Musings on the Rapid Rise and Fall of Domenech

Predictably, the Washington Post's recent introduction of conservative Ben Domenech as a new blogger stirred outrage on the left, which was quickly followed by a highly-motivated search for evidence.  That evidence bore fruit surprisingly quickly in the form of allegations of plagiarism, and some of those allegations stuck well enough to force Domenech to resign his new position barely three days after he was introduced by the Washington Post.

So what does it all mean?

What is means is that any new conservative voice added to the Washington Post will face a modern-day blogosphere inquisition, unmediated by any sense of limits or propriety.  If mud can be slung, it will be slung.  If there is room for the mud to stick, it will stick.

Mick Stockinger at UNCoRRELATED has more thoughts on the short-lived career of Ben Domenech as a Washington Post blogger.  Here's an excerpt:

Ben Domenech, formerly of Red American on the post.com site, initially fought the charges (as was his right), but has now apologized, tacitly admitting that he is indeed guilty as charged.

I feel bad for him, but frankly I wasn't all that pleased with the Washington Post's move--one of the most subtle but damaging things that can happen to any movement is having someone else pick your standard-bearer.elite media has been doing this to conservatives for years. George Will has been a fixture on ABC News as the token conservative since the eighties at least. Have you ever met a conservative like George Will? Is George Will someone you would pick to be the face of conservatism? How about Tucker Carlson? What it is with the elite media's view of conservatives as people who wear bow ties? Its too paranoid to suggest that the Post deliberately chose Domenech because he was a caricature, but that was nevertheless the outcome.

Here's the link to read the whole thing.

Comments

[shingles]

Yes, its all a liberal elite brie eating chardonnay drinking pointy headed ivy league MSM terrorist coddling death to Amerika culture of death worshipping plot.

Now that you've caught on we'll have to adjust our plans accordingly.
Damn.

[Washington]

Actually George Will is very talented. He provides inciteful commentary even if it does not endear him to some.

Mr. Domenech failed. There is no excuse for his behavior-I would prefer a George Will, who actually uses his own material, any day.