit up the web, causing so much traffic that several key nodes had to be shut down to prevent overheating. Cisco Systems chief engineer Scottie said that they were working on a solution using transparent aluminum.
Robinson would not comment on the story, but some sources have indicated she was referring to entertainer Ru Paul, who has a new film coming out.
