Stephen Moore, the president of the Club for Growth, said the commercial was not based on market research about Times readers. In fact, the original script had "NPR-listening" instead, he said, but he changed it to Times-reading to appeal to Iowans angered by a Times editorial suggesting the presidential campaign would improve if candidates skipped the Iowa's caucuses.

"We're trying to present an image of Northeast liberals," Mr. Moore said. But as a resident of Washington, doesn't he fit some of the stereotypes himself? What about sushi?

"I don't eat sushi," Mr. Moore said. "I don't drive a Volvo. I don't read The Times — except for the Political Points column, of course. I don't drink latte. I do have my navel pierced, though."

- posted by Jason @ 7:19 PM