News

Bronner lets controversy subside, then cancels 92d St appearance w/ Perle and Bolton

No surprise– New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief Ethan Bronner has cancelled his scheduled Nov. 7 appearance on an Islamophobic panel at the 92d Street Y organized by the Clarion Fund with neocons Richard Perle and John Bolton sharing the stage. The Times tells Politico’s Ben Smith that Bronner didn’t know what Clarion is, or who his stagemates were.

But look for the Islamophobic neocon cirque de soleil to go on, on Lexington Avenue, without the beard! (The 92d Street Y, which cannot have a Palestinian on stage by himself; Zionism is corrupting our intellectual tradition.)

And note the playbook: Bronner let a week or so pass following the controversy over his appearance (set off by Eli Clifton) so that it would not appear that he was leaving under pressure. (Look for the Times to follow the same procedure when it announces, inevitably, during a lull some months from now, that Bronner is leaving the Jerusalem bureau, nothing to do with the criticisms…)

34 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Phil, checkout this brand new Jello Biafra post at myFDL…

Thoughts On Visit To Israel…

What a hoot: The Times tells Politico’s Ben Smith that Bronner didn’t know what Clarion is, or who his stagemates were.

No way. He had to know what Clarion represents and there is no way that he didn’t know who John Bolton and Richard Perle are. Bronner is not that stupid. But it does show he is starting to run scared. This creep deserves to be ousted from his perch in the NY Times. I do think that fact might finally be sinking in.

the nyt has not a shred of integrity to it… the wapo and the wall st. journal are essentially the same.. people need to move the conversation elsewhere as it ain’t happening in those institutions…

I love the Dead Kennedys, and I think he’s gone in with a genuine attitude of open-mindedness. BUT he has not done a great job of his fact-checking AND you can tell from the article that all his interpersonal interactions and information have come from Israelis not Palestinians. Who however well intentioned can’t escape the propaganda environment that exists in Israel.

Among many, here’s a corker from the conlusion of the piece:

“I personally support a two-state solution in hopes it can lead to a one-state solution in our lifetime. In the short run we may get a three-state solution if Hamas in Gaza splits with Hezbollah in the West Bank, like when East Pakistan broke off and became Bangladesh.”

Ha ha

Success?

One more reputation shattered, “successfully”. One more voice of potential moderation silenced.

I know, he deserved it.