A columnist walks into a bar…
Ryan sends us some links to a column that was published in Northeast Pennsylvania’s Weekender recently in which columnist Justin Adam Brown tells the story how him and his friends were a little short of cash, but they went out to a bar. Apparently, one of them was wearing a camouflage shirt and they were mistaken by an inebriated Vietnam veteran for veterans themselves. Brown says that at first, they denied that they were veterans, but eventually went along with it, getting some top-shelf liquor bought for them and selling the shirt to the Veteran for $100 after telling him that it was given to the fellow by George Bush. So, Brown’s column indicated that folks down on their luck should pretend to be veterans when they’re out in bars.
Well, the upshot is that Brown and his editor, Sarah Haase, had to apologize to their readership.
I know now that I made the wrong decision by printing the column — even if it did accurately express Justin’s opinions and actions. Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to talk with veterans and active-duty military members alike. In each instance, I’ve taken the opportunity to apologize to them.
Now, I’d like to apologize to everyone else who was offended, insulted, angered and outraged by the column.
It was never my intention to upset so many of you — especially around the holiday season. I’d ask that you forgive my lack of good judgment in deciding to publish Justin’s piece.
I hope I can earn back your trust.
Sometimes I write about situations you think are funny. Sometimes I write about situations that make you uncomfortable. Recently, I was ignorant as to how insensitive and hurtful my words ended up being, and I’m sincerely sorry for that.
I have an unwavering gratitude and admiration for veterans. I have friends, acquaintances, and family members who have fought and died for our country. I even officiated a same-sex military wedding. To our veterans, and to anyone else I offended, I apologize.
Well, I remember when even veterans wouldn’t admit that they were veterans in public, so I ain’t that mad. People give money to hobos who they know aren’t veterans despite their claims, what’s the difference?
Category: Dumbass Bullshit
Hey, it’s totally cool! He officiated a same-sex “military wedding!” Clearly he “gets” you guys, right?
People like this, I’d love to create the Robert Heinlein Klein bottle lounge trap for critics, that he created in “Number of the Beast”. They can walk in, but they can’t walk out UNTIL THEY LEARN TO READ!
phuk him , his editor and the horse they rode in on.
“…even if it did accurately express Justin’s opinions and actions.”
Basically, this doofus had some fun with a inebriated vet in a bar. Bad enough; but the comment above proves that it was done out of disrespect for veterans and their service, in general. He, and his editor, can shove their apology up their ass, and own their disrespect. If they really gave a tinker’s damn, a) the situation wouldn’t have occurred in the first place, and b) they wouldn’t have printed their public puke for a laugh.
next on amazon….the how to guide
Correct me if I am wrong but, didn’t he just admit to “using fraudulent claims about military service with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit”
–Stolen Valor Law 2013
HMMMMMM
My B.P. has been rising with each of the stories I have read on here today. The utter arrogance of this asshole to write a column about how he took advantage of a drunk Veteran is dumbfounding. To the point that they sold him his friends shirt for $100.00?!?! WTF! I hope to hell as a part of this sincere apology, that he and his friends are seeking out this Veteran to reimburse him every penny he spent on them, as well as to get on their bellies and beg his forgiveness.
rb325th…My man!
I’m sure he’s only sorry he pissed off some of his advertisers, I doubt he gives a damn about Vets! As for his apology, if manure was music it would be a Symphony Orchestra!
http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.170344298.9006/mwo,500x,iphone_6s_snap-pad,600×1000,ffffff.2u1.jpg
Forgive him? Sure. But he’s still a jerk. He knew better. Taking advantage of a drunk with some money is just mean.
How proud his family and friends are of this piece of ? ?. If he lives at home and he probably does, parents make him volunteer at the VA hospital for a month. MAYBE, it will open his eyes with tears….
So, we have a journalist who publicly admits to (a) lying when it’s beneficial to them to do so, and (b) intentionally misleading people when it’s in their interest to do so.
And I’m supposed to trust what they write to be truth? Yeah, right.
HONDO…reporter should be fired. What a bitch! She’ll do anything for a story…. Why wasn’t she in FT.Meyers for a REAL STORY? Humping for her next one…
HE, HE. HE..SORRY
This guy and the editor that allowed this tripe to be printed should be thrown out on their ass!
“….I remember when even veterans wouldn’t admit that they were veterans in public….”
An understatement.
Yep!
Now that I can see the pic…
oh, brother…what a beta twink ball slurping manlet…he looks like the kind who wears timberlands with pink assless chaps to the local biker bar on the weekends
He looks like one who would be a regular at The Blue Oyster, I bet he’s a Hillaryite as well!
This is very telling right here; “Recently, I was ignorant as to how insensitive and hurtful my words ended up being.” Never does he apologize for his actions, just for printing the column and reaping the rewards it brought.
This prick gives nay fuck about vets, regardless what his drivel about sucking off a same sex military couple says.
Can just about guarantee that my esteem for him and his fellow journalists is equal to his respect for me and my fellow veterans. The difference is that I have never attempted to cheat one of them.
I’d be willing to bet that there are fewer people who read that “newspaper” than have already commented on it here.
His sincere apology has the same ring of veracity as Bill Clinton’s denial over Monica’s relationship….
He’s only sorry he was too stupid to realize that no one thinks it’s all that funny to lie about being a vet and then fucking a drunken vet from a 50 year old war out of a $100.
I wonder if our young columnist would have found it as funny if it was his mother being bilked out of a $100 by some smart ass jerkoff pretending to be something he wasn’t or actually banging his mom under a false pretense…everything’s always funny until it happens close to home for these assholes then they are suddenly offended.
Fuck this kid and his asshole editor, let’s tell a story about the time we were assholes and then publish it for all the world to see how smart and clever we are not.
As for the vet it only proves once again that being too drunk to tell liars from honest men is never a great way to spend an evening…wasting time and energy on booze and bars never pays off over the long game.
Just my opinion of course YMMV as it most certainly should.
The sale of the shirt based on a false misrepresentation of its nature constitutes a fraud. The individuals involved directly are guilty of conspiracy. The others who watched are accessories after the fact or guilty of misprision of a felony. The column is a good confession. Thirty-six moths to improve judgement and writing skills in fed camp……
I’m not pissed off by the article – this beta punk piece of shit showing that he’s a slime-ball liar is a service to the community. What pisses me off is this: “My recounting of that situation had the unintended consequence of hurting veterans.” And this: “It was never my intention to upset so many of you — especially around the holiday season.”
The presumption that I’m the same kind of delicate fucking flower as this jerkoff? THAT pisses me off. As though you being a dickweed is going to upset me. Piss me off? Yeah, sure. Hurt my fucking feelings? You’ve gotta be kidding me.
By the looks of this turd, he walked into the wrong bar.
What ever gave you that idea?
“I have friends, acquaintances, and family members who have fought and died for our country. I even officiated a same-sex military wedding.”
Guess what? This ass-hattery has gone national.—->
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/29/controversial-stolen-valor-column-sparks-outrage-in-small-pennsylvania-town.html?intcmp=hpbt3
Suck it up, buttercup, you’re famous!
*SLAP!* – OOOOH, that’s gonna leave a mark!!
What a total pos. How douchebags like this guy manage to find any employment is beyond me.
I am originally from NE PA and was there for Christmas vacation. They interviewed him on the local news, either WNEP or WBRE. He swore he was harassed into accepting free drinks. Wore an earring in each ear. They showed video of him walking down the street which was a mistake because he walks like a big fat girl. He was NOT apologetic for his actions and blamed others for the situation.
WBRE did it.
http://www.pahomepage.com/news/veterans-are-upset-by-a-local-writers-article
Dude looks like he only recently started wearing his collar un-popped but still has a fridge full of Jager and Natty Ice that he uses to entice unsuspecting freshmen back to his house.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he got caught with a stash of date rape drugs as well, I bet he’s also a meat gazer ever chance he gets!