 You know that's no accident. The Times went to Clooney. It's actually more than twice if you include the columnists like Kristoff and others, but you're right. I'm talking about straight editorial stuff, not columnists. So, the New York Times solicited this piece from Clooney. Clooney, of course, picked up the phone to talk to his best friend, Barack Obama, who headlined the Clooney fundraiser in June. Barack Obama.