WS Journal v. "Jersey Girls" (Rabinowitz accidently sends out email criticizing 9-11 widow)

NY Daily News ^ | 13 May 2004 | Lloyd Grove

[churchillbuff]

Wall Street Journal pundit Dorothy Rabinowitz - who last month penned an acid assault on the "Jersey Girls," four 9/11 widows who've dared to criticize the Bush administration - received some payback yesterday at the hands of "Jersey Girl" Kristin Breitweiser.

The 33-year-old widow of portfolio manager Ron Breitweiser, who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, gleefully shared with the Daily News Rabinowitz's intemperate and insulting response to Breitweiser's recent op-ed submission to the Journal enumerating "systemic" problems with government efforts to meet the terrorist threat.

In a message meant for Journal deputy editorial page editor Tunku Varadarajan, but was instead accidently E-mailed to Breitweiser on Tuesday, Rabinowitz wrote: "total and complete - not to mention repetitive - nonsense from people given endless media access to repeat the very same stupid charges, suspicions, and the rest...

"but this is just an opportunity for these absurd products of the zeitgeist - women clearly in the grip of the delusion that they know something, have some policy, and wisdom not given to the rest of us to know - to grab the spotlight. again. and repeat, again, the same tripe before a national audience.

"My thoughts - we don't publish nonsensical contentions that offer no news, no insight - solely on the grounds that those who feel attacked get a chance to defend their views. For that we have the letters column."

Shortly after getting that E-mail, Breitweiser received another one: "Rabinowitz, Dorothy would like to recall the message, '9/11 Widows' Response - the 'jersey girls.' "

Yesterday Breitweiser told me: "Frankly, I think it's shocking and atrocious. What kind of operation are they running over at The Wall Street Journal?"

Rabinowitz explained (this time via a deliberately sent E-mail): "The note was intended for internal consumption, and not for the recipient - all the result of hitting the wrong computer key."

Varadarajan, by the way, did Rabinowitz's bidding, advising Breitweiser to submit her essay to the letters editor.

[dirtboy]

"Frankly, I think it's shocking and atrocious. What kind of operation are they running over at The Wall Street Journal?"

One based on facts instead of emotions?

[eyespysomething]

"My thoughts - we don't publish nonsensical contentions that offer no news, no insight - solely on the grounds that those who feel attacked get a chance to defend their views. For that we have the letters column."

And someone has a problem with that?

[My2Cents]

"Meow!"

[Jim Noble]

Yesterday Breitweiser told me: "Frankly, I think it's shocking and atrocious..."

Why shocking? Why atrocious?

That someone speaks the truth is now shocking and atrocious?

[secret garden]

I would hardly call that payback. Dorothy can take care of herself, quite ably.

[My2Cents]

Yesterday Breitweiser told me: "Frankly, I think it's shocking and atrocious. What kind of operation are they running over at The Wall Street Journal?"

Earth to Kristin Breitweiser: "Who cares what you think?!"

[Sloth]

It's about time somebody asked why it's somehow "news" every time one of theses terror-whores opens her mouth.

[OldFriend]

Dorothy, you have only said what many many of us think. So thanks for the 'error'.

[Redcloak]

You should always think twice before you click

[Redcloak]

send.

[CzarNicky]

I am so sick of the Jersey Girls they deserve to be slapped.

[EllaMinnow]

I was going to ping you, but I see you've already found this.

[L.N. Smithee]

In a message meant for Journal deputy editorial page editor Tunku Varadarajan, but was instead accidently E-mailed to Breitweiser on Tuesday, Rabinowitz wrote: "total and complete - not to mention repetitive - nonsense from people given endless media access to repeat the very same stupid charges, suspicions, and the rest...

"but this is just an opportunity for these absurd products of the zeitgeist - women clearly in the grip of the delusion that they know something, have some policy, and wisdom not given to the rest of us to know - to grab the spotlight. again. and repeat, again, the same tripe before a national audience.

"My thoughts - we don't publish nonsensical contentions that offer no news, no insight - solely on the grounds that those who feel attacked get a chance to defend their views. For that we have the letters column."

There isn't a maddog thing inaccurate or cruel -- much less "shocking and atrocious" -- about what Rabinowitz wrote. It is noteworthy that she had the good sense not to offer a half-fast "apology" for simply reiterating what she wrote in her excellent deconstruction of Not-so-Bright-None-the-Wiser and the other spotlight-soaking starlets, who have been granted more than their fifteen minutes of infamy because they take every opportunity to bludgeon Bush in an election year.

[JLS]

All I can say is great for Rabinowitz. I am glad her opinion in this case saw the light of day. She is right and there is nothing insulting about pointing out that these publicity hogs who think they somehow own status because the US was attacked, are the blowhards they are.

I am not an historian, but I do not remember the 7-12-41 widows making such fools of themselves? Were these egotists from today the widows of 1941, I guess they would be taking FDR to task for prosecuting the War in Europe first and the War in the Pacific second? Probably not it is about leftism and since FDR was on the side of Stalin the 9-11 socialist widows would have likely given FDR a pass. I am sick of these women.

[Sam's Army]

I've known some that will do this on purpose as a way to convey a message but make it look as a mistake...

[BibChr]

I fail to see the problem with Rabinowitz' letter except that it's accurate, and might hurt their feelings.

Sick culture, that values victimhood over accomplishment and excellence.

Dan

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"It's about time somebody asked why it's somehow "news" every time one of theses terror-whores opens her mouth."

LOL I like the way you think!

[CaptainK]

Consistent with what was contained in Rabinowitz's original article. The Daily News just trying to drum up a news story when none exists.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Actually, Dorothy Rabinowitz is right on the button in her analysis.