The Boston Phoenix reports that professional anguished nag and MediaMatters.org frontman David Brock needs your trust:
"Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Washington, DC-based Project for Excellence in Journalism, says, 'I don't have a lot of patience for any media criticism that is based in ideology. Frankly, [for] reporters who cover the news business, it makes our lives more complicated.'
"...vexing for Brock is the cloud of suspicion that continues to hang over his work, in light of his ideological journey and confessed unethical behavior. 'Once somebody has demonstrated himself to be an utterluntrustworthinesshy liar,' asks Rosenstiel, 'why in the world would anybody think he has credibility now that he has switched teams?'
"Brock pauses when trying to grapple with the personal-integrity issue. 'If people don't know me it can be difficult,' he says, 'and it's a totally legitimate and understandable question.'"
Translation: Get to know me, and if I don't betray you--which, of course, may be totally necessary and justified for the sake of my own personal glory and cause--you'll see how sincere and trustworthy I am.
It gets better:
"'In the history of ideological conversions,' he adds--a man now firmly planted on the left--I'm not really aware of any that have changed twice.'"
Translation: But if I decide that "prodigal son" is a good look for me when I'm being run out of Liberalville on a rail after another hideous betrayal, then I'm willing to be that man!
Brock should have stuck with his Sackcloth & Ashes World Tour.
