The good folks at MSNBC's "Hardball" might be pointing fingers at presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama for playing the race card with his response to a new ad by the McCain campaign, but the editorial board of the New York Times ain't buyin' it!

Forgive the obvious pun, but color me -- amongst other things! -- unsurprised.

In a posting at the Times' blog "The Board" published moments ago, representatives of the Old Gray Lady predictably came to the junior senator's defense (emphasis added, h/t Hot Air):

The presumptive Republican nominee has embarked on a bare-knuckled barrage of negative advertising aimed at belittling Mr. Obama. The most recent ad compares the presumptive Democratic nominee for president to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton ...