NY Times Defends Kristol Hiring

In the face of outraged protests from their liberal readers, The New York Times is standing by its decision to hire conservative columnist Bill Kristol.

Expressing surprise at what he called “this weird fear of opposing views,” Times editorial page editor Andrew Rosenthal told The Politico: “The idea that The New York Times is giving voice to a guy who is a serious, respected conservative intellectual — and somehow that’s a bad thing,” Rosenthal added. “How intolerant is that?”

Kristol, who edits the conservative Weekly Standard was amused by the reaction to his new assignment, telling The Politico: “I was flattered watching blogosphere heads explode.”

Recently, Kristol stepped down as a contributor to Time magazine. He will write a weekly column for the Gray Lady under a contract lasting one year.

Kristol, despised by many liberals for his fierce defense of the Iraq war, will continue editing the Weekly Standard, according to The Politico.

He told The Politico “contribut[ing] to the diversity of the Times is a worthwhile goal. And anyone threatening to cancel subscriptions,” he added, “can toughen up and take it.”

Said Rosenthal: “People who don’t want to hear what their ideological opponents have to say are making a gigantic mistake.”