Oh No, Ed Jew!: Conrad Black

SFist Nick forwarded along an unintentionally-hilarious article by professional provocateur Christopher Hitchens from earlier this week in Slate. In this article, Hitchens mostly complains about Conrad Black, the Canadian press tycoon recently convicted of corporate fraud, but check out this kicker at the end!

Postscript: I am writing this from the San Francisco Bay Area, where all summer a local politician named Ed Jew has been in trouble over his filing of an allegedly bogus claim of residency. The headlines on the case invariably give his full name (he is of Asian descent), as in last Saturday's "City Attorney Toughens Case Against Ed Jew." But the headlines about Conrad Black have very often said "Black Convicted." Is this discrimination on a subtle level? Or should Mr. Jew be glad that he has such a short first name?

Ha! What would Christopher Hitchens have made of the headlines about Rob Black in the District 6 race last year? Remember (former SFist) Eve's "Jew and Black Lead" election night blog post from the early returns?

Also, in today's actual Ed Jew news: Gavin Newsom says he's going to propose laws to make it tougher to lie about your residency and take cash from constituents, and is waiting to see how the civil and criminal trials go before jumping into the fray. Jew and Black lead!

Picture of Christopher Hitchens.