Michelle Malkin is hardly alone among those on the right for condemning him. But most of them balance it out with equal parts of condemnation for the virtual witch hunt directed at him by the left who were so offended to see the post featuring the work of a conservative on their website.

The real downside is that it means that the post is less likely to replace him with another conservative, and that will be a disservice to everyone, since they have a history of being relatively balanced and not as left as they are often accused of leaning.

Dave

According to Domenech's ertwhile boss, they're looking for a replacement. Just one that has "a more journalistic background", is what he said I think.

And that's my problem with this issue. Why exactly do so many people think that if you blog, you've never heard of plagiarism? Probably because they've been listening to ppl like Domenech, whose defense was that he did most of it back when he was 17 and therefore is not accountable.

Well, excuse me, but not all 17 yr olds are quite as stupid as Mr. Domenech seems to have been. I was 17 once and i understood what the word "plagiarism" meant and that it was not ok. and so did everybody else who worked with me on that school paper, not to mention anybody and everybody who ever wrote any kind of paper in college. or did he think when the prof said no plagiarizing he only meant schoolwork and that it was ok at the newspaper?

Give me a break.

I'm at a complete loss as to your amazement that conservatives have denounced Domenech. You cite only Michelle Malkin but I've read far and wide across the conservative blogosphere and they've all denounced Ben D.

You're giving the readers some impression that it's only an exceptional case that has conservatives denouncing Domenech. Not true. I'd quote them all but not enough space.

Why on earth do you think conservatives would accept a known plagiarist as being an okay thing? What in conservative idealology causes you to think they think it's okay to steal someone's work?

There's Jason Blair and last week the NY Times got caught in some whoppers that typify sloppy journalism. There's CBS and Dan Rather, that fake AP story...but I never once felt that liberals condoned such things.

Ben D. screwed up and he needs to stop blaming it on being a teenager. I read a review he obviously copied and he was no teenager when he did it.

I ask you this, in all of the blogosphere, they got to find such a contemptable liar? I read plenty of good bloggers for God's sake. Plenty of good conservative bloggers. Ben D. just totally messed up his own cause.

Shame.

Maybe they should look for a blogger who's older than 25 if they want someone they can count on? A track record might help more than a journalistic background. As I understand it Domenech had about as much journalistic experience as you'd expect from someone that young - college paper and all that. Though he apparently plagiarized some of his print work too.

Someone tell them I'm available. I've been writing for magazines for 30 years and haven't plagiarized a word in thousands of articles. Not plagiarizing isn't exactly rocket science.

Dave

Pat: The articles I was reading via Poynter and other sources were suggesting that it was liberal blogs that were attacking him and pointing out the plagarism.

I saw Malkin mentioned and found that interesting.

I saw a quote from Instapundit suggesting the problem only came to light because the blogger in question was conservative.
The way I was reading it was that some conservative blogs were suggesting the problem was not plagarism but the liberal blogs attacks.

Dave: I agree. They should pick someone with more experience. I also agree the Post is not as left as some would have them believe.
If they pick the right conservative blogger - one who understands not only not to plagarize but, if caught, to own up to it and not blame it on youth

Incidentally I've helped explain - while student teaching - what plagarism is. That was to fourth graders! Suggesting he didn't know better - I don't buy him on that line of b.s.

Pat,
I'll take a look at other blogs and report back.
I'm not saying conservative bloggers condone plagarism - i'm saying i wasn't aware of others beyond Malkin calling for him to quit.

Scott, you should check out some of the discussion on Redstate.org. There are supporters and deriders there - a good mix. And some are quite articulate.

And yes, many are saying that the plagiarism accusations are blown out of proportion and that it was basically a left-wing witchunt. I suspect this is at least partly true, but they wouldn't have been able to do it if there wasn't some plagiarism there to work with.

Dave

I will check it out.
I read some summaries via Instapundit and see you and Pat were right - I understated the number of conservative bloggers having issues with his history.

I have to say that one of the things that surprised me is the koolaiders who have decided that Michelle Malkin is the great traitor to the cause for exposing this situation. One moron on Redstate has a piece called "Michelle Malkin is Dead to Me" or something equally stupid. As if rejecting plagiarism is somehow contrary to conservative values.

Dave

"You're giving the readers some impression that it's only an exceptional case that has conservatives denouncing Domenech. Not true. I'd quote them all but not enough space."

Yeah right, not enough space. Thankyou Mrs. Fermat...

Many of Domenech's opponents are also plagiarists--of Domenech himself.

Say what?

Dave

Yeah, you need to elaboarate on that one, Jon.