NYT ombudsman's reply to my email

[quaoar]

Here is my email regarding the NYT article that quoted VDARE RWinger Steven Sailer claiming Bush has a higher IQ than Kerry:

Dear Mr. Okrent,

I am writing regarding this story that appeared Sunday on the NYT website:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/politics/campaign/24points.html?oref=login&oref=login&oref=login

The lead item about Bush probably having a higher IQ than John Kerry bases this comment on an analysis by Steve Sailer of Vdare.com, whom Mr. Tierney identifies as a conservative columnist.

Well, it seems that Mr. Sailer is more than that. I direct your attention to the Southern Poverty Law Center's findings that Vdare is a radical and racist organization:
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=96

The article makes the claim that Bush's IQ was probably higher than Kerry's but offers nothing to back that up other than Mr. Sailer's assertion. No test scores for Kerry are ever quoted.

At the very least, Mr. Tierney should have identified Sailer better than as a "conservative columnist." His radical views should have been noted so that readers can better judge his credibility.

Thank you for your time.

And here is the reply:

Dear Mr. Xxxxx,

Thank you for your message and your observations which I will note to Mr. Okrent as reference material for a possible column about the use of experts and analysts.

Sincerely,
Arthur Bovino
Office of the Public Editor
The New York Times

[Kolesar]

1. ...and the column on "experts and analysts" will appear when?

Don't hold your breath. On the balance though, you got him to pay attention to your issue.

[gratuitous]

2. Translation of the Bovino-shit

Fetch off; we don't need nobody telling the mighty New York Times how to report on stuff.