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Thanks, Frank Rich!
By Kyle | April 19, 2009
Frank Rich calls me “invariably witty and invariably conservative” in his column today. As always, when I get this kind of response, my reaction is: Somebody in the left-leaning media is actually reading my stuff? Frank once sent me a kind email to praise a movie review I wrote, so I guess there’s a possibility he’s been reading me all along. Damned open-minded of him. But no, I won’t be turning liberal in hopes that Bob Herbert will give me an attaboy. By the way, in the column in question, I didn’t mean that Maggie Gallagher (or anyone else) is necessarily a bigot for opposing gay marriage.
Topics: New York City, Newspapers, Politics |
April 19th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Would he describe any of his peers as invariably liberal - even though they are?
April 19th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Great, you are growing! A few more postings and you will be at David Brooks’ level and soon after that you’ll be a full David Souter.
It was good while it lasted. I’ll go where the uneducated and dangerous right wing bigots are.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
The plot is working! Soon Kyle will be having tea with Kathleen Parker, sharing gay friends with Meghan McCain and waxing poetic with the likes of Victor Van Vorhees the VII. Larry King is in the near future and the invariably leg-tingly Chris Matthews will come calling soon. This is like that movie “The Skulls,” with no hot chicks and more masochistic activity.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Liked the column a lot, but did you really ask, “Who seriously believes that being gay is any more of a choice than being black?”?
You really don’t spend much time around evangelical Christians (or listing to Christian radio, or reading evangelical publications, or going to the South), do you? LOTS of people believe this.
I often think that non-religious conservatives from NY, SF, LA, etc. just don’t realize what the “mainstream” of the conservative movement away from the coasts is really like. You fit it fine with the libertarian-leaning econ conservatives in the NE, but for much of the movement you’d still be a French-lovin’ atheist, and that that don’t go over too well.
April 19th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
“Would he describe any of his peers as invariably liberal - even though they are?”
Well, he might in a similar context, right? The point is that Kyle is going against what most people (correctly) view as a more typical conservative stance. If Bob Herbert writes a screed against any government spending on health care and education (watch for flying swine), I’m sure that his invariably liberal perspective would be noted.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Kyle getting praise from a liberal? That’s rich, frankly.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:36 am
LOTS of people believe this.
Yes, and lots don’t. And they seem to be able to discuss their opinions just fine here East or in the Midwest.
Your generalities are no more valid than some of theirs. Try tolerance!
April 20th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
@ Kyle Congrats on the attaboy from Frank. I read that paragraph out loud to the Mrs, first thing yesterday — in between sips of my chai latte, of course, and only after turning the volume down on the “Internationale” on the stereo.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
@Shangui. A lot of people think a lot of stupid things. And I wouldn’t furnish Christian radio as a source for biological evidence regarding sexual orientation. (I am a devout Christian, by the way, so you can spare me the nonsense about being a coastal elitist atheist.)
Thankfully, though, younger evangelical Christians, in significant numbers, are rejecting the homophobia and bigotry of too many of their elders. They are wisely blending what we know to be true about sexual orientation (it is mostly not a choice) with the actual teachings of their Savior, who preached love and compassion…and spewed venom at the excessively pious.
Here’s a little homework assignment for you, Shangui. Why don’t you turn off the radio, go out and get one of those red-letter editions of the Bible, which highlight Christ’s quotations, and report back here on KSOnline the myriad quotations from Jesus on the topic of homosexuality. I’ll be waiting right here…but not exactly holding my breath.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
@Shangui. Oops, I just re-read your post. Sorry, I was killing the messenger. My argument is clearly not with you, but with the people you are referring to. (I do think, however, that those red-letter editions of the Bible are pretty nifty — my grandfather gave me one for my confirmation.)
And I agree with your post re: Herbert/invariably liberal, etc.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
yankeefan– Thanks for the re-read. Obviously I think we’re in basic agreement here (and I hope you’re correct about younger evangelicals).