Richard Cohen (Washington Post) Gets Kid-Gloves Treatment in Harassment Case

Washingtonian ^ | June 1998 | Harry Jaffe

[an amused spectator]

Apparently, Cohen and his buddies have had this article expunged from the Web. But we remember here at Free Republic, don't we, Richie? ;-)

I believe that Harry Jaffe is working for Salon now. Cohen is still spewing his sexist, Democrat-loving, Republican-hating bile from his penthouse suite at the Post. Devon Spurgeon is a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, where they apparently don't allow the senior rutting goats to paw the younger female staff.

[AppyPappy]

I always figured Cohen for a "I can do it but you can't" liberal.

[bvw]

A less-then-apt but willing-anyway pupil of Mr. Clinton, eh?

[an amused spectator]

A companion piece to Blaming of the Shrew (Mega-Coulter bashing) .

Apparently, Richie Cohen and the Big He (who Cohen idolized during and after the impeachment wars) have a LOT in common.

;-)

[MadIvan]

Wasn't this the same blighter who said all sorts of unflattering things about Ann Coulter's looks?

Regards, Ivan

[an amused spectator]

You got it. Check my post #4 for the reason that this article got posted. ;-)

[an amused spectator]

Yeah. He likes his women to be doormats, apparently, and his "handlers" at the Post aim to please.

[an amused spectator]

for your amusement.

[an amused spectator]

Something's bugging Mr. Cohen

I'll bet that's it's this thing rightchere. Strong, independent women that Richie can't do "the Big He" on really bug him. :-)

[an amused spectator]

Richie's past rears its ugly head, even though his handlers tried to have it expunged from the Web. Someone that's mean would email this article to Ann Coulter, Andrew Sullivan and various others. I bet Richie would enjoy a copy, too. ;-)

lara informs us that:

www1.dailycamera.com/bdc/opinion_columnists/article/0,1713,BDC_2490_1315581,00.html

The above article posted cohen's address as cohenr@washpost.com

[an amused spectator]

From "Inside the Beltway", 4/30/98 By John McCaslin, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, She said, she said:

"I have nothing to say" is all Milton Coleman, deputy managing editor of The Washington Post, will say.

Other Posties, however, are speaking out to Inside the Beltway -- one writer at the newspaper's New York bureau, a woman, describing a "hostile work environment."

Here's what we know:

Washington Post scribe Richard Cohen, the highly regarded syndicated columnist who more than once has scolded President Clinton for lounging in the company of Monica Lewinsky, recently had his office moved from the 12th floor of the New York bureau to the 22nd floor. There, management apparently hoped, he wouldn't be bumping into 23-year-old Devon Spurgeon.

Miss Spurgeon, a bright special correspondent who attended the University of Chicago, has worked for The Post for almost two years. Like other women her age, she has a boyfriend, who lives here in Washington.

Recently, Miss Spurgeon filed a complaint with the management, charging that Mr. Cohen, on more than one occasion and within earshot of others, had made inappropriate sexual remarks to her.

The complaint made its way from Blaine Harden, the New York bureau chief, to higher-ups here at Post headquarters, who --unlike James Carville rushing to defend the president -- flew to New York and put Mr. Cohen on the elevator to thinner air.

Moving one of the paper's most popular columnists to the loftier floor, however, did little to soothe tensions in the bureau, we're told.

Miss Spurgeon, according to one Post writer, remains "terrified" about what transpired -- not just during the reported incidents, but in the weeks following.

"Apart from the fact that there was an acknowledgment [by management] that this is a hostile work environment, nothing has happened," says the writer, a woman who works on the same floor as Miss Spurgeon. "Obviously you can see the double standard."

The writer explains that some "women at the Post are outraged, because in [Miss Spurgeon's] situation everything was overheard. This is not a 'he said, she said' situation," she says.

Furthermore, unconfirmed word reached the New York bureau that Sally Quinn, wife of former Post editor Ben Bradlee, personally "made phone calls to top people at The Post" in behalf of Mr. Cohen.

"How do you defend yourself?" asks the woman, referring to the caliber of personalities Miss Spurgeon now finds herself up against.

Miss Spurgeon "has just been brutalized by this," the writer says.

We were unable to reach Miss Spurgeon, and Sally Quinn didn't return our phone calls.

One person who did call Inside the Beltway back was Mr. Cohen. We asked him if he didn't think that a columnist of his standing being moved by Post management 10 floors away from his old office might not give an impression that he is to blame.

"I have no comment about that," he replied. (One staffer in New York says Mr. Cohen isn't the least bit pleased with how the situation has been handled.)

"I said earlier it was a personality dispute," Mr. Cohen tells us. "It's been settled. There was nothing sexual, there was no sexual harassment. I will leave it at that."

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[ladyinred]

Also at issue: a conversation where Cohen said it's too bad Bill Clinton is the only one who can grope in his office and get away with it.

Disgusting comment.

Thanks for posting that link, I had just read that article and emailed the jerk! Wish I had read this first, I would have brought this up too!

[jpl]

This reminds me of when Carl Rowan was pushing to disarm Americans, while owning a personal firearm the whole entire time. These ultra-liberal media types are some of the biggest hypocrits on the face of the earth.

[kennyo]

I may be wrong,but isn't moving someone to a higher floor a sort of promotion?(Better view,more prestigious)etc.)

[LarryLied]

Same old double standard. No wonder sickos become Democrats. The liberal establishment gives them a pass on everything.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My, my...very interesting.

[aristeides]

Today's the day when Cohen attacked Ann Coulter's book Scandal. You can find the thread by searching for the column title "Blaming of the Shrew".

[Eternal_Bear]

He always struck me as a scumbag. I was right.

[Oschisms]

I bet Richie would enjoy a copy, too. ;-)

Think his wife would, as well?