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Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 4:07:19 AM

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quote:

A Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic for The Washington Post has apologized for sending an angry e-mail in which he called District of Columbia Council member Marion Barry a "crack addict."

Tim Page wrote to Barry's aide last week after receiving a press release about the former mayor's views on the financially troubled Greater Southeast Community Hospital.

"Must we hear about it every time this crack addict attempts to rehabilitate himself with some new — and typically half-witted — political grandstanding?" the e-mail said. "I'd be grateful if you would take me off your mailing list. I cannot think of anything the useless Marion Barry could do that would interest me in the slightest, up to and including overdose."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_en_ot/barry_post_reprimand

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 9:32:14 AM

NeedToUseYou

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I thought he was a crack addict, am I mistaking him for someone else?

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 10:03:17 AM

Alumbrado

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Very sloppy journalism, using an emotion laden word like 'addict' when a simple one would do just as well.

He should have called Hizzoner a 'crackhead'.

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 10:11:20 AM

GoddessDustyGold

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Amazing!
In reading the linked article I note that Page had already telephoned to request removal from the mailing list and was cursed at by a staffer. Although there is no record of this phone call, I suspect there wouldn't be, as the staffer is not likely to announce that he just cursed at a subscriber and was not going to cancel the subscription.
Rather than quietly taking care of this as a private matter between a subscriber who made an angry (and all too human) response to this frustration, it is turned into a public circus with the suggestion that he be fired and that the newspaper he represented print an editorial apology. For what? Why?
I am not getting the impression that Page was writing as a representative of the Washington Post, and I am not sure what he wrote that was untrue.

quote:

Barry was videotaped in 1990, during his third term as mayor, smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting. He served a six-month prison sentence.

If he was not a pulitzer prize winning reporter, would this have gone any farther than quietly cancelling the subscription to the mailing list? His writing skills are apparent as I thought the email had punch and made his personal point is a most effective way. But that is just Me...
These public mea culpas resulting from the disrespect of people's privacy are starting to get to Me.

edited: Because I mixed up the names! Mea Culpa!

< Message edited by GoddessDustyGold -- 11/14/2007 10:40:48 AM >

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 10:24:12 AM

Emperor1956

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Page is an excellent writer. I am surprised that he omitted a key phrase, as it is clear he is offended (as am I) by this convicted drug user's constant attempts to interject himself into the public debate. I would have thought he'd email back "every time this crack -- and publicity -- addict..."

That's just me, tho.

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 10:24:18 AM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NeedToUseYou

I thought he was a crack addict, am I mistaking him for someone else?

Ditto.
Being a drug user should disqualify one from serving in public office.

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:43:24 PM

bipolarber

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Oh, I agree. When it came out that George W. Bush used cocaine, he should have been drummed out in shame.

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:44:45 PM

mnottertail

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Now, hold up there dawg---

I agree that GW is pure unadulterated asswipe, but I have never heard such an accusation leveled against him.

Ron

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:47:26 PM

Alumbrado

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I think it was somewhere in between the 'ordering the hit on Valerie Plame', and the 'kidnapping the Lindbergh baby' accusations.

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:54:48 PM

mnottertail

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Well, then he's failed at Plame and succeeded at the Lindberg baby. This is a better record than his stated presidential aspirations of social security reform and immigration reform, undoubtably shit canned.

A horse apiece, then.

LOL
Orme

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:57:06 PM

DrkJourney

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um...isn't he a crack addict? I mean wasn't that his confession?

< Message edited by DrkJourney -- 11/14/2007 1:00:30 PM >

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 12:59:15 PM

mnottertail

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Nah, that is Marion Barry, baby-----different political party.

Ron

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RE: Washington Post critic apologizes for email - 11/14/2007 2:47:41 PM

Crush