PressEthic

A former Washington Post reporter openly discussed and unveiled his liberal biases in several interviews during the course of promoting a new book.

Anything but tight-lipped, Thomas Edsall, a senior political reporter for the venerated Post, casually admitted his liberal leanings, easing his conscience and aiding conservative camps who claim liberal biases in the media. Of course, Edsall’s new book, "Building Red America: The New Conservative Coalition and the Drive for Permanent Power," examines conservative tactics.

In an interview with conservative talk show host and blogger Hugh Hewitt, Edsall let his political leanings out of the bag.

"Now Michael Barone, a friend of this program, I'm sure a friend of yours, refers to you as a gloomy, Irish liberal. True?" Hewitt asked point blank.

"He has a point there," Edsall replied, who went on to admit that he was pro-choice. When asked what he thought about Republicans, he said, "I'm not wild about them."

What caused Edsall to be so candid -- aside from promoting a book -- was revealed during a online question and answer session regarding his new book in The Post.

After a question was posed by a reader lambasting Edsal for the interview with Hewitt, the reporter said, "I think his questions about the ideological leanings of reporters and editors are valid and appropriate. Instead of hiding behind claims of objectivity, members of the press should acknowledge and discuss their leanings. If anything, that will make them better reporters. Transparency is the best policy for almost all circumstances."

Edsall's theory on objectivity is valid, and his idea for transparency is a good one. But where was this transparency during his years covering politics for The Post? This admission puts a career of work in an entirely new light. In the course of two interviews, Edsall trashes the credibility of his own work and The Post, while fueling conservative ire and suspicion

A sad day for the paper of Watergate. Even sadder, somewhere Bernie Goldberg has a grin from ear to ear.