Enough. I think we've finally had enough of this traitorous, windbag cowardly shill. He's dishonoring whatever tatters of ideals the profession of journalism ever claimed, and he and his fellow neo-con travelers have brought our democracy to the edge of a fascist abyss.
Hiding behind the shield law like a toddler behind his mommy's skirts in order to carry out back-alley stabbings on the pages of national newspapers was a sorry enough sight. Destroying a CIA operative's career - and likely a network built up over decades - in order to silence her husband was despicable. Keeping silent while six other journalists - who wisely and patriotically chose country over "scoop" - made their torturous way through court was the height of indifferent arrogance.
And now as an added fillip of garden-variety incivility and total absence of character, he has refused to debate Eric Alterman after the University of California at Santa Barbara spent months planning the Arthur N. Rupe Great Debate, originally scheduled for May 25. Go read Alterman: The title alone is worth the click.
"Novak Chickens Out".
This man needs to be drummed out of his profession. He is an abomination as a journalist, as an American and as a human being.
It's time to let every newspaper know we will cancel our subscriptions if his column is carried. It's time to let CNN know we will never watch them again if he is allowed to appear (no loss for us, that). It's time to let every radio show and television show that invites him to speak as a guest that we will never tune in again.
(I apologize for the rant, but I'm seething. This Alterman-Novak debate was to take place in my hometown, and I know how much the university justly prides itself on the Rupe Great Debate series and how much local effort has gone into making it the success that it is. Plus, I really, really wanted to see Alterman wipe the floor with this dishrag of a homo sapien, right before my very eyes.)
Update: UCSB just confirmed for me that it was indeed Novak who cancelled (not that we thought otherwise). And they must be quite miffed, because in addition to pointing me to an article in today's Santa Barbara News-Press (which I'm trying to get my physical hands on since there's an online subscription required), they pointed me directly to ... Alterman's "Novak Chickens Out."
Update: baldwiny kindly sent me the article from today’s edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press. Relevant information follows:
Conservative columnist and commentator Robert Novak abruptly canceled his scheduled May 25 appearance at a high-profile debate at UCSB about media bias, after being surprised to learn, he said, that he would going one-on-one with liberal critic Eric Alterman.
Although he signed a contract for the appearance last February, Mr. Novak unexpectedly dropped out after a friend sent him a harshly critical article Mr. Alterman had written about him in the May 12 issue of The Nation. The conservative writer said he had been unaware until reading the article, which noted the upcoming debate, that he would be facing Mr. Alterman.
...His decision left little time for organizers of the Arthur N. Rupe Great Debate Series to find someone of equal stature, so they canceled the event. They plan to refund ticket purchases and will try to organize a similar debate in the fall with Mr. Alterman and a conservative other than Mr. Novak.
...Mr. Novak said there was a miscommunication somewhere in the planning of the event. Had he known that he was to appear with Mr. Alterman, he would not have agreed to participate, he insisted.
..."There are plenty of people I don't like, but apart from Alterman I can't think of one of them that I wouldn't debate," said Mr. Novak, who in 2001 won a lifetime achievement award from the National Press Club for his almost five decades of journalism. "I'm not a politician, I'm a journalist. I do what I damn well please, and I'm not appearing with people I don't want to appear with, no matter how large the fee."
UCSB officials did not disclose what the fee would have been, but confirmed that it was five figures.
...The committee that sets up the debates has intended them to be confrontational. It wants robust disagreement and discussion, a decision that comes from sponsor Arthur Rupe himself.
..."You know I just became aware of this interchange (between Mr. Alterman and Mr. Novak)," Mr. Rupe said. "Alterman's article was vituperative and a little bit hard and personal. I can understand how Novak feels here, but he would have had his antagonist in a public forum where he could have engaged him a structured debate. You think he would have seen it as an opportunity."
Hey, how about this, folks?!? From here on out, since Novak bugs out on his contracted commitments, stop booking him for five-figure appearances! And if some institution is silly enough to do so, launch a letter campaign to let said institution know how unhappy patriotic Americans are to see money going into the pockets of traitors! Cut off the blowhard's speaking fees and shun him like the weasel he is!