It Took Newsweek Three Days and a Staff Revolt to Apologize for Kamala Harris Birtherism Op-Ed

[mcar]

It Took Newsweek Three Days and a Staff Revolt to Apologize for Kamala Harris Birtherism Op-Ed
The apology nevertheless fell far short of staffers’ demands that the magazine retract and remove the supposedly erudite exploration of 19th century Supreme Court rulings.

Lloyd Grove
Editor At Large
Updated Aug. 15, 2020 3:22AM ET

Editors and executives at Newsweek, a formerly prestigious and popular magazine that in recent years has suffered from self-inflicted wounds and even a criminal investigation of its business practices, are once again digging themselves out of a public relations hole.

Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Nancy Cooper and the magazine’s recently hired opinion editor, Trump-backing conservative activist and attorney Josh Hammer, apologized on Friday after nearly a week of defending a right-wing law professor’s op-ed questioning Sen. Kamala Harris’ U.S. citizenship and her eligibility to be Joe Biden’s running mate.

“This op-ed is being used by some as a tool to perpetuate racism and xenophobia. We apologize,” read the editor’s note that replaced their earlier detailed defense of the op-ed. “[T]o many readers, the essay inevitably conveyed the ugly message that Senator Kamala Harris, a woman of color and the child of immigrants, was somehow not truly American.”...

The essay—by Chapman University law professor John C. Eastman, also a Claremont Institute denizen, and headlined “Some Questions for Kamala Harris About Eligibility”—prompted widespread disgust both inside and outside Newsweek, as well as letters demanding a retraction from members of the magazine’s staff for its whiff of birtherism and racism; it was predictably weaponized by Donald Trump and his supporters.

During a Thursday press conference/campaign rally in the White House briefing room, a reporter asked Trump about social media rumors—apparently stoked by Newsweek—that Harris was “an anchor baby” and thus ineligible to run.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/it-took-newsweek-three-days-and-a-staff-revolt-to-apologize-for-kamala-harris-birtherism-op-ed?ref=scroll

[hatrack]

1. "Chapman University"?

[Kyblue1]

3. Chapman is a notorious rightwing institution

[Thekaspervote]

2. I was totally disgusted and let them know on twitter and in the reader comment section. obviously i

Was far from the only one. Good for the staff pushing back against such nonsense!! That article was shear trumpery ass kissing

[mcar]

6. Yes. Good for them - and you. nt

[pwb]

4. Week old news now there is a winner.

[agingdem]

5. they let these racist trump sycophants spew their crap

and then networks, online newspapers print a retraction/not a retraction...a mea culpa for not doing a better job...like these news organizations never heard of editors and proof readers ...and then they move on to their disclaimer blah blah..between the published garbage and the disclaimer they get a shit load of publicity which means dollars..the end always justifies the means when the bottom line is in play...

[mcar]

7. And while the MSM is clearly and firmly stating it's a lie

they are still talking about it.

[AleksS]

8. I know!

Their retractions are never: “We’re sorry we published some seriously racist garbage,”

but always: “We’re sorry some people interpreted our totally fine article in ways that might just be considered racist.”

It’s always someone else’s fault. No responsibility taken.

[agingdem]

9. and it's never a reflection of the news organization or their editorial policy..

well, when their idea of scruples is spelled "screw-ples" and racist crap is just an opinion and there's something about freedom of the press in that Constitution thing then they're just doing their job...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. About damn time

[Quixote1818]

11. Newsweek is on a roll. They did the piece on the YALE doctor who loves hydroxychloroquine

Are they turning into a right wing rag?