Saturday, September 02, 2006

Update: Don't wonder any longer

As an update to my earlier post: Those wondering why TNR's Lee Siegal still has a job need to wonder no longer. The writer who famously called The Daily Kos a fascist has been kicked to the curb:

An Apology to Our Readers

After an investigation, The New Republic has determined that the comments in our Talkback section defending Lee Siegel's articles and blog under the username "sprezzatura" were produced with Siegel's participation. We deeply regret misleading our readers. Lee Siegel's blog will no longer be published by TNR, and he has been suspended from writing for the magazine.

Franklin Foer
Editor, The New Republic

I suppose TNR isn't all bad.

Update: Ezra Klien adds more.

Update: You really have to read this to believe it.

3 comments:

Paul said...

Did they fire him for being a ridiculous writer and stuffy editor, or for defending himself with a sock puppet?

Tommaso Sciortino said...

So to sum up it speaks to TNRs integrity (or saavy at least). it doesn't speak at all for their editorial judgement.

Paul said...

And, really, I'm not sure it says a whole lot about their integrity. "Writers can't assume a false identity to defend themselves" is kind of a low bar to set for an integrity test, no?