Virginia Heffernan wrote an article on December 24, 2007, entitled "The Ron Paul Vid-Lash", in a blog section of the official New York Times website: http://themedium.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/the-ron-paul-vid-lash/ Allegations made in the error-ridden article wholly relied on disreputable, unverified sources, yet were framed as truth. Other comments were clearly spiteful and vitrolic, certainly not worthy of an Op-Ed piece from a professional, respected publication. Moreover, the Paul campaign was never so much as contacted for a response or to confirm of verify the allegations. Though an editor has posted a retraction, the damage has been done for the millions of visitors to the website who might not revisit the page and notice the retraction. The New York Times, being a well-established publication with a huge influence of potential voters, has an implicit responsibility to its readers to exhaustively research the facts of any article, but especially one that makes this kind of unsubstantiated, libelous accusations towards a U.S. Presidential candidate in this critical period just days before the first primary elections. This is especially true at the current time, where a much larger number of voters polled indicate they are undecided than in the past. In order to demonstrate a commitment to preserving a reputation of credibility to those who depend on the New York Times to present unbiased, expertly-researched information for those who are currently undertaking the important process of evaluating Presidential candidates, we respectfully request that the New York Times terminate Virginia Heffernan\'s employment at this time.

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