Donald Rumsfeld: New York Times 'No Longer A Relevant Newspaper' (VIDEO)

Appearing on "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld discussed his recently announced decision to cancel his New York Times subscription.

Rumsfeld's decision comes on the heels of Times columnist Paul Krugman calling the behavior of some politicians after 9/11 "deeply shameful." Krugman drew conservative outrage with a blog post in which he wrote "fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, George W. Bush raced to cash in on the horror" of 9/11. He added, "The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it."

In addition to Rumsfeld, Michelle Malkin and writer Glenn Reynolds are two conservatives who took issue with the piece.

Soon after this post appeared online, Rumsfeld wrote on Twitter, "After reading Krugman’s repugnant piece on 9/11, I cancelled my subscription to the New York Times this AM."

While speaking on Fox News, Rumsfeld explained his decision to cancel his subscription to the Times. He said the Krugman post “was kind of the last straw for me." He went on to elaborate on his criticism and said, “Well you know I really wasn’t sending any message. I started reading the Sunday New York Times in 1950 when I was in college, and over the decades it has deteriorated and I decided I just didn’t want to provide my hard earned money to them and to support something that was promoting things like Krugman says, and others, and it’s just no longer a relevant newspaper by my standard.”

Below, video of Rumsfeld's appearance on "Fox & Friends."

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Comments

[deebastet]

10:18 PM on 09/16/2011

Again, in Rumsfeld's mind every one else is to blame. He has no shame!

[margiebe]

04:56 PM on 09/15/2011

He took us to war with the army we had-inadequate armor inadequate personnel-and it was an unjustified war-And it is a huge reason why the US is in financial difficulties-The NY Times should be admonished for helping to beat the war drum and not asking enough questions when Rumsfeld and his band of war mongerers were speaking lies regarding Iraq and weapons of mass destruction wherever they went-We need more people like Krugman discussing this-Unless we face the serious mistakes that were made this travesty will reoccur(Libya anyone>)

[sfdcubfan]

01:02 PM on 09/15/2011

And he's no longer a "relevant" human being. WHY has he not been arrested for war crimes?!

[Helloise]

12:10 PM on 09/15/2011

Did Rumdum mention that he is now a consultant for Rick Perry? I think America needs to know that fact. Apparently, there's a wonderful website called "failed neo cons for hire" that is being heavily trafficked by the 2012 gop candidates.

[Daniel Shea]

12:04 PM on 09/15/2011

I'm glad he added "by my standard" to his critique of the Times' relevance. It clarifies everything.

[SILVANUS]

10:48 AM on 09/15/2011

Go away, Dr Strangelove and gobble your extenZ.

[SDindependent]

10:36 AM on 09/15/2011

Does anyone think he has "hard" earned money. The best part of the picture of him on FOX is the subtitle where it says "former".

[Rowwdy]

10:34 AM on 09/15/2011

*To think the thought he thunk, one would think he thunk that thought… Man I’ve got a headache!!! Anyone got an aspirin...

[EmmaLib]

10:20 AM on 09/15/2011

I betcha, if Katie Couric had five minutes with this man, and her infamous hard-hitting 'Gotcha" questions, we'd find out this newspaper was never on his list of things he read, ever! This "LIBERAL" rag is like garlic to vampires!

[Ramseytwo]

10:04 AM on 09/15/2011

Krugman 1, Rummy 0. Yippee!

[smolensk-lies]

09:46 AM on 09/15/2011

what ever happened to the good ol days ? like when rummy was being grilled by McKinney regarding his buddies at dyncorp? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RvLL--vSsA

[Mile End]

09:41 AM on 09/15/2011

New York Times vs Fox News. Which do I think of in connection with journalism?

I didn't like Krugman's piece as it lacks nuance in passages like this:

"The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it."

The subsequent behavior of self-serving politicians does not take away from the grief felt over those who were lost that day, Nor does it take anything from the trauma we felt as nation, nor of the gratitude we felt toward those who made heroic efforts at rescue, nor of the pride we felt watching New Yorkers rise to the occasion by caring for one another with so much strength and compassion in the days and weeks that followed. There is nothing about 9/11 that our country should feel shamed by.

The day that President Bush lied to us and went to war on Iran, whatever date that was, is one we should feel shamed by. And the date we decided to torture in the name of liberty. And the date we passed the Patriot Act. And probably many other dates in there as well, all of which Rumsfeld has some part it, but not September 11th.

IMO, Rumsfeld should be in jail somewhere and Klugman should be getting plenty of irate e-mails and phone calls. If I could pick only of the two, Mr. Rumsfeld would be wearing an orange jump-suit.

[sojoboy]

09:32 AM on 09/15/2011

Why is this man relevant? There are known knowns...

[Eagleman]

09:07 AM on 09/15/2011

What's your point Mr. Rumsfeld ?

Why bother reading NYT. ?

It's like saying - I listened to Howard Stern and it is repulsive and X-Rated...

[shrinktalkingheads]

08:13 AM on 09/15/2011

"it’s just no longer a relevant newspaper by my standard . . ."

In other words, "the New York Times doesn't print my bull*hit version of history."