In an address to students at Oberlin College, New York Times entertainment critic Frank Rich, who now sidelines asа Republican—baiting ideologue in a regular op—ed column, bemoans the state of news reporting in America.а He claims that the miniseries Roots showed that it was possible to turn fiction into history and that this potential has been recognized by the Bush Administration and many in the media who distort the truth and create fictionalized versions of the "truth". He runs on:

"The news media has stopped asking the 'hard questions' altogether in favor of a story that can be easily 'packaged.' President George W. Bush did not have to work hard to tell the fictions that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction or that Huissein [sic] was involved in the Sept. 11th attacks and in league with Osama bin Laden. "

Hello, Frank, are you drinking the kool—aid yourself? President Bush never did say that Hussein was involved in the September 11th attacks or that he was "in league" with Osama bin Laden. Practice what you preach and you might garner some respect as a critic.

Ed Laskyаа 9 13 05