Under fire, Time's Cloud now compares Coulter to Stalin, Hitler

[CatWoman]

Defending his 5,800-word cover story on right-wing pundit Ann Coulter in an online interview, Time writer John Cloud used all manner of ad hominem attacks -- including against Coulter, the original subject of his whitewash profile -- but few facts. Apparently stung by widespread criticism over Time's decision to feature Coulter on the cover, Cloud invoked the ultimate distancing technique, comparing Coulter to Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler.

In the interview, posted on the Columbia Journalism Review's CJR Daily weblog, Cloud also went after journalist Eric Alterman over Alterman's scathing commentary on the Coulter profile: "I think maybe Eric and Ann are in the same bunch. They also, by the way, use the same language." That's a bizarre accusation; as far as we know, Alterman, who has written a number of critically acclaimed books, has never lamented that the New York Times building wasn't blown up or suggested that a sitting president should be assassinated. He has never slurred Muslims or women or disabled Vietnam veterans.

But Cloud -- ostensibly a "hard news" reporter -- saved his most caustic vitriol for Media Matters for America and its president and CEO, David Brock. After CJR interviewer Brian Montopoli quoted from Eric Alterman's take on the Time article -- which quoted Media Matters' item on the subject -- Cloud responded by attacking Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200504200008

[coloradodem2005]

1. That's because she is like Stalin and Hitler.

[dsc]

2. at least Hitler and Stalin accomplished something

The problem isn't that Ann is conservative it is that she has no intellectual force to her arguments and has no body of work to justify being on TV let alone the cover of Time.

[solinvictus]

3. Exactly!

I haven't had cable in years, so I asked my stepdad what Coulter had done to merit being invited to "news" panel discussions. He said, "Being a complete bitch and blaming Clinton for everything bad in America". I suppose in some circles that's enough.

[TheFarseer]

4. only some books

that anyone with an 8th grade education and an irrational hatred of blue collar people and minorities could have written.

[YusefHawkins]

7. Kind of the idiot wingnut version of Ana Kournikova of ...

women's pro tennis. Blonde a lot of "racket" and not much else.

[Pithy Cherub]

5. So cloud put a cloud over his own integrity and blames others... Yep,

a definite graduate of the Rightwing Nutball School of Public Press Policy - blame others but never ever take responsibility for your own personal errors and lapses of journalistic judgment. Just :cry: some more Cloud!

Journalist, good judgment, same sentence. :spank:

[Cleita]

6. Wouldn't she have to be a leader of a nation to be like

Stalin or Hitler? I think he could have picked a more accurate comparison.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. I look forward to Coulter's sinking into the anonymous ignominy she so

richly deserves.

[sonicx]

9. This moron should have never done a story on her.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. I don't think Alterman is far enough left to be Stan's

political opposite.

Nobody is coming to mind. :freak:

[Generator]

11. So basically he's saying

His shit don't stink when he knows he left a steaming pile. What? No, that pile is the other guy's..and it's really the cause of my stench.