Yesterday Slate Magazine published an article by Bryan Curtis. Last night it was their featured piece, "front-paged" with a foremost position, a banner headline, and a full-color illustration. It is called
Frank Rich
The Butcher of the Beltway.
By Bryan Curtis
Posted Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at 6:52 PM ET
Mr. Curtis' piece is not directly misleading: he writes about Frank Rich: his history as a drama critic, his reception in New York City, his authorial voice. Curtis' piece, though, is wrong. Wrong is just about every way I can think of. Wrong about journalism, wrong about journalists, wrong about debate, and wrong about the proper use of rhetoric. Slate should be embarrassed to have published it and ashamed to have featured it front, center, and in color. Mr. Curtis has performed an improbable invagination: his pen now writes with the same ink as the Republican's ingenious rhetorical playbook. His article exemplifies what is wrong with almost all of the mainstream media (and I include Slate Magazine Online). Hop below the line and read my response:
That's Rich
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