NY Times Whitewashes Weblogger’s Obituary
I wish no ill will on the family and friends of Left-wing weblogger Steven Gilliard who recently passed away at too young an age. My issue is with the newspaper that claims it publishes all the news that’s fit to print. The NY Times published an obituary for Gilliard making it the first I know of where the Grey Lady memorialized a weblogger. It is a nice piece going briefly into Gilliard’s efforts in the blogosphere.
What the Times fails to mention is Gilliard’s claim to fame: Calling Maryland U.S. Senate candidate Michael Steele “Sambo” and posting a photoshopped picture so racist it would make only a Ku Klux Klan member laugh. Gilliard’s smear was what first brought him to my attention. Because of it I ignored anything he did afterwards.
Not mentioning Gilliard’s despicable actions would be like the Times writing about Ronald Reagan’s death and neglecting Iran-Contra. For better or for worse the Samba incident is part of Gilliard’s story.
Jules Crittenden noticed the Times‘ “artful dodge” didn’t mention how “blunt and passionate” Gilliard was. The Grey Lady wanted to play nice and not unleash the wrath of the netroots. First the Democratic Party and now the NY Times. The online Left is on a roll.
“Steven Gilliard Jr., 42, Dies; Founder of Liberal Political Blog” [via memeorandum]
But don’t forget to mention the contex tof the Sambo photo: Steele’s nonchalance about his running mate’s fund-raiser at an exclusively white country club (which would, IMHO, indicate an Uncle Tom-like tolerance for racist behavior).
And please tell me how a black man black-facing a picture of a black politician as a political point is racist. I still don’t see it, but it appears that you right-wingers have become all so sensitive about racism lately (especially when trying to use it to bludgeon a recently deceased black man’s reputation!).