On Americans: "I think there's more of us who still believe that Elvis is alive than understand the Theory of Relativity, but that's all right. It's fun to live in a country with some peculiar people. How boring it would be if everybody was quite sane."
She knew her remarks were too sharp for some, telling People magazine in 1991, “There are two kinds of humor. One kind that makes us chuckle about our foibles and our shared humanity – like what Garrison Keillor does. The other kind holds people up to public contempt and ridicule – that's what I do. Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel – it's vulgar." Boy, did she use that weapon.
Of Pat Buchanan’s hate-filled speech at the 1992 Republican Convention she wrote that his speech “probably sounded better in the original German.” Of ultraconservative U.S. Rep. Jim Collins, R-Dallas, in the early 1980s, she wrote: "If his IQ slips any lower, we'll have to water him twice a day."
Some readers and advertisers tried to organize a boycott over these and other statements made by her. Her editors rented billboards proclaiming, “Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She”? I remember that slogan well as it became the name of the first of her six books.
It was around this time that I got to know and love her. Not only did I read it, I also started to encourage others to read it. I remember subscribing to a magazine filled with syndicated columns and hers was the only one I read regularly.
While reading the articles after she died, I was searching for a good description of her appeal and I think Salon said it best: “This, really, is the secret of Ivins’ genius – the balance of humor and passion. There are columnists out there who have one or the other, but without the two together, there's half a loaf. Columnist Dave Barry, for example — he beat Ivins to a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 — is funny, but you don't get the sense that he cares particularly deeply about anything. On the other hand, a columnist like Ellen Goodman is passionate, but goes down something like medicine.
As with many in the media industry Ivins has been concerned about the direction it is going. She told one newspaper she's tired of being asked if she minds being part of a ‘dying’ industry. ‘What really pisses me off,’ she asserts, ‘is being part of one that's committing suicide.’"
Article comments
1 - Maurice Colgan
Thanks Scott, That's quite an insightful look at Molly Ivens' career. May she rest in peace.
Did she really think most Americans thought Elvis Presley is still alive or did she cutely know by just mentioning Elvis, a journalist's work will appear on webpages all over the World Wide Web :-)
The mighty New York Times is still living down it's early ill-informed Elvis coverage of 1956! When even the Children in the street knew Elvis was a major new talent.
I'm now looking forward to reading more of Molly's writing thanks to your piece. A little Humour goes a long way. It reached us here in Ireland!
2 - Scott Butki
Wow, Ireland! Very cool.
I think she was half-kidding about Elvis.
I'd suggest starting with her first book - that's a great way to get to know and love her.
3 - Matthew Milam
Good article -- nice and uplifiting, especially the part about bloggers.
4 - Terry Mathews
I, too, loved Miss Molly. She was my hero. Thanks for finding the words to describe just how wonderful she was ... we need more people who can still turn a phrase and stand up for the downtrodden. Sail on, Molly. You are missed.
5 - Scott Butki
Thanks, Matthew. Yes I wanted to point out her take on bloggers
Terry, thanks. I appreciate the compliment.