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Anyone who is reasonably acquainted with the mainstream world or plugged into social media has been attuned to the drama that has engulfed former CEO and Hollywood heavyweight, Harvey Weinstein. The New York Times and numerous other publications have written riveting, intense, graphic, detailed accounts of Weinstein’s shameful antics and predatory behavior. The reaction from large segments of the public, including much of Hollywood, was one of shock, disbelief, anger, and in some cynicism and disgust. Over the past month, Weinstein’s fall from grace has been nothing stunning. At the current moment, he is little more than a seriously sad, ethically and morally deficient social pariah who has been all but exiled by his Hollywood peers.
Earlier this year, Mitchell Sunderland, David Auerbach, Adam Grandmaison, Dan Lyons, and others were highlighted in a riveting, first-rate expose written by Joseph Bernstein at Buzzfeed. (The piece should certainly be considered for a Pulitzer prize). The refreshingly revelatory article exposed numerous male journalists who had developed a cozy relationship and served as consultants for the ultra conservative Breitbart.com media outlet.
Several of these men have ties with White supremacist organizations. Given Breitbart’s political stance, this fact, in and of itself is not all that surprising. On the contrary, what caused more considerable eye-raising and jaw-dropping among many avid media junkies was the fact that a number of purportedly “liberal/progressive” journalists were actively involved in assisting the Breitbart machine, in particular, serving as a conduit of sorts to right wing provocateur and flame thrower, Milo Yiannopolous.
Indeed, Bernstein’s piece exposed that fact that Sunderland, Auerbach, Lyons and others were actively engaged with suggesting, advising and encouraging Yiannopolous, giving him tips on what sort of columns to write, what public figures to target for ridicule, and what social causes to publicly denigrate. Mitchell Sunderland wrote for the Vice.com feminist blog, broadly. David Auerbach was a columnist for Slate.com. Adam Grandmaison writes for Rolling Stone Magazine and the blog BXM. Dan Lyons was a writer for the popular HBO program, Silicon Valley.
Amusingly, though certainly not surprisingly, after this major bombshell of a story broke, many of these so called liberal/progressive journalists scrambled to protect and in some cases, deflect attention from their suddenly open secrets. Their sleazy shenanigans have been uncovered for the entire world to see. Sunderland immediately shut down his twitter page and went underground as his bosses immediately launched an investigation and eventually fired him for violating serious ethics in journalism. Auerbach became engaged in a ludicrous twitter exchange with accusers which, rather than exonerated him, further implicated him in the scandal.
Grandmaison, tipped off Milo that he should consider investigating allegations made by a journalist who claimed that she was the victim of abuse by a former boyfriend. Lyons urged Yiannopolous to write pieces speculating on the sexuality of two women who were prominent in the tech industry who were being targeted by sexist trolls online. When exposed for his devious behavior, he issued several belated, insincere apologies.
What is more sad is the fact that each of these men presented and positioned themselves as “socially liberal/progressive,” particularly as it related to social issues. Sunderland wrote a number of pro-feminist articles. Auerbach championed himself a voice of liberalism while at Slate. Grandmaison touted support for progressive sentiments at BMX, and Lyons wrote several pieces decrying what he saw as the “toxic bro culture” filled with sexism, racism, tribalism etc…that was ruining the tech industry and so on. You see the pattern here?
Each of these men publicly espoused and promoted liberal ideas in their columns and public speeches, yet, behind closed doors, were all too eager to sharpen their knives and engage in a cowardly and sinister game of attacking and demonizing the same progressive individuals and groups (in particular, feminists) as they arrogantly and shamelessly colluded with Breitbart.com and other anti-liberal organizations. In essence, they were serving as politically unethical double agents. Progressives and other forward thinking people deserve better.
The fact is that the aforementioned men are probably not alone. There are likely more than a few supposedly left of center male columnists, pundits, radio hosts, etc… who take mercenary stances in their public speeches, op-ed columns and various other venues where they perceive their audience to harbor such viewpoints. Yet passionately, behind the scenes, work feverishly to denounce, discredit, ridicule, and undermine causes and movements like feminism, multiculturalism, affirmative action, abortion, environmental protections and other progressive causes. They are political Rasputins.
To be sure, there are certainly some conservative media personalities who behave/have behaved in a similar manner. This is not a politically one sided issue. Regardless, men (and women) who harbor such politically devious, opportunistic, and schizophrenic behavior are very untoward human beings and would serve all of us better by refraining from engaging in public matters and policy. Period. Leave such important issues to those who have some sense of ethics and decency.
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