I know I'm missing something important here

But the Guardian's article reads to the uniformed as if adopting a child from the U.S. is more or less equivalent to adopting one of those many sons of Adolf Hitler that reportedly were raised in the backblocks of Paraguay in the 1960s.
"David Miliband's supporters fear he is facing a smear campaign over unfounded rumours that he is planning to adopt a second child from America. In what they claim is part of a bid by those who do not want him to stand against Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership, a number of journalists have approached Miliband and his wife asking about 'plans' to extend their family."
The British have their peculiarities, indeed.