Jonah Goldberg at
the Corner has spent the last couple of days questioning Jill Carroll's worth as a human being. As you probably know, the kidnapped reporter for the Christian Science Monitor was seen in a video shortly after her release saying that the kidnappers had "treated her well."
Goldberg and many on the rightwing blogs went crazy. How dare her? How dare her say that about terrorists? There must be something wrong with her. There must be a flaw in her character. On and on.
Today the Christian Science Monitor printed a statement from Ms. Carroll saying that the video was made under duress. Now the cowardly slime that is the rightwing-hack-o-sphere is attempting to salvage whatever reputations they believe they may have had.
There are plenty of hacks who went after her. I'm going to focus on Jonah Goldberg, who said on the day of her release:
MAYBE IT'S JUST ME [Jonah Goldberg]
But Jill Carroll is increasingly starting to bug me.
More slime below.
Goldberg, at the outset of his retreat,
released this:
...I was right to be skeptical... They insist I should apologize for "judging" her. This strikes me as absurd. If you go back and read what I've posted, I said that Carroll's statements didn't scan.
...
But, most of the lefty emailers -- and many bloggers -- took her initial statements at face value. I didn't. So far, it seems to me that I was right and they were wrong. I see no need to apologize. It seems to me the apologies should be coming from them.
Let's break it down:
* I was right to be skeptical.
Jonah Goldberg, you did not simply express "skepticism." You did not simply say her comments "didn't scan." I went back and looked at what you wrote. You said this about Jill Carroll:
Is it so absurd to think that maybe someone who had their senses about them and their moral center in good order, would be less thankful about her treatment and more upset that the translator she asked to come with her was murdered while working for her?
Jonah Goldberg: watching out for Jill Carroll's moral center. The mind revolts.
Jonah Goldberg: You are a liar. You accused her of being "immoral." You, who we have just seen is a liar and a coward, accused her of being "immoral." Do you see how this is more than expressing "skepticism"? Of course you do. And you lied about it.
* But, most of the lefty emailers -- and many bloggers -- took her initial statements at face value.
Every lefty blogger I read said nothing but "She's free! Yeah!" And then, in shock, went after people like you for your heartless and very revealing attacks on the woman.
* So far, it seems to me that I was right and they were wrong.
What were you right about, Jonah? About her "moral center" being out of order? What were we wrong about? About being happy that she was freed?
* I see no need to apologize. It seems to me the apologies should be coming from them.
We'll get to that.
Since the release of Carroll's statement, the cowards have run for the door with the really big blinking sign over it saying REALLY BIG STUPID AND LYING COWARDS. Goldberg:
Me: In all sincereity [sic]: good for her. I take Carroll at her word and hope nothing but the best for her. I'm sure it was a terrible ordeal and I think, barring some major revelation, this should put an end to the criticism of her. Leave her be. I'm sorry for suggesting that she might have believed what she said. I hope there will be some apologies coming from those who did believe what she said.
I guess you changed your mind on the apology thing, huh? Well, it's not good enough.
* ...this should put an end to the criticism of her. Leave her be.
Hey Jonah: If you're going to talk to yourself, do it in front of your bathroom mirror and leave us out of toxic inner world. There's only so much mental antiseptic out there.
* I'm sorry for suggesting that she might have believed what she said.
Is that what they call "burying the lede"? I'm pretty sure that's what they call "burying the lede." If it's not, it sure is a burial of some kind. Goldberg: That is cowardly. It's like icky sick creepy cowardly.
* I hope there will be some apologies coming from those who did believe what she said.
Goldberg: You're a coward. You need to attend to that and not worry about anybody else.
It would have taken strength and courage that you do not possess to do the right thing after your terrible statements about Jill Carroll. It would have meant admitting that you were wrong; admitting it up front with nothing about anybody else's wrongdoing; and it would have meant apologizing, full on, without qualification, to Ms. Carroll.
You couldn't do that. You instead lied about what you did, accused others of wrongdoing, and then when you felt you had no other option, you gave a buried and cowardly apology.
I therefore accuse you, Jonah Goldberg, of being a liar, and of being a coward. With evidence, and with proof.
And to finish on a classy note, here is Jill Carroll's statment.
And Think Progress has been all over this story too.