According to the Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize-winning Post music critic Tim Page received a mass email from Mayor Marion Barry's press office last week. In the past, he'd apparently tried to get off the distribution list and was cursed at, he says, by the staff member he spoke with by phone. So when he got this email about a local hospital, he sent a furious email to Barry's aide. We've sent plenty of emails we instantly regretted. Unfortunately, Page's was sent from his Post account, was especially nasty, and became public; it read:
"Must we hear about it every time this crack addict attempts to rehabilitate himself with some new -- and typically half-witted -- political grandstanding? I'd be grateful if you would take me off your mailing list. I cannot think of anything the useless Marion Barry could do that would interest me in the slightest, up to and including overdose."
Barry (who was caught smoking crack in 1990) was understandably irate, but it seems like an overreaction to say, as he did, that Page "ought to be fired, and The Washington Post ought to run an editorial apology. That would be a signal to the whole world that The Washington Post won't tolerate this kind of lowlife activity."
Page (who has Asperger's and is the leading champion of one of our favorite writers, Dawn Powell) has been internally reprimanded and has issued an apology: "It's the stupidest thing I've done in 30 years in journalism. I hope people won't judge me on this one explosion."
Well, we won't. Disliking Marion Barry and sending a mean little email to that effect, even from a work account, doesn't seem to be grounds for dismissal to us. Does it to you?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Grounds for dismissal? Are you kidding? Tim Page is one of the finest and most highly respected music critics in America. Losing your temper over continued email harassment is completely understandable, and angry responses go with the territory. I receive dozens of unwanted emails daily and not only understand Page's frustration, but I occasionally respond in like fashion. Don't like the response, take me off your list! Freedom of Speech is a two-way street.
John in MA at 12:28PM on Nov 13th 2007
2.
Hey Ada, that's some prize winning hate mail there, don't ya think.
""I cannot think of anything the useless Marion Barry could do that would interest me in the slightest, up to and including overdose.""
Is this guy a closet viper or what?
Willet at 1:27PM on Nov 13th 2007
3. While I can understand Mr. Page's frustration, that is the most unprofessional e-mail to send to a MAYOR of a city, even though he sent it to his aide. I don't know Mr. Page, but one surely expects better from a Pulitzer Prize winner. I don't care what his disorder is, he obviously has some serious anger issues.
David S. at 1:55PM on Nov 13th 2007
4. TOTAL BS. IMAGINE BARRY ACCUSING ANYONE OF "LOWLIFE BEHAVIOR". LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND A CRACKHEAD A CRACKHEAD. WHAT A HOPELESSLY PC RESPONSE.
IRONBLUEEYES at 2:29PM on Nov 13th 2007
5. Hmmmm.....isn't time for the left wind liberals to blame this outburst on the Bush administration???
charlieofthepcu at 3:14PM on Nov 13th 2007
6. Horrors! And naturally, the high WaPo mucky-mucks are clutching their pearls after a culture critic dares to tell off the publicist for a crack addict.
Yes, addict as in the present tense. Like alcoholism, once an addict, always an addict.
Marion Barry is an embarrassment to the nation’s capitol. I’d call him a craven opportunist, but that would be an insult to the overwhelming majority of craven opportunists in this world.
And as for Tim Page? There is only one appropriate punishment: fire Fred Hiatt and put Tim in the thankless job of WaPo editor. It would do the paper a world of good.
Meanwhile, I’m going to drop the Pulitzer committee a line strongly endorsing the addition of an award category for snarkiest journalist e-mail.
Not Sally Quinn at 3:42PM on Nov 13th 2007
7. CHARLIEOFTHEPCU
I wonder why you and other brain-dead Bush supporters think it is clever to pose questions like yours as if they were really "gotchas!" Bush is to blame for enough as it is; we left-wind (sic) liberals, unlike the Roves and the Cheneys, don't have to fabricate new charges against him.
Mort at 4:07PM on Nov 13th 2007
8. Barry was, and is, a crack addict. It's not like the guy called him a crack-addicted N-word
WackyWade at 4:00PM on Nov 13th 2007
9. The nerve of this liberal WP critic! This IS an outrage! I for one would be very interested in Marion Berry overdosing. This supposed "critic" does'nt know what is newsworthy.
taz at 4:25PM on Nov 13th 2007
10. Marion Barry, you're an ass. Dead may you drop.
Lisa at 4:44PM on Nov 13th 2007
11. Marion Barry is an Idiot Crack-Head...
Tim Page was correct...
rjamesbutler at 5:52PM on Nov 13th 2007
12. I am an African-American and even I am not in favor of any kind of dismissal for Mr. Page nor punishment of any kind. The man was only telling it like it is. And, I do believe that an aide most probably did curse at Mr. Page. Here is one of the finest music critics this country has to offer. he has nothing to be ashamed about. He just told the truth!
Damon Evans at 6:21PM on Nov 13th 2007
13. Does anyone else find it funny that a reporter who's retarded and an ex-mayor with substance abuse problems should find each other?
Frank at 6:16PM on Nov 13th 2007
14. Much ado about nothing. Except for the WP issuing a reprimand. It's SO simple.
There are no titles of nobility in this country, no classes of people privileged under the law, and the right to free speech.
I've called Junior a criminal and a disgrace to his father. So what?
James Parker at 10:27PM on Nov 13th 2007
15. freedom of speech is the stuff. He has the right to call him a crack-addict.
briana at 7:27PM on Nov 13th 2007