Former Washington Post Ombudman to Jeff Bezos: Fire Jennifer Rubin

Good advice
Media • Views: 12,879

Patrick Pexton was ombudsman of the Washington Post until March 2013, and he has some advice for new owner Jeff Bezos:

  1. Grow a thick skin.
  2. Remember that you’re selling news.
  3. Get to know your audience.
  4. Fire the hell out of right wing shill Jennifer Rubin.

Have Fred Hiatt, your editorial page editor—who I like, admire, and respect—fire opinion blogger Jennifer Rubin. Not because she’s conservative, but because she’s just plain bad. She doesn’t travel within a hundred miles of Post standards. She parrots and peddles every silly right-wing theory to come down the pike in transparent attempts to get Web hits. Her analysis of the conservative movement, which is a worthwhile and important beat that the Post should treat more seriously on its national pages, is shallow and predictable. Her columns, at best, are political pornography; they get a quick but sure rise out of the right, but you feel bad afterward.

And she is often wrong, and rarely acknowledges it. She was oh-so-wrong about Mitt Romney, week after week writing embarrassing flattery about his 2012 campaign, calling almost every move he made brilliant, and guaranteeing that he would trounce Barack Obama. When he lost, the next day she savaged him and his campaign with treachery, saying he was the worst candidate with the worst staff, ever. She was wrong about the Norway shootings being acts of al-Qaida. She was wrong about Chuck Hagel being an anti-Semite. And does she apologize? Nope.

Rubin was the No. 1 source of complaint mail about any single Post staffer while I was ombudsman, and I’m leaving out the organized email campaigns against her by leftie groups like Media Matters. Thinking conservatives didn’t like her, thinking moderates didn’t like her, government workers who knew her arguments to be unfair didn’t like her. Dump her like a dull tome on the Amazon Bargain Books page.

Jennifer Rubin responds:

“hahahahahhahaha” - that’s a direct quote

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45 comments
1 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:11:33pm
2 Charles Johnson  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:11:40pm

Bryan Fischer goes for the stupid conspiracy theory:

3 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:11:58pm

I’ll bet her resume is ready, though. Good luck with that.

4 erik_t  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:12:39pm

It’s been mentioned (Gus, I think) that this should be given more credence had he said it while he was Ombudsman.

I’m unsure. I get the motivation for a feeling like that, but it’s usually seemed to me like that role is exclusively reactionary, handling communication between the public and the top leadership during times of particular turmoil or outcry.

There’s never been anything like that with Rubin, I don’t think. She’s just not competent, and as far as I can tell she’s never been competent. An ombudsman shouldn’t come out of nowhere and say that such-and-such should be fired; I don’t think that’s really their role.

I’m curious as to how others feel about this.

5 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:13:55pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Bryan Fischer goes for the stupid conspiracy theory:

[Embedded content]

I still remember that silly Yiddish paper that Photoshopped Hillary and the other woman OUT.

6 erik_t  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:14:03pm

Quite a professional response from Rubin, though. SMH.

Eyes rolling entirely out of head

7 Charles Johnson  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:15:00pm

re: #4 erik_t

He may very well have brought it up in private — probably did, in fact, since it’s obvious he feels strongly about it. This is the kind of thing newspapers don’t report.

8 Kragar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:15:42pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Bryan Fischer goes for the stupid conspiracy theory:

[Embedded content]

Was Jesus shopped into the Bible?
/

9 Ian G.  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:16:09pm

re: #6 erik_t

Quite a professional response from Rubin, though. SMH.

Eyes rolling entirely out of head

Would you expect anything less from the hack of hacks?

Hey, if Bezos is hesitant because it would be unfair to the right, he could always shitcan Richard Cohen too.

10 erik_t  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:17:18pm

re: #7 Charles Johnson

He may very well have brought it up in private — probably did, in fact, since it’s obvious he feels strongly about it. This is the kind of thing newspapers don’t report.

Yes, obviously. I forgot this part: I meant strictly in terms of public dialog.

11 Carlos Danger  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:22:15pm

As good as the advice is, I doubt Bezos is going to start his tenure antagonizing the right wing.

12 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:22:45pm

meanwhile in Iran:

An electoral candidate who won a place on a city council in Iran has reportedly been barred from taking up the seat because she is too attractive.


City council candidate ‘too attractive’ for Iranian politics

13 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:25:00pm

re: #12 Backwoods_Sleuth

She’s definitely cute.

14 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:28:30pm

re: #13 ProTARDISLiberal

She’s definitely cute.

That she is. She’s also young and educated…I wonder if that was a bigger factor.

15 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:31:02pm

re: #14 Backwoods_Sleuth

Yep. The hardliners trying to stop demographics.

16 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:31:47pm

re: #2 Charles Johnson

Bryan Fischer goes for the stupid conspiracy theory:

Was Obama photo-shopped into Situation Room photo?: t.co via @youtube
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) August 15, 2013

Don’t know Bryan, were you photo-shopped into the human race because you really don’t seem to fit in well.

17 darthstar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:33:03pm

So Eddie “chats” with daddy. I guess his internet connection is too slow for Skype.

18 Lidane  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:33:14pm

re: #5 Vicious Babushka

I still remember that silly Yiddish paper that Photoshopped Hillary and the other woman OUT.

That was the first thing that popped into my head when I read that derp.

19 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:34:21pm

re: #13 ProTARDISLiberal


Did you see this link yesterday?

Google Maps Tardis

20 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:35:00pm

re: #19 Backwoods_Sleuth

Yep! Saw it a few days back on the official BBC America Doctor Who Tumblr.

21 darthstar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:36:35pm
22 Amory Blaine  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:41:00pm

Politico is a sewer.

23 wrenchwench  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:41:43pm

re: #21 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Two days ago, there were 3 reviews. Now there are 1922.

24 erik_t  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:43:15pm

re: #23 wrenchwench

1931. Someone must have told Reddit, or something.

25 Lidane  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:45:00pm

Rubin should’ve been fired after the 2012 election. She spent the entire time giving Dick Morris a run for his money as the most hilariously wrong right wing stooge, and as soon as it was all over, she went after the Romney campaign for making her look bad.

Her salary has been wasted money for ages. WaPo would’ve been better served by taking what they pay her, putting it in a garbage can, and lighting it all on fire.

26 wrenchwench  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:45:43pm

re: #24 erik_t

1931. Someone must have told Reddit, or something.

It’s my fault.

27 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:45:47pm
28 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:47:16pm
If approved, the anti-SLAPP policy would have to be ratified by ALEC’s communications and technology task force, which includes representatives from Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Yahoo. (The first two companies have not previously been reported to be involved with ALEC and have not responded to requests for comment.)
29 Charles Johnson  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:51:43pm

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

30 Kragar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:52:55pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

Gee, I wonder how that could have happened.
/

31 wrenchwench  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:54:43pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

Just like businesses that shut down out of incompetence use the opportunity to blame Obamacare. Deflects blame, makes a political point. Or so they think.

32 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:57:02pm

Whoa

33 Kragar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:58:37pm

FBI raids Philadelphia Sheriff’s offices, Action News learns

Action News has learned that agents with the FBI have converged on the Philadelphia Sheriff’s offices today in reference to operations in the Sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Joe Blake tells Action News that the agents served a subpoena and executive search warrants at their office at 100 South Broad Street around 9:00 a.m. Thursday.

Agents were seen leaving the building with files and other records.

No arrests were made today and the Sheriff’s Department is said to be fully cooperating with the ongoing probe.

Sources tell Action News that investigators were focused on unknown real-estate dealings in the Sheriff’s Department.

34 Dr. Matt  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:58:55pm

re: #31 wrenchwench

Just like businesses that shut down out of incompetence use the opportunity to blame Obamacare. Deflects blame, makes a political point. Or so they think.

Anytime a business shuts down in my city and the local newspapers cover it, the RWNJs saturate the comments’ section blaming the President. Hell, recently a long-time local sports bar shut down and the newspaper clearly stated that newer sports bars in the areas offering craft beers, foody menus, and scantily clad waitresses were taking away business. But, of course, teatards and their unfettered and irrational hatred for The Black Man didn’t stop them from blaming our President.

35 BongCrodny  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 12:59:16pm

To be fair to Rubin, “parrots and peddles every silly right-wing theory to come down the pike” is what she was hired to do.

Should they fire her, the Post will simply replace her with the next knuckleheaded koo koo bird who will also parrot and peddle every silly right-wing theory to come down the pike.

The sorry freaking record of the Post’s journamalism hiring practices now includes both Jennifer Rubin and Ben Domenech. I don’t need a crystal ball to know that the next batter that steps up to the plate is also going to be wearing clown shoes and a big red nose.

36 BongCrodny  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:02:30pm

re: #19 Backwoods_Sleuth

Did you see this link yesterday?

Google Maps Tardis

The comments are awesome, if you haven’t read them yet.

37 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:02:59pm
38 Political Atheist  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:06:24pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

Did you happen to catch that story at Wired about a guy arrested and ordered to give up his password for his laptop encryption? Well the prosecutors cracked it. And yes there is lots of child porn on the drive.

39 Kragar  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:08:13pm

Just connected with an old friend I haven’t see in a while of Facebook.

I start going thru his time line and I see in the last 10 years he’s become a raging wingnut Ron Paul libertarian.

Fucking piss on horseshit.

40 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:08:17pm

re: #36 BongCrodny

Yep, I have. I expect to by crispy soon. On my tumblr, I made a point how the “relationship” between the Doctor and River makes no romantic sense whatsoever.

I predict a wave of well-thought out and intelligent replies from other fans.

41 A Mom Anon  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:09:36pm

re: #37 Backwoods_Sleuth

Jesus, he beat up his daughters in the months before this incident? Not sure if I read this right, but the latest incident was in March, where he had the rifle pointed at himself. I hope he still doesn’t have access to firearms.

42 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:11:59pm

re: #41 A Mom Anon

Jesus, he beat up his daughters in the months before this incident? Not sure if I read this right, but the latest incident was in March, where he had the rifle pointed at himself. I hope he still doesn’t have access to firearms.

One would think they took his guns since he’s charged with a felony. At least until after the trial.

43 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:13:50pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

What did I say the other day? He was just too vague, and it raised a flag for me.

44 abolitionist  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:41:05pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

An interesting detail about that secure email service Lavabit, shut down by the owner who hinted around that it was due to Edward Snowden — apparently there’s an active child porn investigation into Lavabit:

techdirt.com

Somehow the owner forgot to mention that little detail.

You seem to believe that he was free to mention that little detail. From Forbes:
Lavabit’s Ladar Levison: ‘If You Knew What I Know About Email, You Might Not Use It’ Excerpt:
“This is about protecting all of our users, not just one in particular. It’s not my place to decide whether an investigation is just, but the government has the legal authority to force you to do things you’re uncomfortable with,” said Levison in a phone call on Friday. “The fact that I can’t talk about this is as big a problem as what they asked me to do.”

45 Decatur Deb  Thu, Aug 15, 2013 1:44:56pm

Don’t know anything about Lavabit I didn’t learn here, but ‘child porn’ could easily become the witchcraft mania of the Intertubes, especially in politically charged cases.


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