Silencing Richard Grenell was counterproductive
Sensible social conservatives like Franck should understand that if you’re going to oppose gay marriage, you will have zero chance of convincing anyone your position isn’t driven by anti-gay animus if you’re also opposed to gays working in policy areas that have nothing to do with gay marriage.
As for Fischer, I’ve avoided making him the avatar of the “religious right” the way some in the media have, because doing so gives Fischer far too much credit and the religious right far too little. I’ve talked to many prominent Christian conservatives about this, and the idea that Fischer speaks for them is ludicrous. Fischer, who’s argued that the First Amendment doesn’t protect the religious freedom of non-Christians, doesn’t speak for any members of the Christian right I know.
Gagging Grenell was a bad play for the Romney team because it guaranteed the issue wouldn’t go away. The only way to dispel concerns about the man’s fitness for the job was to let him do his job. Muzzling him until he resigned was the worst possible way to handle it because all it did was feed crocodiles like Fischer.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Well, since all those pro gay marriage polls didn’t pan out, it’s back to pushing this stupid Grenell story.
Blake on May 9, 2012 at 5:07 PM
I don’t think Jonah Goldberg has the inside scoop on this, it sounds to me more like a mountain made out of a mole hill, and shaped by media reaction.
If you are working for a campaign you believe in you don’t resign in a huff. And maybe he didn’t.
Fleuries on May 9, 2012 at 5:09 PM
It was nice to see Jonah beat the crap out of Piers Morgan again.
aunursa on May 9, 2012 at 5:20 PM
So what evidence does Jonah have of this gag order other than a few public criticisms….?
I have read this narrative before but nobody has a name who gave the order.
Did John Bolton silence him….?
NeoKong on May 9, 2012 at 5:20 PM
“muzzling him until he resigned”?
He was ‘on the job’ for less than 2 weeks and hadn’t even officially started.
Plenty of straight people get asked to observe first when they start a new job.
I can’t help but wonder if this guy was really going to be that tough and able to make his case if he caved in less than 2 weeks because someone told him to listen.
JadeNYU on May 9, 2012 at 5:21 PM
National Review should get itself out of the cocktail party — where these trivial issues matter right now, sadly — and stick to the issue affecting Americans everywhere: THE ECONOMY. Our team needs to stop playing by the other team’s rules for once.
Punchenko on May 9, 2012 at 5:24 PM
lol Jonah.
Your readers spent the week convincing themselves this guy was a gay activist mole inside the campaign waiting to spring his trap.
You’ve spent the past decade telling your readers Liberals are less than human.
You’ll have to forgive people having trouble with your new… Gays are good, Romney campaign bad angle.
freshface on May 9, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Yup
WeekendAtBernankes on May 9, 2012 at 5:41 PM
It’s called message discipline, Jonah, and its very important in a Presidential campaign. It’s also, I believe, important in the media world in which you work.
For instance, if I were a renowned, historically important conservative publication that frequently lambasts the MSM for political bias, bad reporting, poor sourcing, and plagarization (hello, NYT), I would fire, or at least severely reprimand an employee who claimed to have been nominated for a Pulitzer, but hadn’t. Perhaps, I would ask him to “resign”. Like this guy:
Oops. I guess that’s why your so, ah, liberal on this issue, Jonah. On the other hand, I don’t think the likes of you would last very long with the Romney campaign. Thank God.
Mr. Arkadin on May 9, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Everyone and their mother knew backward NC would ban gay marriage. Doesn’t change the fact that a majority of Americans support gay marriage in the nation. Romney unknowingly opened a big can of worms with Grenell – so thankful he did. Our President now openly supports gay marriage! Thanks, Romney!
inthemiddle on May 9, 2012 at 5:55 PM
Hear!..Hear!..
Dire Straits on May 9, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Really? Says who, Dan Savage? How many states allow gay marriage and how many don’t?
cicerone on May 9, 2012 at 6:01 PM
The Liberal media just had Tony Perkins on.
He was asked whether he supports giving same sex couples the same rights a married couples, like hospital, employer rights.
He said… “Of course, who wouldn’t be for that?”
Liberal media let it go with no follow up.
freshface on May 9, 2012 at 6:04 PM
For crying out loud. Yes let’s keep beating this dead horse.
Dongemaharu on May 9, 2012 at 6:19 PM
We should ask Jonah Goldberg how his publication/webzine felt about “silencing” the following individuals, for the following so-called reasons:
John O’Sullivan – racist
Ann Coulter – Muslim hater
John Derbyshire – racist
Robert Weissberg – racist
Mr. Arkadin on May 9, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Dear Jonah,
Dumbest thing you have ever written.
Grenell was opposed by conservatives because he was too dumb to think ahead – if you want to be a press
flunkiespokesman you cannot not allow yourself to be the story. Deleting the tweets gave the leftists the in they wanted into bashing him. His tweets weren’t even amusing or clever and showed an abrasive side to someone who wanted to manage a public image.Again, he was a jerk is why he was opposed by conservatives, not his sexual preferences.
Branch Rickey on May 9, 2012 at 6:36 PM
After yesterday, it’s already forgotten.
Rixon on May 9, 2012 at 6:38 PM
That was my first thought also, who in the hell is Goldburg and the National Review to be criticizing anyone for silencing anybody?
lowandslow on May 9, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Don’t forget about backward California!
Oh, wait, that doesn’t fit your anti-south bigot world view.
Well, carry on then!
JadeNYU on May 9, 2012 at 7:11 PM