Owned by the “Reverend” Sun Myung Moon, the Times has played the role of Fox News Lite for years, spreading unsubstantiated rumors as if they were factual news.

The latest? Kevin Jennings, President Obama’s “safe schools czar”, is being accused of not reporting a reported incident of sex between a 15-year-old student and “an older man” years ago. The story goes that Jennings not only did not reported the repeated statutory rape, but reportedly encouraged continuance of the relationship and advised the boy to use condoms (a highly responsible thing to do). In Massachusetts, as elsewhere, teachers (the profession which Jennings had at the time), are required to report such to law enforcement.

The Times picked this item up from Fox News, which should have been a big red flag right there. An editorial from the Times declares

It’s getting hard to keep track of all of this president’s problematic appointments. Clearly, the process for vetting White House employees has broken down.

The real story? The boy was actually 16, which is age of consent for Massachusetts. The rest of the real story? Jennings is gay, which is, of course, likely to be the real reason.

Nice try, Mr. Beck. Try harder next time.

UPDATE: A very quiet retraction from Fox News, but a roaring silence from Hannity and the other fringe-y wingnuts.

UPDATE 2: Continue to manufacture facts, Mr. Hannity. Like a broken watch, you’re bound to be right twice a day, anyway.