The American Principles Project (AAP) sent a letter Wednesday to The Washington Post editorial board, signed by 37 top conservative leaders, requesting that the publication stop promoting its columnist Jennifer Rubin (pictured above left) as a “conservative.”
The group also advised hiring a columnist who could “eloquently and effectively” defend the policies of President Donald Trump and his party, as The Daily Wire and others reported.
The Washington Post describes Jennifer Rubin as an “opinion writer reporting from a center-right perspective,” but in her Twitter bio, Rubin describes herself as a “conservative blogger at @WashingtonPost, MSNBC contributor,” noted The Daily Caller.
“We, of course, respect the right of The Washington Post to employ whatever writers it pleases — even Jennifer Rubin,” the Arlington, Virginia-based group wrote.
“However, we ask for the sake of intellectual honesty that The Post cease to identify her as in any way ‘conservative.’”
The group continued, “Given The Post’s standing as an important platform for political opinion in our nation’s capital, we also respectfully request that you consider hiring a voice who can eloquently and effectively defend the positions held by our president, his party, and the millions of voters who elected him. We would be happy to provide recommendations.”
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A look at her recent columns lends credence to AAP’s point, noted The Daily Wire:
- “Trump’s Misogyny Reaps Diminishing Returns”
- “If We Want to Protect the Supreme Court’s Legitimacy, Kavanaugh Should Not Be on It”
- “Trump Has Made America Less Respected Than Ever”
“Anyone following Rubin’s writing closely at this point would rightfully find the claim that she is ‘conservative’ laughable,” the conservative leaders wrote.
“And yet, she is still regularly touted in the media as a conservative voice — and by your own paper as ‘reporting from a center-right perspective.'”
They added, “This issue exemplifies why so many Americans — particularly conservatives — hold a high distrust of the media. How can an average reader take The Post’s opinion section seriously when, of its numerous regular columnists, none can be found which defend the policies of our nation’s elected president?”
Signers of the letter include: American Principles Project’s Francis P. Cannon; Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List; L. Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center; investigative journalist Michelle Malkin; Gary L. Bauer, president of American Values; and presidential historian and Reagan biographer Craig Shirley.
As if to solidify the letter’s theme, on Thursday Rubin tweeted, “I’ll recollect Ford’s trembling voice acknowledging that she might be ‘annihilated’ for her effort to spare the country from a grievously unfit justice. She got that right.”
I’ll recollect Ford’s trembling voice acknowledging that she might be “annihilated” for her effort to spare the country from a grievously unfit justice. She got that right. https://t.co/qVBW3m9ZbN
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 4, 2018
Predictable pushback to the letter from the conservative group ensued on Twitter.
Awww a bunch of right-wing (& some fringe) pundits in DC (via the so-called 'American Principles' Project) are having a sad that a convervative-leaning columnist is not toeing 'their' line anymore at the WaPo. #wompwomp
— interdisciplinary misfit (@netculture) October 4, 2018
The 'American principles project' seems to be unable to distinguish between principles and policy choices.
They are also tribal, equating disagreeing with (their preferred) conservatives as meaning you can't be one.
— Justin Parkhurst (@justinparkhurst) October 4, 2018
Who are The American Principles Project and why would they be asking any media organization to hire anyone? Did they ask Faux News to hire a pro-Clinton or pro-Obama voice?
— Maria PI (@mpinline1) October 4, 2018
See an interview with Rubin in the video below.
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