Defending Zakaria

The recent outrage at Zakaria for his minor plagiarism of a paragraph from another journalist is quite amazing. But it should not surprise one that in todays US culture, faux outrage sells papers and leads to internet clicks. Normally I would dismiss these really thin accusations as arising from jealousy and competitive pressures in the journalistic world but then two great pieces from Joe Klein and David Frum caught my eye. Here are two journalists, from opposite sides of the divide, willing to stake their reputation in defending the integrity of Fareed.

 “Schadenfreude makes my blood run cold, especially when practiced by journalists who have a tendency to get on their high horses about others of their ilk.” writes Joe Klein, " Now Fareed Zakaria is under the gun for plagiarism. Fareed did something wrong, lifting a paragraph from the New Yorker (or relying on a research assistant who lifted it), for which he has apologized and has been punished with a one-month suspension. But now there’s been a less than admirable piling on by other journalists. 

David Frum, admirably defends him here. “I have known Fareed Zakaria since 1986” he says, ”Over those years, we have had our personal ups and downs. As with any of us, there are criticisms to be made of him and his work. Recently he made a serious mistake, for which he has accepted the consequences without self-excuse. But building that mistake into some larger narrative of lack of intellectual integrity? And using charges themselves false in order to tarnish his reputation? That's plain wrong."

And he continues, “In the instance in which I saw Fareed's work methods close up, I can attest: the work was done right. I have to imagine there are many, many other people who could say the same thing.”

Joe Klein concludes; “But what’s happening now is unfair. Blood is in the water and the sharks are circling. I think it would be best to put this in perspective: Zakaria has done an awful lot of original thinking in his career.  He is likely to do a lot more. Once again, the spectacle of the witch hunt is far more problematic than the severity of the misdemeanor.”

From my own perspective, Fareed Zakaria has been one of the few original thinkers with a global view. His Sunday program GPS should become a model for talk shows in its ability to gather real experts and his willingness to let them expound their view in some detail without interruptions. His writings have also provided a hopeful, optimistic vision and he has not been shy in proposing new solutions to old problems. In my view the few who have stepped forward after a number of years to accuse him reflect a sourness of grapes and smallness of mind that should remind you to take these writers with greater care at their lack of integrity.

As for Fareed Zakaria, he made a mistake, he forthrightly apologized,  he has paid a penalty and that should be the end of it.