The Washington Post printed Robert Novak's column about his brain tumor today, but it substantially edited the ending. The Post removed a mean-spirited quote from Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame attacking Novak that appeared in the version distributed by Creators Syndicate.
The original column by Novak ended like this (emphasis added, more below the fold):
There are mad bloggers who profess to take delight in my distress, but there's no need to pay them attention in the face of such an outpouring of good will for me. I had thought 51 years of rough-and-tumble journalism in Washington made me more enemies than friends, but my recent experience suggests the opposite may be the case.
But Joe and Valerie Wilson, attempting to breathe life into the Valerie Plame "scandal," issued this statement: "We have long argued that responsible adults should take Novak's typewriter away. The time has arrived for them to also take away the keys to his Corvette."
Story Continues Below Ad ↓Thanks to my tumor, the Wilsons have achieved half of their desires. I probably never will be able to drive again, and I have sold the Corvette, which I dearly loved. Taking away my typewriter, however, may require modification of the First Amendment.
Support for me and promises of prayers sent for me poured in from all sides, including political figures who had not been happy with my columns. I'm told that President George W. Bush has not liked my criticism, particularly of his Iraq war policy. But the president is a compassionate man, and he telephoned me at 7:24 a.m. on August 15, six minutes before I went into surgery. The conversation lasted only a minute, but his prayerful concern was touching and much appreciated.
The Washington Post version reads this way:
Though angry bloggers profess to take delight in my distress, I feel no need to pay them attention in the face of an outpouring of goodwill. I thought 51 years of rough-and-tumble journalism in Washington had made me more enemies than friends, but my recent experience suggests the opposite may be the case.
Support for me and promises of prayers have poured in from all sides, including from political figures who had not been happy with my columns. I'm told that George W. Bush has not liked my criticism, particularly of his Iraq war policy. But the president is a compassionate man, and he telephoned me at 7:24 a.m. on Aug. 15, six minutes before I went into surgery. The conversation lasted only a minute, but his prayerful concern was touching and much appreciated.
Thanks to my tumor, I probably never will be able to drive again, and I have sold the Corvette, which I dearly loved. Taking away my typewriter, however, may require modification of the First Amendment.
To fit on its op-ed page, the Post was forced to edit the column from 1,475 words to 1,139 words. But of all the things to cut, the newspaper chose to nix the hostile words of Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame. By doing so the editors altered an important part of Novak's column and covered up an ugly attack by two liberals.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Absolutely despicable.
September 6, 2008 - 22:13 ET by BlazerAbsolutely despicable. Valerie and Joe's fifteen minutes were up months ago and these sychophantic turds cant' get over themselves.
A weak attempt to stir the pot and sell a few more books on Amazon.
Valerie Plame reminds me of this woman.
http://video.google....
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Joe and Valerie. No
September 7, 2008 - 04:50 ET by motherbeltJoe and Valerie. No class; all A$$.
And the WaPo covers for them. I guess they decided it wasn't all that relevant to the story.
Here is a section that could have been removed without consequence: Right after remarking on the irony of this Maryland fan going to Duke, Novak wrote:
The ingenious taunts by the students at Duke's Cameron Indoor
Stadium are usually directed against opposing players, but I am one fan
who also has been the target of the "Cameron Crazies."
During my last visit there to watch a game won by Maryland, students
raised a placard with two pictures: one of Benedict Arnold and one of
me. "Two Traitors, " said the headline.
The column would have lacked nothing by leaving this out.
The real intent of the WaPo is clear. They are still shameless in support of the Wilsons.
Of all the sorry pieces...
September 6, 2008 - 22:37 ET by heldmyw...of excrement, the Plame-Wilsons surely are the smelliest.
I certainly hope that they suffer the wasting disease so deadly to their ilk known as "obscurity". Nevermore written about, feted, and glowing in the limelight of the sycophantic BDS press; left ignored and forgotten, to die in penury, wailing against the Gods that deprived them of their 'just' rewards.
Disappear you creeps. You're done.
Good luck, Bob.
Pflame and husband
September 6, 2008 - 22:39 ET by merlin61Amen to both of the above comments. May
they never be heard from again.
I despise WaPo. I seethe
September 6, 2008 - 22:52 ET by bigtimerI despise WaPo.
I seethe reading they conveniently decided to omit this from the enemy within duo...but then again...so is WaPo.....
I just consider the source.
Bless you Mr. Novak...your message got out anyway...and will continue to do so.
My prayers are with you sir.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Robert
September 6, 2008 - 23:02 ET by Noel SheppardRobert,
Excellent piece. This really is disgraceful. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. ns
The day this president leaves office
September 6, 2008 - 23:45 ET by IamTinmanthe Wilson/Plame incident will retreat back where it belongs as a little known historical footnote about a weak and failed democrat attempt to bring down a sitting president. Their comments regarding Robert Novak one of the few respected political reporters shows the kind of people they are. They and the left leaning reporters who broadcast their lies will soon fade into the obscurity they so richly deserve.
What Bob Novak Knows
September 7, 2008 - 02:44 ET by Lame CherryBob knows people love him and it is amusing for him to couch this all in George Bush and Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame to let the world of intelligence operatives have a good laugh.
Yes, Bob like many of the elite in the field were sanctioned sources in the intelligence field. Bob was right wing as Woodward is Naval intelligence leftist shill hand picked to bring down Nixon.
I mean just review Bernstein in his work with Deep Throat, DT had to spell it out who he was talking about. Bernstein was the idiot Woodward had to lead around.
Bob though knows Val Plame was a mole for the cartel out of New York who was there to cover up all the Saddam bribe money flowing into the Clinton pockets and our favorite frogs who were refining Niger yellow cake which America pulled out 1.77 tons of weapons grade uranium out of Iraq after liberation.
That is what blundering Joe and sweet Val were supposed to be covering up and stopping Georgie from toppling the Saddam money train.
They failed and got a book deal pay off and got tossed out of Washington so Bob would not have to start hinting about the jail time they faced after Dicky Armitage another intel agent set him up over leaking Val to the world.
Yeah like her cuddling with Bill in a greeting line being photographed by every Chicom, Russian and whatever was not like her cover was blown lol.
So Val was supposed to help Bush 43 get impeached and that didn't work either. I honestly feel bad for both Joe and Val as their little note means a great deal.
In translation it reads,
Joe: This hot blonde knows what a putz I am and hates being stuck with me and won't let me pimp her anymore.
Val: I was supposed to be a star and all I got was this dufus Joe Wilson whose hair looks like you could drill it for crude to supply all of America's needs.
Bob is happy. People reading his columns loving him and he thoroughly enjoyed the Get Smart twins who couldn't get Bush twice and now are stuck with each other knowing life is over as the big boys will never have anything to do with the damaged merchandise again.
God bless you Robert Novak. That is what winning looks like.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
What a way to treat a guy
September 7, 2008 - 04:55 ET by Jack BauerWhat a way to treat a guy who has been doing his job well for 51 years. It sure smells like disrespect and borderline contempt to me.
Clearly an experienced editor would understand that they cut the "money shot" which neatly encompassed his current illness, and a part of recent history centered around himself and the Despicable Due of Wilson and Plame.
Any half decent professional writer knows you can easily cut the word count equivalent of a paragraph within an article, without cutting out a whole paragrpah.
Part of the joy of writing is to cut and cut, to tighten the prose. Had to be meant to mislead.
I will consider a vote....
September 7, 2008 - 05:14 ET by old crofor Sockz, but I need to know who is his/her pick for the VP position?
shocker
September 7, 2008 - 06:59 ET by sawing battaof course they did.
they cant let the truth be told...doesnt fit the template.
NB: name names. they clearly can hide behind the powerful brands they work for and are materially diluting on a daily basis....but i think you should name names so their friends and neighbors know what respect they command in their industry.
So, WaPo is in the business
September 7, 2008 - 07:45 ET by ThisnThatSo, WaPo is in the business now of removing hurtful, scandalous quotes about people who don't deserve to be on the receiving end of such crap?
Wonder how that applies to Palin and her family?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Be Not Surprised!
September 7, 2008 - 09:37 ET by ChasvsBe afraid, be very afraid..but do not be surprised that the Liberals are editing the TRUTH from their message.
We know the enemy and they are the Liberals and their ever loving MSM friends.
Think you know the Truth abot Obama? Not by half, and they want it that way!
Be afraid, be very afraid. ACT NOW to STOP Obama-Biden!
Bush Pardon?
September 7, 2008 - 23:07 ET by Rush FanSpeaking of Plame and Wilson, I'm looking forward to the day when President Bush leaves office and one of his last offical orders is to issue a full pardon to Lewis "Scooter" Libby to replace the commutation of sentence currently in place.
Plame, Wilson, the Drive-By media and the Democrats will go absolutely crazy if Libby is pardoned. Just as crazy as when seven United States Attorneys were dismissed by President Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2006. Remember the many hearings that were held to investigate these "unprecedented" dismissals?
Now to be fair to the Drive-By media and the Democrats in Congress, the media and the Republicans in Congress were just as hard on Bill Clinton when he took office and replaced 89 of 93 U.S. Attorneys. NOT!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The liberal media continues to sacrifice ethics and morals for the greater cause: This time for the Election of a Democrat to the Presidency of the United States.
Rush Fan:
September 8, 2008 - 12:33 ET by j. frank wilsonRight or wrong, it's now the custom for the new President to appoint US Attorneys. That's what Mr. Clinton did.
Was there an election in 2006? No. Those attorneys were fired purely for political reasons. And that's against the law.
Those attorneys were
September 8, 2008 - 13:02 ET by Jack BauerShow the statute.