Thread by @receiptmaven

Dave Weigel got suspended from The Washington Post for reposting a sexist joke. A lot of people on here think the punishment is too harsh for his “mistake.”

But, looking back over Weigel’s early career, was it a mistake? Or, is this really who he is at heart?
Thread

Weigel started out as an early blogger and college Editor/Reporter for the Chronicle, a conservative rag at Northwestern (2000-2004).

(Wonder of wonders he wasn't canceled just for drinking JD and DIET coke.)

I’d bet money that most of the dirt-bag left has no clue how far right Weigel was back then. He even worked for the Center for Individual Rights - you know, the public interest law firm fighting to ban the use of race in admissions and other affirmative action initiatives.

Konichiwa!

Welcome to Dave Weigel's college blog where you can discover how blogs have gotten too “sober” so Dave shares a link to “balance it out.” Have a "giggle” going to the online “slave auctions” where you can pick out your very own Anime slave girl!

Sophomore year Weigel writes: “What does it say about me that, on the eve of Take Back the Night, when 4 women won ASG’s 4 exec board positions, I played this song." Then he links to “Bitches” by Insane Clown Posse whose refrain is "BITCH... now ya gotta die" among other gems.

Senior year, Dave Weigel found a name acronym feature on Instagram and which listed his as “RAPIST.” This around the same time that the NY Times interviewed him for his views as a conservative college student.

Did the NYTimes writer not do any due diligence here?

As a college blogger, Dave Weigel thought the Burger King ad that exclaimed “I’d hit that” was hilarious - and he made sure his readers knew EXACTLY what “hit it” meant leaving nothing to the imagination.

#Cringe

In college, Dave Weigel argued to “End Racism” by “Banning the Multicultural Center.” Dave wants you to know that no matter what Cornel West said, he doesn’t feel guilty. Dave argued it’s the African-Americans, Jews and South Asians who maintain racial divisions at Northwestern!

In college, Dave Weigel argued on his blog that Michael Moore’s film, “Bowling for Columbine” is a “snuff” film.

But, he really, really gives think Salon hell for interviewing a “Latina lesbian” about politics… because apparently (unlike Dave) they know "nothing."

Dave Weigel had some anger issues that clearly went unchecked in college. He berates spammers by saying that “mail bombs seem too good for these people.” He calls for Deborah Norville to “Burn in Hell” for posting baby pictures of Laci Peterson. Then: KILL. DEATH. FIRE. MURDER.

In college, Dave Weigel blogs about the Pope as a Roman “whore” because that’s what young white guys trying to be serious journalists can do and face no consequences for it.

In 2004 Dave Weigel shared his Final Oscar Thoughts: Marcia Gay Harden’s breasts (because that’s what women are REALLY being judged for).

But boys will be boys, am I right?

Dave Weigels last opinion piece was a real doozy. He printed a professors words out of context and misstated facts about efforts to build the Asian American Studies program at NU. The activists noted: "Weigel definitely deserves a Medill F for his piece of yellow journalism."

Instead of listening or learning or doing better, Dave Weigel's made a lot of excuses and disparaged the
NU student activists further.

Of course, just out of college, Dave Weigel argued in Reason Magazine to repeal "Godwin's Law" and bring back Nazi analogies because apparently we need more Nazi analogies and it's "exactly what the Germans wouldn't want."

It seems Weigel faced no real consequences for any of his vile blog posts as a college student. He got to be a journalist and he got famous, just like he wanted. But what if he had? Would it have made any difference to where he is today?

Weigel uses his position to legitimize other problematic political media types like Cenk Uygur (who's own sexist, transphobic and bigoted statements made national news and cost him an election). The @washingtonpost seems to have no problem with this. Why?

Weigel uses his position to legitimize the so-called "dirt-bag left" even though Virgil Texas - one of the original Chapo Trap House podcasters - disappeared from the airwaves after being accused of grooming a child for years with no consequence or reporting on it.

Dave Weigel is a powerful political reporter with great national influence. Yet, from the beginning some of his reporting has been highly problematic and went unquestioned.

What does t say about us, that we keep making excuses for white men with all the privilege in the world?

So, yeah. I get it. If I was an accomplished woman on a national news desk and had experienced male sh*t posters get away with it for years and years and years when I had to do everything ten times better with no one giving me the benefit of the doubt, I'd probably snap, too./end