Michelle Malkin has the updates on the Air America story and the amusing response of the New York Times public editor when pressed on bias for the Times not covering the story. Apparently, he went and asked the editors if they were biased and they said no. Ergo: no bias. Here is what Byron Calome wrote

There's another reason to get to the bottom of the scandal. It's the perception problem — a perception of liberal bias for which I haven't found any evidence after checking with editors at the paper. (emphasis added)

Failing to cover the story until late last week has led numerous readers, especially those who seemed inspired by conservative bloggers, to write in saying that a liberal bias in the newsroom caused the paper to downplay the budding scandal. One reader put it this way: "If a conservative radio network had been started with money improperly 'borrowed' from a charity like a boys and girls club, it would be front page news for weeks in your paper. Once more, your left-wing bias is showing."

Of course, notice that he gives no answer to those numerous readers except his response that the checked with the editors and they told him that they weren't biased.

Why have a public editor if he can just ask the editors if they've made a mistake and they can tell him that they didn't and the story is then over? How laughable is his job now?