Steinberg acts like an asshole, gets PIMP SLAPPED, eventually apologizes!

[wndycty]

But does he mean it?

I'm not sure if you guys have been following the interesting saga of Neil Steinberg of the Sun-Times.

On Wednesday he made a complete ass of himself by questioning whether or not John Stroger staged his stroke to gin up sympathy:

Stroger may be ill, but save sympathy for taxpayers

March 15, 2006

BY NEIL STEINBERG SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Opening shot

Humorist P.J. O'Rourke gave one of his books the memorable title, Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence and a Bad Haircut, a fairly reliable mantra in politics as well as life. So, when wily, 76-year-old Cook County Board president and Democratic Party dinosaur John Stroger checked himself into the hospital Tuesday, the more cynical among us diagnosed a ploy in the fine tradition of the gunshot through the headquarters window and the mysterious late campaign bandage.

But -- surprise, surprise -- the man seems to be actually sick, though the results are the same: to take the air out of the surging Forrest Claypool campaign, as the media focuses, not on the dynamic reformer who has pulled within striking distance of the longtime pol, but on Stroger. Now we have grim reporters standing in front of hospitals talking about "the sympathy vote.''

What about sympathy for the long-suffering residents of Cook County? What about sympathy for everyone who has tried to use the neglected, garbage-filled parks, or found themselves forced to work at the overcrowded, understaffed jail, or try to get treatment at the overwhelmed hospital? Who pities them?
-snip-
http://www.suntimes.com/output/steinberg/cst-nws-stein151.html

Now, let me be clear I'm voting for CLAYPOOL, but John Stroger is a damn human, who like him or not, has dedicated himself to public service and to mock his illness as a campaign poll was the height of insensitivity. What I really find interesting is the fact that Steinberg should show some damn compassion after beating his wife, getting arrested and admitting to an alcohol problem, yet keeping his job due to the support of his bosses and co-workers at the Sun-Times.

Chicago Defender editor took him to task on his radio show on Wednesday. Listen to Martin hand his ASS to him on WVON-AM:
http://www.chicagodefender.com/media/InsideBlackAmerica_Podcast6.mp3

There was outrage in the Black community with many calling for boycotts of the Sun-Times.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3999924

So today Steinberg offers up an apology:
Insensitivity to ailing Stroger was a mistake

March 17, 2006

BY NEIL STEINBERG SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

NEW YORK -- When I wrote Wednesday about Cook County Board President John Stroger, it was a mistake to focus purely on the political, and ignore the personal, the reality of a sick man going to the hospital. I'm sorry for that.

It can be too easy, as we turn our faces to the public, to ignore the people within. I was bragging the other day that one of the benefits of being called awful names a dozen times a day is that it has made me less sensitive to hurt. I thought that was a good thing, but it's not.
-snip-
http://www.suntimes.com/output/steinberg/cst-nws-stein171.html

After listening to his defense on WVON-AM I don't believe he means it.

[XNASA]

1. Steinberg acts like an asshole because.....

He is one.

:hi:

[Southsideirish]

2. He reminds me of a nasty, evil George Costanza. n/t