Posted on 01/24/2006 11:01:08 PM PST by Captainpaintball
All rightie. By now, most of us are familiar with the controversial LA Times article titled "I don't Support our Troops" written by columnist Joel Stein. Many have heard the audio or read the transcript (www.radioblogger.com) of nationally syndicated radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt's interview with Stein. Others may have heard one of the presumably several additional interviews Stein gave to other local, non-syndicated talkers, such as Dom Giordano out of Philadelphia's "Big Talker" 1210AM WPHT.
I have listened to both Hewitt's interview--as well as Giordano's--and I have an interesting take on Stein's defense you may be interested in discussing...
In Hewitt's interview, Stein initially claimed he personally knew no active duty troops serving in the armed forces. The following are some of his responses: (www.radioblogger.com)
"That's an excellent question. I wouldn't say I have a very close friend. I would say only acquaintances. No family at all."
"But your point is well taken that I don't have many people that I even know who are in the military."
"Yeah, I know people, but like I said in the column, I have been pretty isolated. I don't have any close family..."
Then, later in the interview, Stein was asked if he knew anyone who has atended a military academy, and he replied: "Do I know anyone who...yes. Yeah, I have a cousin at West Point."
It seems at this point Hewitt becomes skeptical, and he presses Stein some more. When asked about the date of his cousin's enrollment, Stein answers:
"My cousin's like six years younger than me. He has the exact same name as me, so hopefully, he's doing okay today."
Hewitt asks Stein of his cousin's whereabouts, (Both are named Joel Stein) and Stein mentions that he is currently serving in the US, and has served abroad, "in Asia."
This seems to contradict his earlier statements in the interview.
One may determine his inconsistency in recollection as a result of nervousness in dealing with a skilled debater such as Hewitt. And with good reason. For lack of a better metaphor, Hewitt violated Stein in ways the 30-something may never comprehend without the aid of a professional counseling.
Perhaps his brain was scrambled from all the attention/publicity/notoriety/hatemail he received throughout the day. That is understandable. Imagine a significant percent of the population wanting either an interview, or your bloody, severed head on a stick.
But by 11:00 PM, Joel Stein seemed calmer, more confident, and at ease with what he had written earlier in the day. In fact, when Philly talk show host Dom Giordano asked Stein if he knew anyone in the military, he denied knowing anyone. Including the cousin who shares his name.
His "debating skills" are often the same as liberal sleaze tactics.
I was a Dimaggiatti. Now I can't stand the guy.
I love this line.
How soon till he's put on the college speech circuit with the fake indian and Cindy Sheehan.
I particularly like the section I put in bold for emphasis. :)
The Reuters Defense
It’s a first. Al-Reuters notices Little Green Footballs, in their defense of the LA Times columnist who admitted he doesn’t support US troops: L.A. Times writer defends incendiary Iraq column. link: 405 comments
RE: It'll All Blow Over
""My guess is that it will die down pretty quickly."" -- Joel Stein, in follow up article
I wouldn't count on that Joel. Blogswarm... Flap Trackback: Los Angeles Times Watch: The Joel Stein FLAP
Are others outraged - many.
Reuters: L.A. Times writer defends incendiary Iraq column
Captain Ed at Captain’s Quarter’s: Hell No, I Won’t Show … Support
Michelle Malkin: THE MOST LOATHSOME PEOPLE IN AMERICA
Hugh Hewitt: Joel Stein, Los Angeles Times Columnist: “I don’t support our troops.”
Hugh Hewitt’s radio interview of Joel Stein on KRLA, Los Angeles this afternoon - audio and transcript here. Hugh interviewed this poor dumb liberal on the radio, and Michelle has the transcript. Avert your eyes; it's not pretty. This guy is below the intellectual level of the average American 8th-grader.
Michelle Malkin: HUGH HEWITT VS. JOEL STEIN: NO CONTEST
During Hugh Hewitt’s interview it was revealed that the editor in charge of Stein’s piece was newly annointed king, Flap means editoral editor (overseeing the Los Angeles Times’ opinion pages), Andres Martinez formerly of the New York Times and hired lackey of Michael Kinsley.
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/
Several members of the CQ community, as well as Hugh Hewitt, Michelle Malkin, and Glenn Reynolds, noted a most unfunny column by "humorist" Joel Stein in today's Los Angeles Times. Titled "Warriors and Wusses", Stein uses his column inches to announce that his support for Americans who serve in the armed forces only extends to the political correctness of their mission: Hugh absolutely destroyed Stein in his interview this evening, which I caught on the way home.Comments (8) |
This toad has been writing for TIME Magazine for several years now...and it seems that on virtually any subject he manages to slip in some juvenile sexual reference.
Joel Stein reminds me of Hannity's "Honda Prius" caller.
Stein is in some way compromised at every major Hollywood studio except Sony. And with ICM repping him for speeches and Endeavor making his TV deals, Stein is also compromised at two of the top five talent agencies. Stein is unabashed about seeing his new column as a steppingstone to full-time employment by Hollywood.
Stein's personal and financial involvement in TV projects, including a recent show that almost made it onto the ABC schedule and a new blind script deal with Fox Television Studios.
http://tinyurl.com/ay3mn
2004-2005 Television Pilots
"UNTITLED": Based on the life of Time columnist Joel Stein from the magazine's corporate sibling, Warner Bros. TV. Stein wrote the script, about the youngest reporter at a national publication, and will executive produce.
A FAKE-TURKEY CORRECTION from the Los Angeles Times:
Joel Stein — Stein's Dec. 5 column said a photo showed President Bush holding a fake Thanksgiving turkey during his 2003 visit to U.S. troops in Iraq. The turkey he was holding was real.
With a column for Time Out New York and a short stint at Martha Stewart Living magazine under his belt, Stein endured two lean years before he wowed Time editor Walter Isaacson with his laid back style.
Hired to cover Chelsea Clinton's Stanford life, Stein found, like the rest of America's journalists, that he wasn't about to get near the president's daughter. So he ditched the traditional story, and instead wrote about his own Stanford experience.
http://tinyurl.com/drg2y
It appears that he is lying to try to steer the media away from dragging his cousin or family into this debate. While that may appear admirable, I suspect the real reason is that he simply knows very little about this family member, may have contempt for his career choice and fears what he may say about his "reporter" cousin who makes 10x more than he does while he sits in a foxhole getting shelled while protecting Joel's ignorant, uncaring, ungrateful a**.
Ah, the irony. Why doesn't a writer like him appreciate that? /sar
I used to think this is the case, but I have a good friend that is extremely intelligent and runs a fairly good size company and he is a lib! I would use him as a lifeline on that Regis Philban game show if I appeared on the show.
I cannot reconcile what seems to be diametrically opposed characteristics.
I don't see the lie. Cousins are not close family. Close family = Parents, Siblings, Spouse. But maybe this is one of those transatlantic differences.
Well, we do know who the real turked is......Joel Stein.
There are Freepers like that. I can't stand those guys!!!
I have to credit Hewitt for an excellent interview.
I also have to credit Joel Stein for staying in the ring and taking the punishment he got.
If he had his eyes opened, wonderful. But I doubt it.
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