Nowhere in the article does it say that Nagourney actually interviewed Gore. It sounds like Nagourney was just in the room while others asked questions.
I think you left out the key passage with an ellipsis...
"Mr. Gore brimmed with disdain at the state of American politics and political journalism, urging his interviewer to quit a career of covering politics to turn to matters of real consequence."
The article does not say "I asked him" or an equivalent thereof anywhere.
That reading doesn't require too much strain, I agree.
There's a queer, arch tone to the piece that I put down to AdNag going for a Milbank funny - with a side-order of taking the piss out of Bumiller.
But - I'd say writing up some other journo's phone call, even if Gore was in on it, wouldn't be worth the candle.
Apart from the Jayson Blair angle (If the Lay-Z-Boy don't fit, you must acquit), the scope for leaks from disgruntled Gore staffers - I think there's a difference between scribing a piece based on other hacks' research and leaving a call with a VIP (no cracks, please!) to a junior to take.
But - these things need to be parsed, and that's a parsing within the bounds of credibility, I'd say.
I would hope that you could find a better word than "queer" especially since the subject matter is an openly gay journalist. I am trying not to be offended here, but it is difficult.
I have, actually, no interest in AdNag's extracurricular activities, so had no information thereon.
No sly allusion there, just a good old English meaning.
