NYT Public Editor: Hiring Kristol "A Mistake"

When we broke the news that Bill Kristol would be joining the editorial pages of the New York TImes as a regular contributor, we called it "a move bound to create controversy." After a mistake-laden first effort, now the New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt has delivered his verdict: "[NYT Publisher] Sulzberger and [editorial page editor] Rosenthal made a mistake." Hoyt's reasoning:

On Fox News Sunday on June 25, 2006, Kristol said, "I think the attorney general has an absolute obligation to consider prosecution" of The New York Times for publishing an article that revealed a classified government program to sift the international banking transactions of thousands of Americans in a search for terrorists.

Publication of the article was controversial -- my predecessor as public editor first supported it and then changed his mind -- but Kristol's leap to prosecution smacked of intimidation and disregard for both the First Amendment and the role of a free press in monitoring a government that has a long history of throwing the cloak of national security and classification over its activities. This is not a person I would have rewarded with a regular spot in front of arguably the most elite audience in the nation.

Read Hoyt's entire argument here.

Comments

[bushmocker]

I live in the chicago area and am able to receive at least four NPR stations.I have noticed that the NPR stations that serve predominantly Republican locales has drifted to a more right of center stance and even allows material that has proven to be rightwing propaganda to be broadcast on the public airwaves.This started when all the Republican hoopla about taking away their funding was getting MSM attention.I have to think we are losing more and more MSM time and the NYT hiring this putz is just a sign of the times.

[burneb]

Hiring a politically conservative columnist is no problem per se, and could be a virtue in providing varied opinions within the NY Times.

But Kristol has been so spectacularly wrong so consistently about major judgements that his columns can scarcely be called informed opinion.

It would be less expensive and more authentic to just take BushCorps press releases from White House flacks and print them as is. At least readers would know that no critical thinking or honest attempt at reality was intended.

[1rewd1]

Geez ... Bill Kristol sure is one awfully pink li'l feller

[Ohiomj]

I'm still dumbfounded that the NY Times would ever consider adding Kristol to its editorial staff. You might as well expect Fox News or the Washington Times to add Ralph Nader to their staff. Slowly but surely the NY Times is losing its aura of greatness. Just consider what terrible decisions it has made during Bush's term in office. Shame on The Times.

[pmorlan]

What do you know a REAL Public Editor unlike the one that masquerades as one at the Washington Post.

Clark Hoyt also told the Times that they short-changed Edwards on coverage. Considering that the NYT had no articles about Edwards in this past Sunday's paper I guess Mr. Hoyt opinion means about as much as that of the readers. NADA.

[Rosanneofpgh]

Ya think, fuckwad?? What are you gonna do about it???

[GrouchoMarxist]

A mistake? Ya think? Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious.

[bluescat47]

Kristol is a propagandist, a movement conservative and partisan ideologue, not a journalist. He (and his Weekly Standard) still claim, falsely needless to say, that Saddam and Al Qaeda were linked.
He is the cabin boy on the Bush Ship of State ("Oh Captain, My Captain", the pusillanimous writer who provides political cover for the big boys errors and transgressions. The smoke hasnt even cleared from Iraq and he is ready to attack Iran, he and the other wine & cheese conservatives. What a ridiculous hire by the NY Times.

[realpolitic]

The New York Times is not professional wrestling and should not just hire someone because he is "colorful." Base the decision on cogent analysis and clear writing skills. Kristol fails in regard to both these tests.

Also, consider integrity, which Kristol knows not.

[oneeyedodin]

Kristol is a slime who is ugly inside and outside.Coming & going.

He belongs ,with the rest of PNAC, in Gitmo. For the remainder of their vile lives.

[StillAmused]

Well, a contract's a contract... just transfer him to the loading dock.

[tjkenn]

Doesn't this guy have enough media outlets through which to present his ideas? Talk about media consolidation. I seriously doubt that Kristol will go on to a long and respected career as Hoyt says Safire did.

I am sick of hearing the neo-conservative, Friedman free market, privatization drivel. Time to turn off the spigot. Fire the idiot.

[realpolitic]

William Kristol is editor of The Weekly Standard. I wonder how many liberals and "alternative voices" they have in their editorial pages. My guess is very few or none at all.

[fourex]

Besides all his other faults, William Kristol has no writing talent. When will media owners stop legacy hiring?

[mattwin]

I think the NYT should heed his request and prepare for criminal defense charges and use Kristol's salary as the budget amount. After the lawyers are paid, then his salary will resume, if he continues to contribute during that time.