A July 12 NewsBusters post by Matthew Sheffield is devoted to New York Times reporter John Schwartz tweeting a snarky remark regarding the upcoming wedding of the son of NewsBusters associate editor Noel Sheppard. Sheffield called the tweet “a petty and pathetic attempt at humor” and suggested Schwartz was motivated by bitterness because he has a gay son (about whom he devoted a book to, and Sheppard had previously mocked Schwartz’s self-promotion of the book). Sheffield ultimately huffs, “Whatever his motivations were for making it, John Schwartz’s tasteless joke is a disgrace. There’s no doubt at all that the guy is a left-wing jerk.”
It should be noted that Sheffield is defending a man who may very easily be described as a right-wing jerk.
Sheppard has a long history of attacking reporters for telling the truth about conservatives — even as he tells lies about his ideological enemies — and he clings to global warming denialism and denigrates anyone who thinks differently even though the vast majority.
And Sheppard is hardly immune from dishing out the snark Sheffield is complaining he was victimized by. Just last month, for example, Sheppard portrayed commentator Eleanor Clift as coming from a long line of morons. And who can forget this failed attempt at Twitter humor:
Sheffield’s post has been updated to note that Schwartz has apologized. No such apology has been seen from Sheppard regarding his offensive and insensitive remarks.
We’re not condoning Schwartz’s original remark; we’re just pointing out that Sheppard can dish it out but apparently can’t take it.