Ben Stein Loses New York Times Column

Ben Stein has lost his Sunday New York Times column over his appearance in commercials for FreeScore.com, a company Reuters' Felix Salmon described as "a sleazy company which exists only to extract large sums of money from those who can least afford it." The company offers customers a free credit score but charges them substantially to actually review their credit report.

NYT spokesperson Catherine Mathis released the following statement to Gawker:

Ben Stein's fine work for us as a columnist for Sunday Business had to end, we told him, after we learned that he had become a commercial spokesman for FreeScore, a financial services company

Last month, Salmon advocated for Stein's firing from the New York Times on the basis of his endorsement of FreeScore.com:

The level to which Stein has now sunk is more than enough reason -- as if the case for the prosecution weren't damning enough already -- for the NYT to cancel Stein's contract forthwith. It's simply unconscionable for a newspaper of record to employ as its "Everybody's Business" columnist someone who is surely making a vast amount of money by luring the unsuspecting into overpaying for a financial product they should under no circumstances buy.

Watch Stein pitch FreeScore.com below:

Comments

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

Stein is the master of concealing information that undermines his arguments -- he also is very smart and knows exactly what he's doing -- he tries to be the "hip" right-winger young people can embrace -- he's insidious, a liar, and greed and fame motivated.

[a3w]

What else should we expect from an ex-speech writer for the Nixon administration?

[ChristopherAtom]

Hopefully not another game show.

[digitalprophet]

Indeed.. I was very upset to see Ben in a commercial for a "service" that tricks people into giving them money monthly.

Lost any respect I had for him.

[JacklynD]

I would have preferred that they fire him for his points of view but at least he has one less platform from which to spout his self-serving bilge.

[Burkelbile]

Stein reaked of Nixon

[Juez]

I APPLAUD NYT FOR FOLOWING GOOD POLICY DIRECTIVES. STEIN SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER BUT DID NOT. HIS CREDIBILITY AND "ROLLER COASTER" JUDGMENT IS NOW IN QUESTION!! He saved his money and he should be financially stable for many years. Hasta la vista baby!

[CJWebber]

Well, it's about time.

[fedupinfla]

Bueller...­.Bueller..­.Bueller..­..

[Marygra]

A paper with integrity! This is very encouraging!

[tonydon]

A rare find now maybe we will a news channel with integrity

[lukebenward]

The HuffPo link is the FreeScore.com official YT channel. The disable the comments (negative).

Here's a version of the ad where comments _ARE_ allowed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oXX3Q1ZSks&feature=channel_page

[Kevins]

Alright. I'll take heat.

I just about never agree with Ben Stein. About much of anything. But I DO like how he expresses himself. And I have to admit--if he were in a bar in a talking mood (as he's likely to be now with all his free time), I'd talk to the guy.
He has a sense of humor (which most conservatives frankly don't), seems personable, and I kind of like him. I don't have to agree with him. There are people I agree with more, and like less.

Yup, he's a spokesman hawking schlock (on what is still a cute commercial, admit it)--but even hawking schlock--eh--I've never been morally outraged at Ben Stein. More like: if that's your opinion, Ben, you're welcome to it, now pull the other one.

I'm sorry the NYT has dismissed him. As someone else said, they still have Peggy Noonan--and she really drives me up the wall.

[Holypat777]

I agree. I don't like any of his political views but he is a smart guy. And his game show (in the begining) was really funny and the questions were hard.

[mcmutter]

money grubber anything for a buck

[aufmischer]

funny he doesn't hold up a nyt paper...

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

Funny. They're smart enough to dump Stein, but don't the still have Peggy Noonan?

[Koolmorning]

She have nicer B OO BS.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

Buh bye.

[Koolmorning]

Yea, Buh bye,

and thanks for writing in the Total Bastard Times

[wwoody]

How dare The New York Times question Ben stein integrity . In this case even The New York Times wouldn't step that low, as being and spoke person for and questionable company.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

I think I agree, but I'm not sure.

[FHTB]

Who cares what the Times or Stein do?

[wwoody]

You mean, he didn't see this coming and mile away. With his Clear Eyes.

[TCPITS]

no loss