Red State

Until today, this column has said nothing about the Ben Domenech affair. As you no doubt know, this youthful reactionary gained a mysteriously prominent writing gig: A blog called "Red State" published by the Washington Post. Domenech isn't a particularly gifted writer, but talent doesn't matter in today's world. As the Jeff Gannon scandal demonstrated, if you express a willingness to perform verbal fellatio on the powerful, rewards follow.

Truth be told, I rather like the title of Domenech's blog. It emphasizes the similarity between the Stalin and Bush cults of personality.

Today, Domenech announced that he has vacated his Post post, due to exposure of his history as a plagiarist. He'll be back, of course. Guys like Domenech never really go away. For now, take note of this passage from his farewell apologia:

My critics have also accused me of plagiarism in multiple movie reviews for the college paper. I once caught an editor at the paper inserting a line from The New Yorker (which I read) into my copy and protested. When that editor was promoted, I resigned. Before that, insertions had been routinely made in my copy, which I did not question. I did not even at that time read the publications from which I am now alleged to have lifted material. When these insertions were made, I assumed, like most disgruntled writers would, that they were unnecessary but legitimate editorial additions.

Is this story believable? Hardly.

Some years ago -- did you ask how many years? Don't be rude -- while attending a well-known university, I used to edit entertainment reviews contributed by students. Translating those reviews into English was not always easy; editors often had to rephrase whole paragraphs. In those days, we considered "I was really stoned last night" a perfectly legitimate excuse for turning in unreadable copy. Once, I rewrote an entire film review submitted by a young writer who spent his college years bonging and 'shrooming through the realms beyond Tiphareth. He's now a well-known movie critic.

So, yeah, I understand that, at certain times, editors must show no mercy. But...inserting text from previously published material? Come off it. No editor in the world, not even a young one working at a university newspaper, would do such a thing.

Young Domenech's plagiarism did not amount to much of a sin; one should forgive a college-age transgression of that sort. I would even overlook the later examples of word-pilferage which apparently have peppered this young man's work. A slap on the wrist, a warning not to do it again, and no more need be said.

But for chrissakes, Mr. Domenech -- when you're caught, you're caught. Just 'fess up and face the music. Stop trying to blame others for your mistakes. Stop being such a goddamned Republican.