Who’s Sliming Who?

Here’s Politics NJ Quote of the Day (screen capture to the left):
"If he intended to smear Menendez, he missed his mark. It'll be a while before he can wash off the slime from his own hands." -- Star-Ledger editorial slamming GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson for saying that Sen. Bob Menendez would have preferred for terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to be alive. (06/09/06)

Here is the exact quote from the Stat-Ledger:
Statesmen worldwide yesterday commented on the death of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, expressing the hope that his campaign of violence and destruction had been lessened. Where others remembered the victims of Zarqawi, in New Jersey, Tom Wilson, the Republican state chairman, declared that if Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat, "had his way, Mr. Zarqawi would be alive and plotting the next attack on America." It's difficult to imagine what Wilson was thinking. If he intended to smear Menendez, he missed his mark. It'll be a while before he can wash off the slime from his own hands.

There’s a big difference between saying if Sen. Bob Menendez,“had his way, Zarqawi would be alive and plotting the next attack on America” as the Star-Ledger quotes Wilson versus Politics NJ’s misquote “Sen. Bob Menendez would have preferred for terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to be alive.”

It’s obvious what Wilson meant by his remark If Bob Menendez’ point of view had prevailed in both the House and the Senate, the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq would not have been authorized. Thus, Saddam Hussein would still be in power and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi most likely would still be alive and well in Iraq.

Apparently this obvious fact stuck a nerve with the Star-Ledger and Politics NJ has taken this as an opportunity to misquote and distort what Wilson actually said. Who’s sliming who?