Jayson Blair Calls NY Times A "Snakepit"

Media Life ^ | May 21, 2003 | By Jeff Bercovici

[A_perfect_lady]

Conservatives here should get behind him as exposing the NYT for what it was.

I understand the sentiment, but NO WAY. It would be like blacks getting behind OJ because he stuck it to "the man" by slaughtering a white woman and a Jew. Count me out.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I fooled some of the most brilliant people in journalism," said Blair.

I thought he worked at the times?

[jagrmeister]

That's a false analogy and I suspect you know it. No one was hurt here. The primary upshot: people are more skeptical of the media, even of the most reputable brands in journalism. That is a very healthy development in democracy.

[MEG33]

Healthy to expose..but rewarding this liar is hardly my wish.He deserves no ones support.Raines should be fired.

[CyberAnt]

Jayson and the NYT deserve each other.

This has only done one thing for me - make me MORE suspicious of anything they write, regardless of the author.

[Savage Beast]

So what? He outsmarted them, whether from his cleverness or their stupidity. Obviously, they're not as "brilliant" as they would like to think. For whatever reason, these self-congratulatory "geniuses" of "the newspaper of record" were outsmarted by an "affirmative action hire", who saw through their hypocrisy and had nothing but contempt for them and everything they stand for.

[A_perfect_lady]

No one was hurt? If someone lied to you and influenced you by those lies, would you say you weren't hurt? You were manipulated, you may have come to conclusions and acted on those conclusions in ways that impact you later.

But even if you don't accept that, and this may just be my Baptist Grandmother who will never die in my head, but he lied. He lied. He's a liar. I don't want us to "get behind" a chronic liar just because he managed to screw over some liberals while he was at it. That rather goes against what appeals to me about conservativism: honor.

[A_perfect_lady]

No, he did not "outsmart" them. He lied and they looked the other way till someone called them on it. It doesn't take that much intelligence to take advantage of someone. Think of Eddie, Griswald's cousin on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

"Why, Clark, I couldn't let you buy the kids their Christmas gifts... but if you really insist, here's a list I made up..."

Shoot, any telemarketer can take advantage. Any smarmy used car dealer. Any lounge lizard. Come on.

[Savage Beast]

"He lied and they looked the other way"

They looked the other way. Maybe they were in denial. Maybe they were just plain dumb. They set themselves up for a fall. The entire American "newsmedia" establishment has set itself up for a fall.

[JLO]

I thought this was being investigated. Apparently, you're right - investigation was called off. Article says the Times is claiming First Amendment.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/76336.htm

[A_perfect_lady]

They looked the other way. Maybe they were in denial. Maybe they were just plain dumb. They set themselves up for a fall. The entire American "newsmedia" establishment has set itself up for a fall.

Yes, I agree. No argument there. I'm just saying let's not lionize him just because he helped liberals destroy themselves. As far as I'm concerned, he's one of them. When my enemies are busy destroying themselves, I don't jump in and adopt one of them out of... pity? Triumph? Some inability to remain in the background while they set themselves afire? Whatever. They are committing hari-kari and I feel compelled to do nothing beyond watch, point, laugh, and gloat.

[GOPJ]

bump

[GOPJ]

bump

[Savage Beast]

You're right. This guy certainly should not be lionized or even commended. I supposed I was a bit gleeful because of what you pointed out. These slobs all deserve one another.

[A_perfect_lady]

It's hard not to be gleeful about it. NYT self-destructs using affirmative action as the bullet. What's not to like? LOL!

[Savage Beast]

You're so right, P.L. It's like watching them drown in their own mendacity. LOL!