Rumsfeld on Cancelling NYT: What Krugman Said Was 'So Repulsive and Repugnant' I Had Enough

Former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld has had a subcription to the New York Times for roughly 60 years.

As he told radio host Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo Tuesday, he cancelled it as a result of Paul Krugman's "repulsive and repugnant" blog posting on 9/11 (video follows with transcript and commentary):

JOE ‘PAGS’ PAGLIARULO, RADIO HOST: Sunday, Paul Krugman of the New York Times. This guy, who I’ve got no respect for, never have, but because of our freedoms and liberties here in the United States is allowed to say vile and disgusting things. You made a personal reaction to what he had to say on 9/11.

DONALD RUMSFELD, FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I did. I, I read what he said and found it so repulsive and repugnant and untrue that I just decided that I’d had enough of the New York Times. You know, you’re right, everyone can say anything they wish, and they do, and that’s fine. It’s a wonderful aspect of our great country. But we don’t have to buy the newspapers that promote that kind of terrible, terrible, terrible thoughts.

PAGS: As he’s got the freedom to write it, you’ve got the freedom to choose whether you want to read it.

RUMSFELD: Exactly, and I made my choice and cancelled my subscription here at the office, and I’ve already cancelled my subscription at home. So, it’s, it’s over. I started reading the New York Times when I went to college, and would read the Sunday New York Times back in the 1950s, and it’s been a long run, but it’s over.

As people are likely aware, Rumsfeld announced this via Twitter Monday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makes you wonder how many other people cancelled their subscriptions as a result of Krugman's comments.

The folks at the Times must be so proud.

(H/T RCP)