Word from the Don Mills dungeon is that Jacob Richler is no longer resto critic at the National Post. I hear that Yorkville blonde Sara Waxman, widow of the King of Kensington, will be picking up the fork and poison pen.
I don't understand how either of them can operate since food critics should be incognito. But Richler's mug often appeared in the paper. As for Waxman, she frequently makes the society pages.
But that's just me.
This rumoured hiring would hardly be surprising since Waxman is a veteran of the Toronto Sun, as is current Post publisher Les Pyette, whose hands are all over editorial.
But could he have gone as far as hiring Canada's Ann Coulter-wannabe, Rachel Marsden to pen two columns a week about how awful this country is?
That's what this guy, who fancies himself Canada's Matt Drudge, suggests in a five-word line:
Rachel Marsden Joins NatPost's Punditocracy ...
Indeed, on her website, Marsden hints mysteriously at a new pundit job, far away from her home in Vancouver:
NOTICE: Rachel will be taking a couple of weeks off, sort of. She'll still be researching and writing--just not publishing. But starting June 1st, 2005, watch for TWO COLUMNS, every single week. Rachel is really psyched about that!
Marsden has always caused controversy, most recently on the much-watched "Sticks and Stones" episode of CBC's the fifth estate (video here) where she was hammered by host Bob McKeown.
Among Marsden's most notable career pitstops, under the name Elle Henderson while she was facing a criminal stalking charge, was a stint under Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal. (He's now known to most Canadians for his audio recordings allegedly implicating Tim Murphy, aid to Prime Minister Paul Martin, in a vote-solicitation two-step.)
Marsden left the job last year after her status in Grewal's office was questioned by his party. Then, last fall, she pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, getting conditional discharge with one year's probation.
Marsden landing at the Post would come as rather startling news, especially since, in August 2003, the paper published a less-than-flattering profile of her.
Sure it started out positively, describing her as "a 28-year-old conservative sharpshooter with most of the requisite babe-pundit features: stunning looks, good writing skills, a rapier wit and her own Web site" but then it went on to say:
If her name seems familiar, however, it is not likely to do with any piece of commentary she may have written. In 1996, while attending Simon Fraser University near Vancouver, Marsden alleged the school’s swim coach had raped her. In 1997, following an internal SFU inquiry, the coach, Liam Donnelly, was fired.
He was soon reinstated, however, after putting forward evidence that cast doubt upon Marsden’s credibility. Marsden admitted to having frequently sent Donnelly gifts and sexually explicit e-mails. She claimed they were intended to draw him into a discussion of his alleged sexual harassment. According to Donnelly, Marsden had been stalking him for months.
It was a dark episode in SFU’s history. The school’s president resigned over it, citing depression.
(SNIP)
About her work, then: Biographical information posted on various Web sites notes her "writing has appeared in Macleans magazine and the National Post.
That’s a stretch. Marsden once had a letter to the editor published in the National Post. She once had a letter to the editor published in Macleans. And that’s it.
Marsden’s various biographies note she "has worked at BCTV News (Global TV’s national flagship station) in Vancouver." Technically, yes. Years ago, while pursuing a college degree in broadcast journalism, Marsden spent a month at BCTV as a volunteer student researcher.
Then there is the widely distributed claim that Marsden once worked with ABC Television News in New York City as an assistant to former anchor Connie Chung.
"Nobody by the name Rachel Marsden has ever been employed here," says an ABC News spokeswoman. "She might have been an intern, but she was not on our payroll. She is not in our data base."
Marsden ignored queries about her contributions to Macleans and the National Post. Regarding ABC News, Marsden wrote that her "official title was ’Production Assistant,’ which included assisting then-anchor Connie Chung at one time."
After a bit of prodding, she was a little more forthcoming about her "strategy meetings with members of the Bush administration." These did not entail Marsden sitting in the White House, discussing world affairs with Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State.
You can be sure Posties who, although they have come to expect just about anything from their lords and masters lately, are not holding their breath on this one.
Me, I believe everybody deserves a second chance.
So maybe next time, Marsden can give "members of the Bush administration" smarter advice on domestic and foreign policy.
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