Shafer's argument is one worth considering, but his presentation in this piece is tactless. Lots of Slate's columnists tend to push ideas to the point of hyperbole -- I suppose to try and come off as edgier than the next pundit -- and Shafer plays right into the trend here. He should know better than to call Breitbart an "outsider," for one. And although he notes the crudeness of the Breitbart's sting operation, he exaggerates the ripple effect it's had on other news outlets. His ... More »

Jack Shafers article delivered on the title minus one large fact - Breitbart is more of an insider than Jack Shafer the writer of this article. He is cheering Andrew Breitbart and crediting him with assisting in the expose of an organization that has been a favorite political football of the Right, a controversial institution and quite sadly, a corrupted public service organization. To that end and the I understand the writers premise, he adequately provided rationale for his ... More »

the writer points out how the acorn story illustrates how journalism is changing in an effective way. he also notes that acorn needed the exposure.

Shafer provides a fair, if not somewhat bland overview of the suddenly everywhere story of ACORN's fall from grace, a fall that, following many months of relentless bashing from the Right, was a mere stepstool from the hard, cold ground. While the story appears factual, this is the stuff of screen plays and made for TV Monday night specials, opposite footbal. I would have liked to see a little bit more about why, while under such intense scrutiny, the ACORN management didn't. ... More »