rssCharles Murray: Frum Isn’t Telling the Truth About AEI
Friday, March 26, 2010 at 2:54 pm
- 6 Comments
The “Bell Curve” and “In Our Hands” author and AEI scholar writes at length in National Review about the departure of David Frum from AEI. The argument: Frum had become “invisible as a member of the institute,” and that he can’t be serious about donors complaining about his work.
The idea that AEI donors sit down to talk with AEI’s president about who should and shouldn’t be on the staff, or what the staff should write, is fantasy. David has never seen the slightest sign of anything like that at AEI. He can’t have. He made it up. AEI has a culture, the scholars are fiercely proud of that culture, and at its heart is total intellectual freedom. As for the reality of that intellectual freedom, I think it’s fair to say I know what I’m talking about. I’ve pushed it to the limit. Arthur Brooks is just as adamant about preserving that culture as Chris DeMuth was, and Chris’s devotion to it was seamless.
Meanwhile, Frum’s wife Danielle Crittenden fires at the critics of her husband:
We have both been part of the conservative movement for, as mentioned, the better part of half of our lives. And I can categorically state I’ve never seen such a hostile environment towards free thought and debate — once the hallmarks of Reaganism, the politics with which we grew up — prevail in our movement as it does today. The thuggish demagoguery of the Limbaughs and Becks is a trait we once derided in the old socialist Left. Well boys, take a look in the mirror. It is us now.
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Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 7:10 pm
I may not agree with David Frum ideologically, but at least he is willing to engage in actual discussions on issues. Alas the same cannot be said of many of his counterparts. And I am not just talkin’ about the righties, I am talkin’ about some of the lefties too.
Come back to America’s Hat Mr Frum – the weather is warming up so you won’t have to worry about shoveling your driveway. And there are lots of weirdoes all over the political spectrum here to have arguments with.
Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
AEI and “intellectual freedom” is a bit of a strech, if you consider freedom begins and ends right wing trickle down bs.
Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
free thought and debate — once the hallmarks of Reaganism
WTF? Is it open mic stand up night? And here I thought Reaganism was more like- spend all you want, make sure the rich don't have to pay taxes, denigrate and demonize the “others”, liken murderous totalitarians to the founding fathers, ignore the law, and pardon everyone on the way out the door…
Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 9:47 pm
Kind of like the “crazy” idea that Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes sit down to talk with the Wall Street Journal's president about who should and shouldn't be on the staff, or what the staff should write.
I mean come on guys, that just couldn't happen. That's “fantasy”.
Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
She's doing it at the Huffington Post,” a vile den of scum and villainy” that is the warren of the Sorosphere
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