2008 Woodie Awards
A Response to David Acocella
Agnese Fires Back
Kevin Agnese
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: Perspectives
- Page 1 of 4 next >
Two weeks ago I was given the greatest compliment that a liberal Democrat who fights for equality and justice can get: A right-wing crackpot named David Acocella devoted an entire article to spreading lies and distortions about me. For you see, that's what many extreme right-wing liars do. When they hear the truth and don't like it, they devote themselves to smear tactics. Sure, I never met or talked to Acocella in my life before his article came out, and yes he doesn't know a thing about me, but that's what gutter politics is all about. His entire article was a clear example of how far the extreme right will go to lie and smear.
Acocella began his article by saying: "Beginning in the Fall of 2004 after the Republican National Convention and going on through this week, Kevin Agnese, who the Quadrangle lists as a staff writer but rarely writes anything except opinion pieces, has continually lied to Manhattan College students. I think it's about time that a rebuttal to his '"work"' is published in the interest of fairness and balance for the students of this college." I'm not sure if David knows this, but a columnist who writes opinion pieces for a newspaper is just as much a part of the staff as anyone else. This is why I am so confused by his statement, "Kevin Agnese, who the Quadrangle lists as a staff writer but rarely writes anything except opinion pieces..." Why wouldn't I be listed as a staff writer?
If Acocella had bothered to do his research he would have known that I wrote strictly news articles in every issue (except for one edition) of the Quadrangle last year. Acocella is also incorrect to assume that students at this college were not given the opportunity to respond to my articles, or write an opposing view. Any student, of any political point of view, can have his or her articles published in the Quadrangle. I ask Acocella, where were you for the past six and a half months if you wanted to be heard? I put the work in on a weekly basis, which is why my voice is heard in the newspaper. Where were you?
Acocella began his article by saying: "Beginning in the Fall of 2004 after the Republican National Convention and going on through this week, Kevin Agnese, who the Quadrangle lists as a staff writer but rarely writes anything except opinion pieces, has continually lied to Manhattan College students. I think it's about time that a rebuttal to his '"work"' is published in the interest of fairness and balance for the students of this college." I'm not sure if David knows this, but a columnist who writes opinion pieces for a newspaper is just as much a part of the staff as anyone else. This is why I am so confused by his statement, "Kevin Agnese, who the Quadrangle lists as a staff writer but rarely writes anything except opinion pieces..." Why wouldn't I be listed as a staff writer?
If Acocella had bothered to do his research he would have known that I wrote strictly news articles in every issue (except for one edition) of the Quadrangle last year. Acocella is also incorrect to assume that students at this college were not given the opportunity to respond to my articles, or write an opposing view. Any student, of any political point of view, can have his or her articles published in the Quadrangle. I ask Acocella, where were you for the past six and a half months if you wanted to be heard? I put the work in on a weekly basis, which is why my voice is heard in the newspaper. Where were you?