I really didn’t want to get into this Drudge/Blumenthal story again. But this new line being pushed by Drudge and echoed by Andrew Sullivan — that the mainstream media is not reporting Drudge’s ‘vindication’ — really deserves some response.
What vindication? Obviously Drudge is going to crow about having extracted $2500 from Blumenthal. (Actually, the money went to Drudge’s lawyer, Manny Klausner.) And it must have been mortifying for Sid to have to close this thing down with even a nominal payment to the other side. But, that aside, what vindication?
Drudge’s story was a complete fabrication. And he published it with no evidence beside the word of a self-interested party with a clear agenda. These are simply the facts in evidence which even Drudge conceded. It was self-evidently libelous. But libel law is rightly limited in this country and the cases are extremely difficult to win. Drudge’s side had limitless money and Blumenthal’s didn’t. So he washed his hands of it.
I’d much rather he’d wrested an apology from Drudge. But it’s his life, his pocket book, not mine.
So, again, what vindication? Drudge fought off a suit. But he was wrong, and egregiously so. How is it exactly that he’s vindicated.
Stop the ‘right-wingers never get a fair shake’ whining already.
