An Open Letter to the NY Times Magazine

Dear NY Times Magazine:
I remember clearly, the day in 1994, that I first understood the depth and strength of the Republican electoral wave.  At the time I was working in the circulation department of my college's library.  It was my job to check in magazines and journals, and to put them out on the shelves.  I was the person who put newspapers on sticks.  One of the perqs of this jobs was that I got first crack at all of the magazines that came through the library.  And I distinctly remember seeing your feature on America's Most Adorable Conservatives.

I remember that this was the first time I ever saw Ann Coulter, wearing a leopard-skin miniskirt.  Wow, a conservative who wears slutty clothes! Sexy!  Also, I remember a gasping featurette on talent-free MTV VJ Kennedy.  Somehow, her ability to feed creamed corn to her own navel AND to spout right-wing propaganda was seen as an indication that Republicans had what it took to reach out to the yoot.  This was the story that told me that the editorial decision makers at NYTMag were going to do what it took to suck up effectively  to the egos of the Republican Majority, declaring them not only powerful, but attractive to women and rock-and-roll musicians as well.
This is a conclusion that has been borne out through the years, especially in the 2004 feature on "hipublicans."  I found it so hard to believe that a New Yorker would look at these schlubby, dorm-focused Pro-Activ addicts and even breathe the word "hip."  Through the past decade, the writers of the NYTMag have bent the rules of journalism, decency, and good taste to present Republicans as a vital and youthful political movement.  
I've kept my disgust to myself until now, wondering if I lived in a bizarro world where these examples of "hipness" were not just wrong.  But now that the republicans are out of power, I now wonder: can we expect some breathless sucking up for the democrats?  Are we going to see a little more honesty about youth culture in the U.S.?  And finally, who will have the nerve to stand up and call the 1994 cuties what they were: vampires, talent-free wastrels, and opportunists?  
Thanks in advance,
luv,
Pedant

•  It was Laura Ingraham, not Ann Coulter,

  in the leopard-print microminiskirt.

  Minor nit.

  by Jon Meltzer on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:30:39 AM PDT

  •  Thank you

    I stand corrected.

    by pedant on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 07:40:04 AM PDT