John F. Harris, Politico’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, earned backlash after he suggested Wednesday on Twitter that President Donald Trump already had “filled” the “job” of being the white nationalist leader who took over the Republican Party.
“Thought that job had been filled …” Harris wrote in response to a tweet from political analyst Larry Sabato, who is also editor of Crystal Ball.
Thought that job had been filled….. https://t.co/35GUSXGhWU
— John F. Harris (@harrispolitico) October 17, 2018
Sabato tweeted an NBC News article called “White nationalist leader is plotting to ‘take over the GOP.'”
White nationalist leader wants to 'take over the GOP' https://t.co/QQTtS0QfdD via @nbcnews
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) October 17, 2018
The article, written about Patrick Casey, executive director of the white supremacist group Identity Evropa, noted that Casey “is pushing its members to stealthily infiltrate Republican politics to move the party [toward] its agenda of banning nonwhite immigration.”
NBC News’ “Today” show also aired a segment on Wednesday about Identity Evropa and white nationalists’ seeking to infiltrate the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections.
But the tweet from Harris implied that Trump already held the honor of serving as the “white nationalist leader” who came to “take over the GOP.”
Politico touts its site as a place “where access to reliable information, nonpartisan journalism and real-time tools creates, informs and engages a global citizenry.”
Thus, some took issue with the suggestion by the site’s editor-in-chief that Trump was the white nationalist leader who took over the GOP.
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“This offensive statement from the head of Politico is another example of why distrust in the media is at an all-time high,” Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted.
This offensive statement from the head of Politico is another example of why distrust in the media is at an all-time high. pic.twitter.com/cdGiFiKo4S
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 17, 2018
“So you run a supposed straight news source? Don’t worry. I’ve archived this for when you take it down,” the Conservative Review’s Rob Eno tweeted.
So you run a supposed straight news source? Don't worry. I've archived this for when you take it down. https://t.co/D0SpwaYWku
— Rob Eno (@Robeno) October 17, 2018
“‘There are professional standards of evidence, balance, and rhetorical restraint in Old Media that simply do not exist in New Media.’ — John Harris, 2006. How outdated does THAT sound?” Tim Graham, the Media Research Center’s (MRC) Newsbusters executive director, tweeted.
"There are professional standards of evidence, balance, and rhetorical restraint in Old Media that simply do not exist in New Media." — John Harris, 2006. How outdated does THAT sound? https://t.co/G0DhsIT9tF
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) October 17, 2018
“This from the editor-in-chief and co-founder of @Politico. Until this guy is gone from Politico, no Republicans should take calls from or help his reporters. He’s not hiding it — this is what he thinks of us. Despicable,” tweeted Arthur Schwartz, a public relations adviser.
This from the editor in chief and co-founder of @Politico. Until this guy is gone from Politico, no Republicans should take calls from or help his reporters. He’s not hiding it — this is what he thinks of us. Despicable. pic.twitter.com/f4MVWrwRNd
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) October 17, 2018
Harris responded to Schwartz’s criticism and partially walked back his original tweet.
He wrote, “A fair point @ArthurSchwartz, this could be interpreted as broad swipe rather than a quip about the headline on the NBC piece. Sometimes wisecracks get lost in Twitter translation so appreciate the chance to clarify.”
A fair point @ArthurSchwartz , this could be interpreted as broad swipe rather than a quip about the headline on the NBC piece. Sometimes wisecracks get lost in Twitter translation so appreciate the chance to clarify. pic.twitter.com/wpsXiHUoPq
— John F. Harris (@harrispolitico) October 17, 2018
But some weren’t convinced by Harris’ semi-apology.
“What made you want to ‘wisecrack’ about the president or the Republican Party being white nationalist?” The Daily Caller’s Amber Athey wanted to know.
What made you want to "wisecrack" about the president or the Republican Party being white nationalist?
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) October 17, 2018
“Yikes dude bad recovery,” Caleb Hull, Independent Journal Review’s former senior editor, wrote.
yikes dude bad recovery
— Caleb SkHull ??? (@CalebJHull) October 17, 2018
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