WaPo's Spineless Surrender

Writing in Slate, Jack Shafer whacks Washington Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli for surrendering to the paper’s critics. After two Post writers recorded a controversial video segment—it referred to “Mad Bitch Beer” as a drink fit for Hillary Clinton—Brauchli canceled the segment. Shafer points out that Post readers, like newspaper readers the world over, have an endless capacity to be offended. By kowtowing to them, Brauchli showed his “spinelessness,” and sent the following message to his troops: “We support edgy journalism completely—until we don't, and at that point we'll ship you to the tailor and have you fitted with gags.”