What has been there for a few years is that George Will has converted from being an advocate for conservatism to being an apologist for it. Actually, he hasn't been apologizing for that old-style conservatism he used to advocate for at all, but rather for the new style of "conservatism" that has replaced it, the style of "conservatism that has more in common with pre-World War II Germany than it has with anything we used to call conservative. And that needs every apology it can get.
So what was it that changed George? He was, after all, being well compensated for defending traditional conservatism. Why would he "defect" from his quite successful career? In a nutshell, he fell victim to greed, a greed that has now been exposed.
George Will has sold out to his greed:
It turns out that George Will was among a number of prominent individuals to receive $25,000 per day of conversation on a board of advisers for Hollinger International, a newspaper firm controlled by magnate Conrad Black. Although Will has often scorned the convenient forgetfulness of others, the Times reported that "Mr. Will could not recall how many meetings he attended." But an aide confirmed the annual $25,000 fee.But George Will says with hostility, "My business is my business. Got it?" Oh, really, Mr. Will? You do try to pass yourself off as a journalist, do you not? Well then, you are most certainly aware that journalists have a formal code of ethics that demand that they disclosure any and all financial ties whenever they write about someone who is paying them. Or does that just not apply when that someone is Conrad Black? Should we just understand that there are limits above which ethical conduct no longer applies? That you are simply too good to do wrong?Even for a wealthy commentator, that's a hefty paycheck for one day of talk. But it didn't stop Will from lavishing praise on Black in print -- without a word about their financial tie.
Yes, George Will, and you must especially be too good now that Conrad Black has been fired for his own unethical conduct. You must place distance between yourself and your patron Saint Conrad.
You see, George, you sold yourself out a long time ago. You thought that just because you are a very smart man, no one would notice. But the chickens are now coming home to roost, and you in all of your glory are feigning moral indignation? You feign nothing to me, Mr. Will, because I saw a long time ago that you had sold out. It has just taken me a long time to find out to whom. And it isn't just Conrad Black, is it?
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