Beck presumes to tell us something about civilized debate

DVT:

In his column today, [Argus Leader executive editor Randell] Beck presents himself as the champion of "civilized debate," a defender of the Old Order against the evils of the internet. Meanwhile, it's Beck who put information on the internet that is simply made up and also refuses to correct it. As for "civilized debate," it's Beck who calls internet bloggers a "violent" "cabal" of "yahoos" and compares them to Hitler. After I gave a talk to the Rotary Club in Sioux Falls a few months ago, it was Beck who cancelled his speech the following week because he thinks the Argus Leader is above criticism. So much for "civilized debate" in front of the Rotarians. After promising Sibby last week he'd run an editorial by Sibby about the Linda Daschle situation, Beck then reneged. Look, there are some great people at the Argus and some of them have told me they know there are many problems at the newspaper. I feel for them, since much of the problem seems to be at the top.