Ben “Bueller…Bueller…” Stein has been let go from his biweekly gig writing a financial column for the New York Times, ostensibly because of his commercial work for a website called FreeScore.com and the associated (perceived?) conflict of interest. Now, normally I wouldn’t cover something so non-freethoughtish here, but now Stein has written a lengthy self-defense for The American Spectator, in which he blames everyone but the Illuminati for his ouster.
Honestly, I couldn’t care less why the NYT fired Stein, but I do care that Stein blames those pesky “atheists and neo-Darwinists.” He repeats the specious claim that Intelligent Design is “an issue as to which there is avid scientific disagreement.” (Actually, there is virtually no scientific disagreement. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that ID is not a scientific idea. The only “avid disagreement” is from a tiny handful of credentialed scientists, plus a whole lot of Christian apologists and cynical Creationist marketeers.) Anyway, what convinces me that Stein has lost his grip on reality is his implication that the NYT would fire anybody based on complaints from atheists! Atheists are the least influential demographic in America, and it’s frankly laughable to think they could get anyone fired from a mainstream newspaper.
The bottom line with any publication is readership, and if a columnist–even a controversial columnist–can get people to come back for more, that columnist will get to keep writing.
Of course, there are limits to how controversial a writer can get. What Stein fails to mention is that his documentary Expelled is not just an exposé on supposed academic suppression by Godless Big Science. It’s also a dangerous propaganda piece that claims that The Origin of Species sent Jews directly to the fucking gas chambers. It’s an inexcusable lie that by itself should have been enough to get Stein fired. That the NYT didn’t fire Stein right away is a testament, I think, to their respect for Stein’s freedom of speech–even if it is incredibly stupid speech. Which makes me think that, ultimately, this FreeScore.com business is either a) a blatant conflict of interest, as the NYT maintains; or b) the icing on the crazy cake, and the final excuse the NYT needed to dump this loon.
Either way, I predict this isn’t the last we’ll see of Stein and his ID rantings. He’ll probably write a book, or (perish the thought!) produce a sequel to Expelled. This is one mole that hasn’t been whacked enough.
I thought that his grip on reality was already rather tenuous…
Well spoken, by the way.
Dennis
It’s a shame too, considering at one point how demonstrably educated and bright he was (remember “Win Ben Stein’s Money”?), that he’s proven to be only “book smart” and lacking in critical thinking skills. Or even good common sense.
I hate to put it this way but I just farted and the wind from the open window blew it away. I care more about the fart disappearing then Ben ” The dumbass” Stein losing a job at NYT. I am actually a conservitive and do read American Spectator. I read his stuff once and it very childish. Did not bother again.
I used to love Ben Stein’s Money. He is obviously very intelligent. I remember he would have quite a temper sometimes when he lost or got a question wrong. It looks like he still has that temper.
I don’t know enough about the situation, and I am certainly not going to take Ben Stein’s word on it. But there are two things about the situation that sadden me because they seem to be characteristics of a person who is so brainwashed by religion, he can’t think straight.
1) persecution complex. He turns his firing into an attack on his religious beliefs. It’s *possible* that his outspokenness on religion and his intellectually dishonest movie about these views was a factor, but I agree that the Times isn’t likely to fire someone just because atheists complain. Does he honestly think that?!?
2) bowing down to God and saying he’s not worthy (self-hate). At the end of his rant, he says “In my life, I have done plenty wrong. I am not the master. I am the servant and a poor one at that.” That’s how it ends. So he gets fired, and he ends his post by saying he’s not good enough for God. If he seriously thinks this, I almost think the part attacking the Times and atheists is better. That isn’t healthy for him to think God must be punishing him for not being a good enough servant, it’s pretty sad actually.