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Logical, Ethical Lapses Beset Washington Post

Op-ed page woes spread to editorial on Nobel Peace Prize

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2009 4:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – The next-to-last straw was the Washington Post editorial saying Neda Agha Soltan should have won the Nobel Peace Prize, which isn't awarded posthumously. The last straw was today's op-ed raising—but not bothering to answer—the question of whether President Obama can even accept the honor without violating the Constitution. The piece confirms that "the Post op-ed page has gone completely off the rails," and Alex Pareene of Gawker isn't holding back.

George Will's fact-checking difficulties, Anne Applebaum's lack of full disclosure, and William Kristol's being "not just wrong but boring and lazy" have Pareene riled up, and he's not the only one. James Fallows of the Atlantic, nobody's idea of a snarky blogger, flagged the factual failing of the Neda argument, writing, "It took 0.24 seconds to find that info, and it would have taken maybe another fifteen seconds to change the sentence in the editorial."

This October 2008 photo shows the Washington Post building on 15th St. NW in Washington, DC.
This October 2008 photo shows the Washington Post building on 15th St. NW in Washington, DC.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The facade of the Washington Post building in Northwest Washington.
The facade of the Washington Post building in Northwest Washington.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert,file)
Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Thorbjorn Jagland holds a photo of this year's winner of the Peace Prize, which is not awarded posthumously--right, Washington Post editorial board?
Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Thorbjorn Jagland holds a photo of this year's winner of the Peace Prize, which is not awarded posthumously--right, Washington Post editorial board?   (AP Photo/Torbjorn Gronning)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
bewilderbeast
Oct 19, 2009 2:27 AM CDT
Agree. Thumbs Up, N00tch
bewilderbeast
Oct 19, 2009 2:25 AM CDT
The thing is they KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO WRITE. There's a pattern. A script. The good guys wear white hats and the bad guys - beards, maybe? So there's not much thinking that needs to be done. If Ahmedinijad gives a speech you don't have to listen to it or read it. You simply blast it with a few standard phrases. It's a complete waste of time to read or do research: It's not going to change anything anyway.
riffran
Oct 17, 2009 8:54 AM CDT
as long as it's not black and tarry crap...that may indicate an upper GI bleed......btw...good one there n00tch...lol

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