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March 27, 2006
Stolen Thoughts
The sad story of Ben Domenech has been all over the liberal and conservative sides of the blogosphere. For those who don't know, Domenech is a conservative writer who was recently a blogger for the Washington Post online. Liberal blogs, unhappy with the Post's hiring of the conservative writer, started digging for dirt and attacking Domenech from every imaginable angle. Unfortunately, what they discovered was that Domenech was engaging in a practice that warranted his removal from the pages of the post, and one which will likely end his career as a professional writer - Domenech is a plagarist.
The sheer volume of his plagiarism is astounding - Domenech has been taking the words of others as his own since college, leading me to wonder whether he has actually ever written an entire column on his own.
As readers of this blog know, I write a column for a paper in Belfast. My 'real world' job has a strong writing component. I make my living largely by putting my ideas into words. In both of these jobs, there is a trust between my employer, my readers and I - that I am giving them my thoughts, and not the thoughts of others I've cribbed from the internet or other sources. Were I to appropriate the thoughts of others as my own, I would be breaking that trust and committing fraud. That's what Domenech has done - he's broken the bond of trust and he will most likely never work professionally as a writer again.
I read over the comments at Redstate, where Domenech blogged (or blogs - I haven't figured out whether he's still on the masthead) and am disappointed to see conservatives using the vicious attacks of the left on Domenech to minimize his actions. I think Domenech was treated terribly by the left, but we conservatives have to be honest with ourselves - they were out to destroy the young writer, but it was Domenech's own actions that handed them the ultimate weapon. This is not a poster boy for the conservative movement that we should rally around.
Instead, we should encourage Domenech to take some time out of the spotlight to do some soul searching and also to figure out a way he can use whatever talents he has to earn a living or further the conservative movement. It's clear, however, that he cannot be trusted to write again.
Posted by slublog at March 27, 2006 12:00 AM
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Comments
I'm truly curious about why you say "he cannot be trusted to write again", assuming that means forever.
I'm in no way arguing that what he did wasn't despicable and fraudulent. Doubly so to me whenever a conservative voice is shown to be tainted. And I certainly agree that he should certainly be punished by (at the least) being ostracized for a protracted period. But to never be trusted again...for the rest of his life... no matter what he does as penance and no matter what good original writing he might do over a period of years in the future? Is there no redemption possible?
I'd really like examples of other professions that would permanently and irrevocably ban someone in that manner. Certainly not most doctors or attorneys who commit malpractive. Certainly not "journalists" like Dan Rather or politicians like Senator Biden or educator/historians like Doris Kearns Goodwin. Heck, even a president who boinked an intern with a cigar seems to be able to walk among us.
Again, I'm mad at Mr. Domenech and want him to suffer for awhile. But not forever.
Posted by: Old Coot at March 27, 2006 01:09 PM
Given how fast he rose, and the extent of his plagiarism, it will be hard for any editor to trust him in the future - that's what I meant. Honestly, I'm wondering about his capacity to formulate original writing - the plagiarism is just that extensive.
Posted by: Slublog at March 27, 2006 03:42 PM
"Liberal blogs, unhappy with the Post's hiring of the conservative writer, started digging for dirt and 'attacking Domenech from every imaginable angle'." - your link doesn't back up your assertion (my ' ' - yes Pete, I'm still low tech).
both sides of the sphere play in this game - to promote otherwise is simply wrong on all levels...I was going to look up (but lazy at the moment, let me know if you want me to find), the name of the anti electronic voting advocate who died six months or so back of cancer and what he went through with places like free republic - they developed the trade. Somehow bloggers view themselves as the 'civilized' form. That's why Ben shouldn't have been hired by (and please note) wp online (not wp - diffreent mamagement)in the first place.
Ben was more than a "conservative writer" - the blog was named 'red america' - wponline should have known what they were getting into.
Pete - digging into the writings of writer ain't so looney.
Bill
Posted by: Bill at March 27, 2006 07:58 PM