WaPo’s Eugene Robinson Takes Fellow Columnist George Will To Task For His Inaccurate Column
WaPo’s Eugene Robinson Takes Fellow Columnist George Will To Task For His Inaccurate Column
On Feb. 15, Washington Post columnist George Will published a factually inaccurate and misleading column on climate change. His claims were promptly eviscerated by Brad Johnson at the Wonk Room, along with ClimateProgress, The Loom, TPM Muckraker, The Vine, Island of Doubt, and New Mexico Science. Though the Washington Post’s editors repeatedly defended Will’s lies, columnist Eugene Robinson admitted on MSNBC last night that he believed Will had “cross[ed] the line”:
ROBINSON: What George Will did was cherry-pick a sentence in a report, you know, be very persnickety in the way he parsed his sentences, and end up making it sound as if the report had said the exact opposite of what it actually said. He was persnickety enough that his editors, who also happen to be my editors, felt he didn’t quite cross the line. I thought he did.
Watch it:
Robinson is the latest staffer at the Washington Post to take Will to task for his misleading column, and, as Matt Yglesias notes, “the first Postie to note the role played by Will’s editors in helping him attempt to deceive the Post’s readers.”
Earlier this week, two Washington Post writers reported on the rapid decline of Arctic sea ice, noting that the findings “contradicts data cited…by Washington Post columnist George F. Will.” Weeks after Will’s column was printed, the Washington Post ombudsman acknowledged that when he reviewed the data Will cited to supposedly back up his claim about ice levels, he “reached a different conclusion.” Even cartoonist Tom Toles got in on the action, mocking Will in a recent online sketch:
These Washington Post staffers notwithstanding, however, the Washington Post editorial board has yet to issue a correction for any of Will’s false and misleading claims.
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“Persnickety?” I’ve heard it used before. It means “particular.” Never have I heard it used as a synonym for “out-and-out intentionally dishonest.”
Hmm. Times, they are a-changin’.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:16 amI once avidly read the WashPo on my online subscription. I unsubscribed more than a year ago and am glad I am not supporting this newspaper. Though I don’t want the Post to fail, neither do I want the editors to approve the kind of misleading parsing that supports the opposite of scientific study findings. George Will needs to be scrutinized much more carefully and his columns should not run if he’s going to pull these kinds of tricks.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:17 amGeorge Will IS a cartoon.
He looks like Tucker Carlson’s grandpa, held in high esteem by his own ego while making up shit to serve his agenda.
Pricksnerkity, pehaps?
April 9th, 2009 at 11:18 amsmidget Says:
“Persnickety?” I’ve heard it used before. It means “particular.” Never have I heard it used as a synonym for “out-and-out intentionally dishonest.”
April 9th, 2009 at 11:16 am
__________
I like the cut of your jib – welcome to TP! :)
April 9th, 2009 at 11:20 amThe only thing that may survive the collapse of the Antarctic ice shelfs and rapid melting of arctic sea ice will be George Will’s ego.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:23 am“These Washington Post staffers notwithstanding, however, the Washington Post editorial board has yet to issue a correction for any of Will’s false and misleading claims.”
This despite the fact that the scientist who penned the article that Will lifted his quote from dispelled Will’s article the very next day by ststing that Will’s interpretation was not factual. The WAPO editor’s have ignored this little fact ever since.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:24 amIf Nixon were still alive, he’d be saying “..where the f*** was this Washington Post when I could have used them? I would have never had to resign.”
Oh yeah, plus “I am still not a crook!”
April 9th, 2009 at 11:26 amWill responded today:
Talk about weak.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
April 9th, 2009 at 11:27 amANGRY? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT……
NewsAlert@letters.washingtonpost.com, letters@washpost.com, georgewill@washpost.com, jimhoagland@washpost.com, ombudsman@washpost.com, kurtzh@washpost.com, achenbachj@washpost.com, allenh@washpost.com, aranam@washpost.com, argetsinger@washpost.com, balzd@washpost.com, barrj@washpost.com, bennettp@washpost.com, benningv@washpost.com, beyersd@washpost.com, bonesteelm@washpost.com, priestd@washpost.com, Ignatiusd@washpost.com, robinsong@washpost.com, boustanyn@washpost.com, religion@washpost.com, brownw@washpost.com, castanedar@washpost.com, rajiv@washpost.com, chod@washpost.com, clarkp@washpost.com, cohenr@washpost.com, cohensh@washpost.com, coopermana@washpost.com, copelandl@washpost.com, davenportc@washpost.com, davisp@washpost.com, deyoungk@washpost.com, duttj@washpost.com, dvorakp@washpost.com, eggend@washpost.com, ahrensf@washpost.com, aizenmann@washpost.com, donovanc@washpost.com, givhanr@washpost.com, thomash@washpost.com
April 9th, 2009 at 11:34 amGeorge,
Stick to talking bullshit about baseball, where everybody knows
April 9th, 2009 at 11:38 amyou’re full of it.
smidget, you are going to fit in very well here at TP. Welcome.
Eugene Robinson is one of my favorites. He can be deadly serious, mildly amusing, and snarky depending upon the topic.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:39 amWill has been wrong for years.
A teacher had us read his column in one of my classes in jr. high…and we all could see how wrong he was then. Nothing’s changed.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:46 amWhy is Will still published?
Does he have fans, outside the WaPo editorial board?
April 9th, 2009 at 11:48 amIt is nice Robinson disagrees but how long ago was that Will article published? This is the problem I have with the media, particularly the big names. More and more the editorial boards have allowed dishonesty as a mainstay of the printed word.
Papers are screaming about lost revenues. Why should I buy a paper that knowingly allows this kind of dishonesty. I want to be informed not mislead.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:58 amloo, barack obomber, lol, omg, so funny, wow, you must be the funniest guy in your whole middle school!
typical right wing idiotology
April 9th, 2009 at 12:06 pmI have come to the conclusion that George Will is nothing but a “pseudo-intellectual”. He likes to use big, fancy words, and he writes in a style that makes him sound like he knows what he’s talking about, until you start looking into the details of what he is saying and on what he is basing them. He is, and has been for decades, just another part of the Republican Noise Machine. He wears the bow-tie to look smarter, but wearing one doesn’t actually make anyone smarter. It never helped Tucker Carlson, either. I wish Washington should stop treating Will like he has any credibility, just because he’s been around for years. He still writes crap.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:08 pmbarack obomber Says:
funny how democrats talk about free speech. then an opposing view comes out and there is outrage and censorship.
Democrats don’t have a problem with opposing views. They do have a problem with lying. I’m sure your pea brain won’t be able to absorb the difference, though.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:12 pmbarack obomber Says: a bunch of stupid stuff
funny how democrats talk about free speech.
What is “funny” is your projection.
then an opposing view comes out and there is outrage and censorship.
Censorship is suppression of free speech by government. That is not happening through or being suggested by Democrats. There is outrage, yes, and much of it justified due to the lies and attempts to discredit through those lies.
but what else can you expect from people who like being told what to do.
Labeling democrats or, more particularly progressives, as blind followers is laughable on its face. Did Rush or O’Reilly tell you to say that?
it will be funny when the government tells you what car to drive and what food to eat and how much power you can use because of your global warming myth.
Coming from a member of the party that tries to tell you whom you can marry, this is also laughable. The common good is not something you understand.
last time i check ed there are less hurricanes predicted and more snow fell last year.
And still the polar ice caps melt drastically and dangerously.
typical left wing ideology haa.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:13 pmReality is rather humorous to you, apparently.
barack obomber Says:
but what else can you expect from people who like being told what to do.
Now that’s funny. Talk about projection. Someone from the party of lemmings saying that the Democrats like being told what to do.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:13 pmbarack obomber Says:
Many people use their “right to free speech” to spread lies and misinformation. This must be what you’re defending.
As we have often said to posters such as yourself, you are entitled to your own opinions but you are not entitled to your own facts. Being correct on an issue is not about whether or not large numbers of people agree with you, it’s about whether or not the facts agree with you. Facts matter. Try to remember that.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:13 pmbo, this has nothing to do with free speech (typical regressive tactic of playing the victim). Will’s article was based on an inacurate (or most would agree misleading) take on the data. As has been discussed since the day this article was published, the scientist that Will quoted has been trying to impress upon the WAPO editorial board that Will’s portrayal of the data was flat out wrong. Intentionally misconstruing the facts to fit your point of view is an ageold GOP tactic that Will wields with seeming impunity. His use of the editorial page to push his agenda is another popular tactic. If it’s an editorial it is opinion and not necesserily fact. We also enjoy our free speech here at TP to point out Will’s lies so what’s your beef (besides being ignorant)?
April 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pmGeorge
April 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pmWillWon’t admit he’s wrong, ever!I would love to see George Will debate Eugene Robinson. Eugene would wipe the floor with Will and not even break a sweat.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:16 pmWell, we just gave the troll five similar posts almost simultaneously. I’ll bet he’s still ignorant, no make that “stupid” as ignorant can be fixed if one is willing and able. Stupid is a life style choice.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:20 pmI wonder if troll barack obomber has come to stay and play?
Or did she just stop by to shit, then run away?
April 9th, 2009 at 12:23 pmMr. Obomber is a silly sod for confusing criticism of misrepresentations of data with “censorship”.
Mr. Obomber clearly doesn’t understand the concept of “censorship”.
Perhaps Mr. Obomber projects his own desires to silence anyone who disagrees with him onto progressives who simply express disagreement and sound reasons for that disagreement.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pmTom Toles is a God….
One of the very best editorial cartoonists in the business.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pmbarack obomber
I read all the comments here, and don’t recall seeing any that are trying to silence Will. I see several that talk about lying, and how and why it is wrong to do so, particularly under the guise of journalism. Could you be bothered to point out the posts that advocate taking Will’s right to free speech from him?
Oh, I understand. You’re just talking out of your ass. Nevermind, then.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:42 pmOh, and by the way…
Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pmralph the wonder locust Says:
Perhaps Mr. Obomber projects his own desires to silence anyone who disagrees with him onto progressives who simply express disagreement and sound reasons for that disagreement.
I wonder what Mr. Obomber has to say about the fact that no conservative blogs allow progressives to post there. I wonder if he would consider that censorship and a violation of our first amendment rights. I also wonder if he even appreciates the fact that he can post on liberal blogs without being immediately banned. Probably not.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pmNo, it was looking for help on how to examine its’ navel. It has intentions of harvesting navel lint and can’t figure out the process.
:]
April 9th, 2009 at 1:00 pm31. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says: I also wonder if he even appreciates the fact that he can post on liberal blogs without being immediately banned. Probably not.
Translation (with your indulgence:) I also wonder if he even appreciates the fact that we on liberal blogs always extend folks like him a liberal enough amount of rope with which he inevitably and predictably hangs himself.
Also, probably not..
April 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pmOff Topic, but this seemed like a good place to post.
Every once in a great while I run into a nice republican and try to gently converse on national matters with them.
Yesterday, one of our realtors (we’re looking to move our business) who’s a nice guy, educated, donates time and money to different charities came in and I engaged him in harmless conversation.
He said the reason we’re in this mess is because 50% of americans don’t pay taxes, that 50% of americans get some kind of aid and it’s almost entirely welfare recipients, and that anyone making 30k or less doesn’t pay any taxes at all.
Then he went on to say it was o.k. for the banks to get bailed out and not o.k. for the auto industry.
I replied with reasoned responses but he was pretty steadfast.
Where do people like him get their information? Honestly, someone who’s educated and entirely misinformed? I think Will is a good example of just another propogandist. He hasn’t had any credibility for the past several years. Somehow people like him and Kristol still manage to get a paycheck. It’s a total mystery.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pmHe said the reason we’re in this mess is because 50% of americans don’t pay taxes, that 50% of americans get some kind of aid and it’s almost entirely welfare recipients, and that anyone making 30k or less doesn’t pay any taxes at all.
I hope he’s better informed about real estate issues than he is about our current financial crisis. We are in this mess because of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. I’m guessing he doesn’t do his own shopping for anything, or else he would have noticed all the people in line ahead of him paying sales taxes on their purchases. And he must not pump his own gas or he would have noticed that federal gasoline tax we all pay.
He should learn that it’s okay to have your own opinion, it’s just better for all concerned if it’s an informed opinion.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pmWayne, isn’t it amazing? I just thought this went right along with the right wing disinformation machine.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:35 pmRich H Says:
Where do people like him get their information?
FAUX and Reichradio.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:37 pmWhere do people like him get their information?
From people like Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Coulter, O’Reilly, etc.
There are LOTS of sources of intentional misinformation out there. Unfortunately, you don’t even have to look that hard to find them.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:42 pmRich H Says:
Yesterday, one of our realtors (we’re looking to move our business) who’s a nice guy, educated, donates time and money to different charities came in and I engaged him in harmless conversation.
He said the reason we’re in this mess is because 50% of americans don’t pay taxes, that 50% of americans get some kind of aid and it’s almost entirely welfare recipients, and that anyone making 30k or less doesn’t pay any taxes at all.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
_____________
So your realtor doesn’t think the housing boom had anything to do with it whatsoever?
Surprise surprise…
April 9th, 2009 at 1:43 pmHere’s the thing, he actually donates TIME and money to charities. It’s relatively easy to donate money, but it takes a real commitment to donate time (at least I believe him). So, if he cares enough about his fellow human beings to do this, why doesn’t he care enough to be informed and have similar policies carried out on a national level?
Again, it’s just a mystery.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pmWill didn’t accidently get it wrong. He knew damn well what he was doing, and he was betting that Americans were too stupid to realize his deception.
And then when his editors raised the issue, he probably threw another tantrum, as he did with Noam Chomsky’s letter to Newsweek.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:28 pmObomberMORON you are just unbelievably STUPID. No one is advocating censorship. YOU are just to stupid to know what the word means. They say what they want then WE get to criticize them with the SAME FREE SPEECH YOU INSUFFERABLE FOOL. My GOD you trolls are stupid
April 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pmOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:46 amsac ekimi