May 21, 2003
MATT DRUDGE has a preview
MATT DRUDGE has a preview of Jayson Blair's book proposal, to be published tomorrow (along with an interview) in the New York Observer. Some interview highlights:
"Anyone who tells you that my race didn't play a role in my career at The New York Times is lying to you."
And there's no arguing with this:
"I'm a symbol of is what's wrong with The New York Times. And what's been wrong with The New York Times for a long time."
It seems as though Jayson's old confidence is returning:
"From my perspective, and I know I shouldn't be saying this, I fooled some of the most brilliant people in journalism ... They're all so smart, but I was sitting right under their nose fooling them ... If they're all so brilliant and I'm such an affirmative action hire, how come they didn't catch me?"
Jayson? They did.
UPDATE. Radley Balko has more on Blair's book deal, as does Scrappleface. And on issues of nuance: Juan Gato.
Posted by Tim Blair at May 21, 2003 11:05 AM