Which one of the following statements is NOT true?
1. Jeff Jacoby accused John Kerry of exploiting his newfound Jewish roots for political advantage, and said that Kerry allowed everyone in Massachusetts to think he was Irish, not correcting the Boston Globe when it so identified him in numerous front-page stories.
2. Mickey Kaus linked to Jacoby and endorsed the charge.
3. Roger Ailes demonstrated that the charge was false: there had been so such front-page story.
4. Mickey Kaus retracted and apologized.
UPDATE
Surprise!
I bet you thought the answer to the quiz above was (4). In fact, so did I. But it turns out to be (3).
Roger Ailes only thought he had demonstrated the charge was false, and that I only thought Roger was right. Roger now says otherwise, and has evidence in hand.
Mickey Kaus seems to have difficulty grasping the distinction between having made a mistake and being a fool, which is perhaps (1) the result of his own infallibility and (2) the cause of his reluctance to admit an error when he makes one. Since I’m not infallible (unless the College of Cardinals has done something really weird while I’ve been out of touch) I don’t feel at all foolish saying I was wrong.
I was wrong.
I will be wrong again.
When I become aware of having been wrong, you’ll be the first to know.