Been following the Estrich-Kinsley debate? Since you've probably never heard of either of them, let me fill you in. Former campaign manager of the disastrous Dukakis campaign, and current law professor, Susan Estrich, has accused Michael Kinsley-- editor of the op-ed pages of the L.A. Times -- of sexism. Apparently the L.A. Times runs far more men then women writers on its op-ed pages.
But I'm not so interested in the substance of the debate (Though I hear there's very little) as I am in the tone. Estrich, apparently not satisfied with simple arguing the facts, has turned to the most sordid of personal attacks involving Kinsley's health condition. Read Kathy Seipp's commentary on the situation:
The apex, of course, came when Estrich accused her old law school classmate of refusing to recognize that his Parkinson's Disease may have affected his judgment. At that point, even much of the left wrote her off as a deranged cow. I decided that Estrich is a bad woman as well as a stupid one, and I use both those terms advisedly. Her flinging Kinsley's illness in his face crossed any lines of decency, and the notion that the Hollywood wives on her mass email list have the power to affect policy at the L.A. Times is strategically idiotic. Obviously, the ex-Mrs. Bud Yorkin, et al., have no constituency. If each one cancels her subscription, big deal -- that's what, 50 subscriptions? They can't organize pickets or boycotts. None of them are Maxine Waters.
No comments:
Post a Comment