Why does the Plain Dealer print O’Brien? That was the headline atop Sunday’s letters page in the morning newspaper.
So why DOES the newspaper put up with his nonsense.
There were eight letters all taking Kevin O’Brien, a PD editorial page editor and columnist, to task for – even for him – an unusually strident, stupid and ignorant column on the recently passed health care measure.
The column cited screamed out for such a response.
Kevin is upset.
But he is upset in a mean-spirited and dishonest way.
O’Brien’s most onerous paragraph, cited by the first letter writer Philip Pellett, tells it all.
“The Democrats in Congress and the White House have forced upon the United States of America (music please) a federal health care plan designed for people who are too stupid, incompetent and weak to managed their own affairs.”
Anyone who has lived even a little should take offense to that.
Anyone who has lived even a little knows that there are bumps, if not crashes, in almost everyone’s life. You don’t have to be stupid, incompetent or weak to know this. You just have to live.
I think Editor Susan Goldberg and Editorial Page Editor Elizabeth Sullivan should give this some thought.
They need to ask themselves, Why do we print Kevin O’Brien?
Lots of people really want to know. Why?
Roldo Bartimole celebrates 50 years of news reporting this year. He published and wrote Point of View, a newsletter about Cleveland, for 32 years. He worked for the Plain Dealer and Wall Street Journal in the 1960s.He was a 2004 Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame recipient and won the national Joe Callaway Award for Civic Courage in 1991.
2 Responses to “Roldo: Why does the PD Print Kevin O’Brien?”
Ray Saviciunas
Why? Diversity of ideas. If the newspaper pissed you off, then it might be trying to doing its job. Just how would you propose to silence Mr. O’Brien as you crown yourself the sole purveyor of correct thought? You better check for brown shirts in your laundry before you start.
bb
Roldo
Have you read the article? Whats wrong with printing the other side of the arguement? That first line is a hook. Kevin’s passionate about his view as you are about your view. Surely you realize how this plan will be often abused by those who should be better educated about health and wellness. And you are surprised by the concern?