New York Times vs. Washington Post

Today, both have articles about Karl Rove's role in the firing of U.S. federal prosecutors. But the articles paint very different pictures.

The Post headline:

E-Mails Show Larger White House Role in Prosecutor Firings

The Post lede:

Political adviser Karl Rove and other high-ranking figures in the Bush White House played a greater role than previously understood in the firing of federal prosecutors almost three years ago, according to e-mails obtained by The Washington Post, in a scandal that led to mass Justice Department resignations and an ongoing criminal probe.

By contrast, the Times allows Rove to frame the story with its headline:

Rove Says His Role in Prosecutor Firings Was Small

The Times lede:

Karl Rove, addressing the dismissal of federal prosecutors in 2006 when he was a top adviser to President George W. Bush, said in a recent interview that he had sought status reports about vacancies in prosecutors' offices, pushed subordinates to find a job for a former deputy and monitored plans for dismissals as they evolved after Mr. Bush's re-election in 2004.

My guess is that Rove and his attorney liked the Times story better.