New Republic Editor Apologizes for Remarks.

Associated Press ^ | Oct 17, 8:30 AM (ET) | Associated Press

[.cnI redruM]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior editor of the New Republic magazine is apologizing for saying in his column that the producers of the hit movie "Kill Bill" are "Jewish executives" who "worship money above all else."

In an apology posted late Thursday on the New Republic's Web site the editor, Gregg Easterbrook, said he was guilty of "mangling words" in the article which appeared Monday on the Web.

Easterbrook attacked "Kill Bill" and its writer/director Quentin Tarantino for glorifying violence and criticized Miramax, which released the film, and its parent company, Disney, for "wallowing in gore" for profit.

Michael Eisner, the chief of Disney, is Jewish, as is Harvey Weinstein, who heads Miramax.

Easterbrook said he is prepared to defend the thoughts of his essay, but he regrets the way he expressed himself.

In accusing a Jewish person of worshipping money, Easterbrook said, "you invoke a thousand years of stereotypes about that which Jews have specific historical reasons to fear."

"What I wrote here was simply wrong, and for being wrong, I apologize," he said.

[.cnI redruM]

Easterbrook actually does try and be an honest voice with decent intentions. He is probably legitimately sorry if he offered offence.

This incident is merely an example of the casual, offhand, country club racism of the liberal elite. It shows how the entire intellectual left is steeped in a philosophy of bigotry, elitism and contempt. It's a short drive down Arrogant Street from intellectual elitism to totalitarian facism.

This demonstrates why even reasonably decent leftists such as Easterbrook believe in an amoral philosophy and should never be elected to positions where they make important decisions.

[Savage Beast]

"Easterbrook said he is prepared to defend the thoughts of his essay, but he regrets the way he expressed himself."

So...exactly what was he trying to say???

[Tax-chick]

Very much what I was thinking. How amazing that people actually think this way. He's not saying he doesn't believe what he wrote, only that he should have been more careful than to put it in print.

Unfortunately, it also distracts from legitimate criticism of what these people are doing with their movies. They are extremely evil and destructive, but it has nothing to do with their being Jewish. In fact, it probably isn't particularly related to money, either, because decent movies are much more profitable. They simply have incredibly corrupt hearts and a desire to spread corruption in society.

[eureka!]

Funny how the Clymers at the AP don't mention political bent of New Republic. Not....

[Savage Beast]

"the entire intellectual left is steeped in a philosophy of bigotry, elitism and contempt. It's a short drive down Arrogant Street from intellectual elitism to totalitarian facism."

Contemporary "Liberalism" has nothing to do with liberalism. The "Left" hates liberalism, freedom, free-speech, the United States, capitalism, and Western Civilization. "Liberals" would love the taliban if they could make the rules.

[gramho12]

Where's the outrage, where are the headlines, where is the Newsweek front page picture, where is the 24-hour non-stop coverage?

Oh, is this a liberal writer? Now I get it...

[TheBigB]

If I were the kind of person to do so, I would email the editors of ESPN online's PAGE 2; which is where Gregg has his "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" column and ask them what kind of action they will take against Gregg for anti-semitic remarks, especially since so many of their columnists crucified Rush Limbaugh.

I might even provide a link to the place where you can send emails, like this: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/feedback.html

If I were that kind of guy...

[Thud]

Hamg 'im.

[elbucko]

It's a short drive down Arrogant Street from intellectual elitism to totalitarian facism.

Yes it is. Hang a left at economic uncertainty and keep going to social depravity. Its a dark ally, just turn right and keep going until the end, which is tyranny.

[elbucko]

They simply have incredibly corrupt hearts and a desire to spread corruption in society.

I think it's worse than that. I think they do it because they think it's "cool".

[11th Earl of Mar]

Easterbrook attacked "Kill Bill" and its writer/director Quentin Tarantino

"Quentin Tarantino"?

Must have been the Jewish sur-name that gave it away...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for the link. Here's the message I sent to ESPN:

"When Rush Limbaugh makes comments that might have been wrong but were critical of the media rather than of African-Americans, ESPN gives him the bum's rush, no pun intended.

"Now Gregg Easterbrook makes comments that are blatantly anti-Semitic, regurgitating the worst, oldest stereotype.

"It will be interesting to see if ESPN reacts with similar outrage."

[af_vet_1981]

The original:

Set aside what it says about Hollywood that today even Disney thinks what the public needs is ever-more-graphic depictions of killing the innocent as cool amusement. Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, is Jewish; the chief of Miramax, Harvey Weinstein, is Jewish. Yes, there are plenty of Christian and other Hollywood executives who worship money above all else, promoting for profit the adulation of violence. Does that make it right for Jewish executives to worship money above all else, by promoting for profit the adulation of violence? Recent European history alone ought to cause Jewish executives to experience second thoughts about glorifying the killing of the helpless as a fun lifestyle choice. But history is hardly the only concern. Films made in Hollywood are now shown all over the world, to audiences that may not understand the dialogue or even look at the subtitles, but can't possibly miss the message--now Disney's message--that hearing the screams of the innocent is a really fun way to express yourself.

My proposed changes:

Set aside what it says about Hollywood that today even Disney thinks what the public needs is ever-more-graphic depictions of killing the innocent as cool amusement. Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, the chief of Miramax, Harvey Weinstein, and plenty other Hollywood executives are irresponsible and immoral in promoting for profit the adulation of violence. Does that make it right for executives to worship money above all else, by promoting for profit the adulation of violence? Recent history alone ought to cause executives who have a moral conscience to experience second thoughts about glorifying the killing of the helpless as a fun lifestyle choice. But history is hardly the only concern. Films made in Hollywood are now shown all over the world, to audiences that may not understand the dialogue or even look at the subtitles, but can't possibly miss the message--now Disney's message--that hearing the screams of the innocent is a really fun way to express yourself.

[chiller]

Thank you for making a point I believe to be true. Conservatives are the true the "liberals" in this society.
We've got our labels backwards.

[.cnI redruM]

I've wondered that myself. G-Rated movies with likeable animated characters rake in fortunes. The Lion King made many people millionaires.

A movie like 'Natural Born Killers' or 'Kill Bill' comes from the heart.

[Diago]

This was reported elsewhere:

Mr. Easterbrook said he wrote a column last week about Mel Gibson's coming film "Passion," and added: "I raised the issue that Mel Gibson professes to be an ardent Christian. Maybe he is. But his background previous to this movie is making movies that glorify violence."

"I raised the exact same question about a Christian," Mr. Easterbrook said, and "there was not a single peep."

[.cnI redruM]

OK, so he robbed a store twice, got away with it the first time, then returned to rob it again. Does the fact that he successfully got away with the first larceny serve as a valid defense for the second?

[MosesKnows]

In accusing a Jewish person of worshipping money, Easterbrook said, "you invoke a thousand years of stereotypes about that which Jews have specific historical reasons to fear."

What could cause a thousand years of stereotypes other than a thousand years of behavior?

[.cnI redruM]

That sounds like the perfect comeback to use against someone who criticizes liberals for calling conservatives nazis. Stereotypes are more often the result of a toxic mixture of envy and lazy thinking.

When the LA Times writes about a conservative, they not only type, but they stereotype. We deserve their vituperation no more than Jewish people deserve the Chappaquiddick Swim Team elitism of Gregg Easterbrook.

[saradippity]

What could cause a thousand years of stereotypes other than a thousand years of behavior?

Now that is the real question. Many Jews are tainted because many others refuse to speculate on the answer to that question. Could it be that many who say they are Jews,are not?