Rumsfeld Cancels New York Times Subscription Over Krugman 9/11Blog Post
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has canceled his office subscription to The New York Times after an online blog item by columnist Paul Krugman described the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as “an occasion for shame.”
Earlier today, Rumsfeld tweeted, “After reading Krugman’s repugnant piece on 9/11, I canceled my subscription to the New York Times this AM.”
Rumsfeld’s Chief of Staff Keith Urbahn confirmed to ABC News that the tweet had come from Rumsfeld’s Twitter account. He says Rumsfeld normally tweets himself, but Rumsfeld had Urbahn had discussed Rumfeld’s decision beforehand and decided it should be tweeted out.
Urbahn says Rumsfeld canceled his personal subscription to the Times years ago, but after reading Krugman’s column this weekend, decided “We would no longer have an office subscription, so he canceled it.”
Krugman’s short blog post titled “The Years of Shame” appeared Sunday — on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks –on NewYorkTimes.com, decrying how 9/11 had become a “wedge issue.”
Krugman wrote, “What happened after 9/11 – and I think even people on the right know this, whether they admit it or not — was deeply shameful.” He continued, “the memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it.
”The atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge issue,” Krugman continued. “Fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani and, yes, George W. Bush raced to cash in on the horror. And then the attack was used to justify an unrelated war the neocons wanted to fight, for all the wrong reasons.”
Urbahn said Rumsfeld described Krugman’s column ”as being beyond the pale.”
Asked how his office would do without a subscription to the paper of record, Urbahn said, “I think we’re going to do just fine. We’re not going to be missing much.”

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I don’t think the NYT will ever go back to responsible reporting. Those glorious days of the facts presented in an unbiased manner are gone. Now we have this disgusting example of what it has become. What a shame. And Yes, yes, yes. Cancel your subscriptions dear readers. Why subject outselves to such disrespectful rudeness? To all of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, year after year I pray for you with tears in my eyes. God bless you one and all.
Posted by: Eve | September 12, 2011, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
I think readers should telephone all paid advertisers of the NYT and CEASE to do business with all firms associated the NYT. If businesses associated with the NYT via advertisements have a loss revenues from unhappy customers – business will distance themselves from the NYT. Money from customers has and always will speak loudly of disapproval of the NYT and the trash opinions they publish! Money talks and is more powerful than the word of print!
Posted by: Ken | September 12, 2011, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
I want to know when they’re going to arrest Rumsfeld for the Anthrax crime.
Posted by: blind spot | September 12, 2011, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Krugman is right!!
Posted by: Justuspofolks | September 12, 2011, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Rumsfeld should be in jail right next to Cheney.
Posted by: JR | September 12, 2011, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
The people who should be in jail are the ones who started the BS war in Iraq and its associated military spending which in my opinion led to the financial collapse….
Posted by: ToolJob | September 12, 2011, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
Who cares what Rumsfeld thinks?
Posted by: Bama | September 12, 2011, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
yeah.. that’s the ironic thing.. krugman IS right. Of all the things that we had to concentrate, how the hell did they come up with attacking iraq? We had SO much potential in the wake of 9/11, what we should have done is put that capital into developing alternative energy sources that work – nuclear, and coal to oil processes – to take the middle east’s money machine away and make our country energy secure. Hit ‘em in their pocketbook. Just THINK what 3 trillion dollars could have bought in that regard. Right now, we’d be sitting back, our energy supplies secure, and getting payback at the rate of 700 billion dollars a year (that’s how much we import in oil on a yearly basis). Instead, we are in a 15 trillion dollar hole, deeply divided. Our democracy is being hollowed out from the inside by special interest groups who want to maintain the status quo, and we are in grave danger of our economy caving in favor of the chinese.
Posted by: ed | September 12, 2011, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Like Rumsfeld actually READ the NYTimes to begin with.
What a freaking crybaby.
What is it with all these supposedly macho hawk neo cons?
Ruffle their feathers and they don’t refute what was said, they just pack up and go home.
Posted by: Aware_and_scared | September 12, 2011, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
Donald Rumsfeld is an occasion for shame.
Posted by: Frank Gerber | September 12, 2011, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
I can understand Rumsfeld cancelling his office’s NYT subscription. The honest “truth” hurts and this is his only way to try to retaliate.
Posted by: john gomez | September 12, 2011, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
The worst sin you can commit to the likes of Rumsfeld is to tell the truth. Don’t bother me with the facts. Deeper and deeper wrap the neocons in their coccoons. They did it. They started a war for their own ends based on an attack that had nothing to do with the country they invaded. The record is rock solid. The trail of lies is clear. In all the anguished cries of the right, there is not one that denies this.
Posted by: Rich888 | September 12, 2011, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
Poor little Rummy. ….Yeah, right.
Posted by: whatever | September 12, 2011, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
I’m still trying to fathom Rumsfeld subscribing to the NYT … at all … lol!!
Posted by: yeah.i.said.it | September 12, 2011, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
Who cares what Donald Rumsfeld thinks?
I’m sure he has several more subscriptions so he can spot the “news” in the future with other cancellations. Give me a break… no longer has a home subscription but does at his office. Still a huge hypocrite, ay, Donny Boy?!
Posted by: sebby23 | September 12, 2011, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Krugman used the day to beat his drum. He is what he despises. We are all so exhausted from the constant bickering and cheap shots that pass for commentary. Was it really necessary to spew venom yet again. His column served no other purpose other than to tell the world why he thinks he’s right and all those who disagree are fake. Mr. Krugman you are worse than the men you discredit. You are a self-serving bystander who has never served or faced a serious decision in your life.
Posted by: pam | September 12, 2011, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
Krugman is an unpatriotic small minded jerk.
Posted by: Allen | September 12, 2011, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
“They started a war for their own ends based on an attack that had nothing to do with the country they invaded.”
Look at their faces these days. They are haunted. Some, like Mr. Rumsfeld and Mr. Cheney, attempt to hide by reconstructing history. Or by casting blame on others like Condi Rice or the New York Times. It’s Shakespearean to watch their personal tragedies.
Posted by: green.goddess | September 12, 2011, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
GOOD! Maybe Rummy and the rest of the Republican neocons will get the “real” news from their Washington Times. They took 9/11 and “used” it in an effort to drive home, that the Republican party is there to protect America with military force. Too bad they never went after the person responsible for that murderous act. Instead they go into Iraq. Why? So they can claim a quick victory over a middle eastern country. Rumsfeld can deny all he wants, but they did drive a wedge through America, and the gap is getting so wide, we may never become one nation, indivisible, ever again.
Posted by: Bob H | September 12, 2011, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
Truth hurts. The bombing gave GW a means to wage a war with Iraq under false pretenses and Rumsfeld was chief cheerleader, he was chief cheerleader for the war in Vietnam too and we all know how that war turned out. The bombings exposed the corruption and other unlawful banking practices. These things lead to the eventual crony pat on the back for Wall Street with a $5 Trillion corporate welfare bailout.
Posted by: hereticzero | September 12, 2011, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
Krugman is living proof that any idiot can be awarded a Nobel Prize for Economics. You don’t have to even read past his first sentence, “Is it just me, or are the 9/11 commemorations oddly subdued?” to see how moronic he is. ODDLY SUBDUED? What was he expecting for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, a carnival atmosphere? Commemorating any death, particularly of thousands of murdered Americans, is generally subdued, and that is not odd at all. And people actually revere this guy’s political posturing…amazing how lemmings will follow an ideologue like Krugman. Pity them, for they have not learned critical thinking skills.
Posted by: NDMOMx2 | September 12, 2011, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
Paul Krugman’s despicable slanderous blog merits censure and condemnation by the American people and the entire responsible journalistic community. Mr. Krugman diminishes himself by writing such detritus. Furthermore, the once great newspaper the New York Times should end his employment. Mr. Krugman in disallowing comments on his piece completely denies the concept of a free press. He should have no place in the field of responsible jourbnaliusm.
Posted by: Carol Raphael BROSNAN | September 12, 2011, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
What a pathetic little man this Krugman guy is. Other than having received a Nobel prize (which seems to have shocked and disappointed many economists), he seems to be little more than a gonzo journalist who has an almost pathological need to get attention from others. That he does this by writing every despicable little thing that pops into his unexceptional mind just goes to show that he gets off on every little bit of attention and controversy he receives. How horrid and creepy.
Posted by: Mark | September 12, 2011, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Rummy can cancel his government pension too, as far as I’m concerned.
Posted by: JLS1950B | September 12, 2011, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
Paul Krugman is absolutely right in his comments. Most of the previous
administration was in denial from the beginning. Hiding themselves
under the flag, calling everyone who dared to disagree with them,
unpatriotic. They’re so close to McCarthyism, that the stench is
overwhelming. Don’t worry Paul, I just opened an account for the
NY times to cancel Rumsfields stupidity
Posted by: michael | September 12, 2011, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
Krugman is an absolute disgrace.
He owes an apology to the American People and to our Service Men.
I will be writing to the NY Times to demand that he never be published again.
I will also write to Princeton, where he teaches, to demand an apology for this outrageous and insensitive comment.
Posted by: Vincent | September 13, 2011, 12:01 am 12:01 am
If you weren’t offended enough by Idiot Krugman, take a look at this other “masterpiece” published by the NY Times to commemorate 9/11. I am a New Yorker, I take 9/11 seriously and personally. I now loathe the New York Times…subscription….cancelled.
Posted by: NDMOMx2 | September 13, 2011, 12:29 am 12:29 am
The NYT is no longer “The Paper of Record.” Not while pieces of filth like Paul Krugman are on the payroll there. He is not fit to write for a middle-school newspaper.
And I’m astounded that anyone here would defend him, let ALONE agree with his blatherings.
Posted by: bmmg39 | September 13, 2011, 1:13 am 1:13 am
Sadly, Krugman’s abomination wasn’t the only offensive piece in the NY Times on 9/11. Use a search engine to find the other tastless “commemorative” piece published by the “paper of record.” It is a cartoon entitled “Unpleasant Anniversary Activity Page.” I suppose it was Brian McFadden’s crude and pathetic attempt at political sarcasm. However, it actually seems to me that Krugman and McFadden were in some kind of perverted foot race to see who could hurt and offend 9/11 survivors and family members more.
Posted by: NDMOMx2 | September 13, 2011, 1:16 am 1:16 am
And what is the reason for Obama’s administration helping get rid of Gaddafi? To help prevent genocide? Yeah, right……. Now that the United States has helped with the “Arab Spring” (I’ve always hated that term- wonder what idiot invented it) things are going to go to H— in northern Africa. Just look at all of the loose missiles and weapons free for the taking by any terrorst group. Look at how Israel is being picked upon like never before. It will be only a matter of time that all- war will occur in the Middle East. Makes me puke when Obama used to practically brag about the “new” democracies being brought about in Africa with our help.
Posted by: dadnamit | September 13, 2011, 1:25 am 1:25 am
ABC reports this as a major news event? Pathetic. Who cares what Rumsfeld reads.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | September 13, 2011, 1:33 am 1:33 am
Who cares what Rumsfeld reads? Who cares about what Krugman writes!
Posted by: Mark | September 13, 2011, 1:57 am 1:57 am
Of douse Runsfeld will be angry. He wants the focus to be on pain. Otherwise, we might think about cause (failure of condoleeza rice) and reaction (his failure)
Posted by: Tom | September 13, 2011, 5:34 am 5:34 am
I’ll be the Times is staggering from this horrific blow. I mean seriously, life as we know it just ended.
Posted by: Frank Blourtango | September 13, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am
So he canceled his NYT office subscription. Should anyone get upset?
Posted by: Mark | September 13, 2011, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
Sorry, wingers, Krugman spoke the truth. And there are still plenty of scoundrels out there — people like Joe Scarborough, with his stupid new song — who exploit 9/11 for their own personal gain.
Posted by: Marcus | September 14, 2011, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
Yeah, Krugman, the truthful sage who was paid $50,000 to advise Enron. The Krugman who the same year he pocketed that money wrote a glowing article about Enron in Fortune magazine just two years before its collapse. That Krugman has any credibility about anything? I wouldn’t ask him how to clean the kitchen floor. Read the entire article in the NY Times, he’s an insulting jerk.
Posted by: NDMOMx2 | September 15, 2011, 11:50 am 11:50 am