Kristol and Brooks Play Dumb at The New York Times

Bottom line: Do Bill Kristol and David Brooks understand the basic tenets of opinion journalism?

Truth is, when reading a Brooks campaign column, Times subscribers need to ask themselves whether the dispatch reflects the writer's true opinion, or whether he's pulling his punches, the way he did regarding Palin, in order to help the RNC.

And when reading a Kristol campaign column, readers need to ask if he's acting as an opinion columnist or working more in a role as a quasi-campaign consultant for McCain. Because right now, it's hard to tell with the both of them.

Read the entire column at Media Matters for America.

Comments

[Bluedog12]

Upon Obama’s election Kristol is set to launch his latest project called the Smirky Boys wherein he will play the role of prankster along with funnyman Fred Barnes. These two comedians will appear on various Faux cable shows pretending to be an authorities on politics. MTV look out!

[NationalTreasure]

FOR THE REPUBLICANS THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE

Both of these men seem to be typical republican hypocrites.

[BethStuart]

Brooks recently commented (verbally) that Palin is a fatal cancer on the republican party. It is unfortunate that he lacks the courage to put that comment in writing.

[JFCooper]

Eric,
I disagree with your characterization of Brooks. The way I see him, David Brooks is an intelligent and honest person who is unable, for whatever reason, to allow his intellect to change his beliefs. Many of us on both sides of the aisle have this problem (see the first two comments here). I've watched Brooks squirm as he professed support for the Iraq AFTER getting confirmation that it was an unjust endeavor. It was an interesting moment.

To accuse him of disingenuousness is to ascribe a conscious decision making process --in this case-- to a man who is unable to follow where facts lead him if those facts contradict his political identity.

You're right about Kristol. The man has less intellect than Brooks and is more invested in winning as a Republican than he is simply being a Republican.

JFCooper

[PDXKevin]

"Kristol and Brooks" sounds kind of like a stage comedy.

[cobraxus]

yes the comedic stylings of Kristol and Brooks(Brooks sits on a stool with Kristol on his knee then drinks a glass of water while Kristol extols the virtues of supply-side economics).

[BillZBubb]

Brooks and Kristol playing dumb? That's funny! I don't think they need to play.