A DECENT MOMENT IN JOURNALISM – AT 10:01 A.M. ET:  The New York Times, which too often has disgracefully groveled before the great god of diversity, and has done real social damage in the process, has recently had some moments of reformation.

First, The Times took on African-American Governor David Paterson.  It was revelations in The Times that forced Paterson to drop out of the gubernatorial race.  And now The Times, on its very leftist editorial page, no less, takes on another powerful African-American:

Congressman Charles Rangel was far from humbled after the ethics committee admonished him for taking corporate-paid Caribbean junkets in violation of the House ethics code. Rather, the New York Democrat berated the panel’s leaders on the House floor.

The moment was characteristic of Mr. Rangel’s arrogance throughout the investigation, which continues into more serious allegations about his official behavior. It is one more reason why Speaker Nancy Pelosi — who championed ethics reform — should stop protecting him and relieve him of his crucial role as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

COMMENT:  Hurrah.  Finally, some sense at The Times.  It does no good to the African-American community to paper over the sins of some of its leaders.  It is patronizing and bigoted. 

Maybe the current Times establishment is growing up.  Or maybe some of the editorial staff is crawling out from under the boot of the paper's maturity-challenged publisher, who rules only because he's a member of The Times's royal family.

Or maybe The Times is finally recognizing that its economic tailspin is not due to the internet, but to the fact that many, many readers lost faith in the paper.

February 28, 2010