N.Y. Times Announces New 'Conservative' Columnist, Then Underlines He's a Moderate

N.Y. Times Announces New 'Conservative' Columnist, Then Underlines He's a Moderate

By Tim Graham (Bio | Archive)
March 12, 2009 - 07:07 ET

New York Times reporter Richard Perez-Pena announced the news that the Times "has hired Ross G. Douthat, a 29-year-old conservative writer and editor at The Atlantic, as an Op-Ed columnist." But is Mr. Douthat (pronounced DOW-thut) really a conservative, or is he the kind of conservative only the New York Times could love? Their own story says pick (B), a sort of kid brother of David Brooks:

His writing steers away from partisanship -- he frequently criticizes Republicans -- or doctrine, showing a concern for income inequality that is usually the terrain of more liberal writers. On abortion, he said in an interview, "I’m sort of a squishy pro-lifer," interested in finding areas of compromise. He initially favored the war in Iraq, but later opposed it.

Would the New York Times announce it’s hired a "liberal writer" for the op-ed page and then declare they "steer away from partisanship or doctrine," are "squishy" on a "woman’s right to choose," and "frequently criticized Democrats"? Why aren’t they honest and report they’ve hired another "Republican moderate columnist"?

Maybe he won't always write something moderate. But Douthat was also hailed by David Frum in his "Limbaugh cult" Newsweek cover story as someone like him, someone who has the courage and wits to tell conservatives the Reagan era is toast:

"We’re at the end of the Reagan era. We’re at a point in time when we’re about to start redefining....the nature of the Republican Party, in response to what the country needs." He’s not a "Reagan Republican," but a "post-Reagan Republican."

Conservatives might suggest that’s about as acceptable to hear as black liberals being told that the Obama era is "post-racial."

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.

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Conservative?

March 12, 2009 - 07:20 ET by allanf

I think the Times considers Nancy Pelosi "conservative"

(Save the trees, stop the print edition of the New York Times).

NYT Conservative

March 12, 2009 - 11:09 ET by unitaryexecutive

Let's see...this guy criticizes Republicans, wants income equality, is squishy on abortion, and was for the war before he was against it.

Holy crap, they hired John Kerry!! (I'm sure if Nancy Pelosi was available, she would be the NYT "conservative" columnist)

We have so many people who can't see a fat man standing beside a thin one without coming to the conclusion that the fat man got that way by taking advantage of the thin one.

-Ronald Reagan

David Gergen wasn't

March 12, 2009 - 07:32 ET by Newsbusterbrown

David Gergen wasn't available for the position?

“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)

LOL!

March 12, 2009 - 09:15 ET by motherbelt

You hit the nail on the head, NBB!

The NYT should start putting quotes (the so-called kind, not the scare kind) around the word "conservative" when they use it.

And Tim he frequently criticizes Republicans is the money quote, right there, along with Douthat's own use of the word "squishy" to describe his pro-life leanings. I guess that means he's open to persuasion.

I noticed they talk about where he is "moderate"....but they don't mention any issues on which he's actually conservative!

So why is he called a conservative ??

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

No one is going to read

March 12, 2009 - 07:51 ET by stancoyle

No one is going to read that "Rag" anyway.

I for one "Hopes the Paper Fails". There I said it..I hope the NYT fails. I'm waiting for you James!!!

Why does that name - Ross

March 12, 2009 - 07:52 ET by moderncommentaries83

Why does that name - Ross G. Douthat - sound familiar to me???

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

"We’re at the end of

March 12, 2009 - 07:57 ET by TheBigB

You mean like one of those post-Reagan Republicans that got us our heads handed to us in the recent elections?

".....And as we look at the News at 10 time-lapse SkyCam, we see as the sun goes down it gets dark."

Don't let them get away

March 12, 2009 - 08:00 ET by Ruths husband Ben

Don't let them get away with doing with the word "conservative" what they did with the word "liberal."

Liberal used to mean progressive as in "for progress." Now it means "take your money away and give it to someone who doesn't deserve it."

Obama: "The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers." -Ed Mahmoud

When your ship is sinking,

March 12, 2009 - 08:00 ET by fitzfong

When your ship is sinking, you're supposed to subtract dead weight, not add it.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill

FITZY...

March 12, 2009 - 08:54 ET by danybhoy

Agreed, the guy is dead weight. BTW, lets call Pena what he is, A LIBERAL REPUBLICAN. Meaning he will be changing his party affiliation with a couple of years.

Fitz, will Harry keep your Spurs in the EPL? It seems that half of the league in danger. Spurs are in 12th, but only 4 points clear of the drop zone. It's nuts. Then again, my boys wipe out Real Madrid 5-0 over two games, but can only draw both games against Stoke...go figure.

"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"

Danybhoy, Pena is already

March 12, 2009 - 09:46 ET by fitzfong

Danybhoy,

Pena is already dead weight. Ross Douthat is the additional dead weight that the Edmund Fitzgerald Times has taken on. No doubt Pinchy and Keller are picking out dresses so they can catch a lifeboat.

As for Spurs, I think they'll do enough to beat the drop. West Brom are down, but the pack at the bottom is so crowded that any two from the lower half (maybe even a couple on the lower fringes of the top half) can still go down. I think Tottenham will pick up enough results to ensure safety, but it won't be easy. I'm hoping Stoke and Hull can stay up, I believe Blackburn will dig out of their predicament, and I think a couple of established sides are in real danger. Middlesbrough and Portsmouth could be in trouble...and many are predicting that Newcastle's remaining fixtures leave them a near-impossible task. I think Liverpool is finished as far as the league goes. They'd have to beat Manchester United this weekend to keep even a slim chance alive. I do believe that Liverpool has a real shot in Europe, though. Porto is probably the weakest side left, so provided they don't get too cocky, the Reds should cruise to the semis. I'd love to see Villareal take out United, but I'm afraid that isn't going to happen.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill

Is that Kevin "Silent Bob"

March 12, 2009 - 08:00 ET by Apache

Is that Kevin "Silent Bob" Smith? He's playing a conservative now?

A few things, Ross.

March 12, 2009 - 08:18 ET by Mike Bratton

1) Get ready for a lot of observations along the lines of: "Douthat's a conservative? Doubt that."

2) And don't blow them off as merely plays on words.

3) Anyone who used the word "squishy" in defining his feelings about killing developing children needs to turn in his or her wordsmith credentials.

4) And stop with the personal delusions about your being anything other than pro-abortion.

5) If you and ol' Frummy succeed in "redefining" the Republican Party, the Republican Party will become as relevant as the Whigs, and will return to being known as the "Know Nothings."

6) Which might actually lead to a real, rock-ribbed, conservative party in the United States. So, forget what I said in number five.

7) Either grow a real beard, or else shave. Lucille Ball's fake beard looked better than that wisp you've cultivated. By contrast, if you check my profile picture, you'll see that my goatee is an example of a manly beard, full of manful manliness and masculinity. And yes, you may print out a copy of the picture to use as a guide.

Hope all that helps.

--Mike

www.thebrattonreport...

Ahhh, he's a "post-Reagan,

March 12, 2009 - 08:15 ET by ckc1227

Ahhh, he's a "post-Reagan, David Frum Republican". I see. In the old days, we called 'em Democrats.

Is it time now that conservatives start their own party?

March 12, 2009 - 08:24 ET by c5then

Or should we wait until the country is SO scrwed up that there is almost no hope of fixing it? Apparently all the media "conservatives" want to re-define the Republican party to look like something the Democrats approve of.

What will it take to really piss off the true conservatives??!!!

Sam Brownback announces he will vote for confirmation of Sebellius for Sectretary of HHS

Gov. Palin appoints a former board member of Planned Parenthood to the AK State Superior Court

Gov. Christ appoints a liberal Democrat to the FL State Supreme Court based on affirmative action:

But he [Gov. Christ] acknowledged that racial diversity was part of his decision."We have a very diverse state. And I think it's important that our court understands all the perspectives that make Florida such a beautiful place to live."

Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!

www.loyaltoliberty.com

Crist

March 12, 2009 - 08:42 ET by okiehawk44

Charlie Crist is like Bloomberg. He was elected as a Republican, but he's really a Democrat. Crist & Bloomberg are opportunists who "think" they are now sitting with the popular kids at lunch.

Michael Calderone said at

March 12, 2009 - 08:44 ET by TE

Michael Calderone said at politico.com that "conservative" (i.e., non-conservative) David "Gergen" Brooks has "touted" Douthat. I have read only a little of what Douthat has written, but if David "Gergen" Brooks is "touting" Douthat, then Douthat ain't no "conservative".

Taking Back

March 12, 2009 - 09:07 ET by slickwillie2001

This is a good article by Ramesh Ponnuru (NRO) I read last night, sounds like a Rush article, but it is as much about taking back the party vs starting over: Why Rush Limbaugh is Good for the Republicans: http://www.time.com/...

A moderate is simply a

March 12, 2009 - 09:41 ET by Dad Gummit

A moderate is simply a liberal who is afraid to have their own opinion.

"If you don't read a newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read a newspaper, you are mis-informed."-Mark Twain

NY Times!

March 12, 2009 - 09:55 ET by blazermaniac

Who reads that rag anymore?

Dad Gummit...

March 12, 2009 - 10:03 ET by dborschjr68

"A moderate is simply a liberal who is afraid to have their own opinion."

Agreed.

F**K Socialism.

"On abortion, he said in

March 12, 2009 - 10:01 ET by dborschjr68

"On abortion, he said in an interview, "I’m sort of a squishy pro-lifer," interested in finding areas of compromise."

--------------------------------------------------------

I cannot quote it verbatim, but Ayn Rand said something to the effect of, "When we compromise with evil, it is evil that wins." I think that's how it went.

I wonder what he really means by "squishy"? Does that mean he lets emotions determine his stance on abortion on a day-by-day basis, or by who he happens to be hanging out with that day?

Yet another "Conservative" shaming true Conservatives...

F**K Socialism.

The NY Times

March 12, 2009 - 10:11 ET by VinncyG

Everytime this liberal rag opens their mouth their stock falls another $ .10. They sold their corp jet, putting their building up for sale. The only hope they have is the soon to be announced inevitable Obama media bailout money to keep them doing his bidding.

NY Times please file. Their shareholders are fools for allowing them to insult over 50% of the entire population of the United States. Liberals, got to love them squirm.

Newspapers are tanking

March 12, 2009 - 10:33 ET by Dad Gummit

Newspapers are tanking because people who can read and seek "News" have to go elsewhere to find it. The Times, as others are, are the cheerleading publications for democrats. They present everything from the liberal side, but only a small percentage of liberals can actually read. Seriously. The stereotypical Obama supporter is an anencephalic who can not tell you who their senator is, what the 3 branches of government are, what any of Obama's broken campaign promises are, etc. They can't comprehend talk radio....no pictures. No beat.

Therefore, the lib messages must be presented in media like mtv and movies. For the liberals with a slight cognitive ability, there is NBC, CBS, etc.

If a person requires a free carton of cigarettes and a bus ride to the polls, they really have no business voting.

“I’ve never been a widow so fast in my life.” - Donna Lounton, who married convicted murderer James Moody Adams by proxy shortly before his execution.

nice try, but ...

March 12, 2009 - 10:41 ET by pmohbuck

The NYT is still dead in the water

what a joke.

March 12, 2009 - 10:55 ET by maxvolt

He's an out right LIBERAL. Make no mistake about it, a non-negotiable conservative philosophy is that Wealth comes by hard work, if you are willing to work hard you too could become rich in America (before Obama that is). That was the definiton of the American Dream , that is WHY ALL our forefathers and for some, even our parents came here..they knew the American Dream was to work to realize your dreams and in America noone could stop you , you could become the next walmart or insurance company that this generation of fools demonizers (in those days we had not been infiltrated by these Marxists like Obama, which is precisely who our parents fled in their native countries). people better wake up, the obvious is staring you square in the face and your in some kind of funky denile. WE HAVE BEEN INFILTRATED, 99% of the DEMOCRAT Party and about 49% of the REPUBLICAN PARTY. This happened on OUR WATCH!