Ed Whelan realizes the error of his ways:
On reflection, I now realize that, completely apart from any debate over our respective rights and completely apart from our competing views on the merits of pseudonymous blogging, I have been uncharitable in my conduct towards the blogger who has used the pseudonym Publius. Earlier this evening, I sent him an e-mail setting forth my apology for my uncharitable conduct. As I stated in that e-mail, I realize that, unfortunately, it is impossible for me to undo my ill-considered disclosure of his identity. For that reason, I recognize that Publius may understandably regard my apology as inadequate.
Whelan’s a bright fellow who has been trained in both analytical reasoning and (one presumes, given his employer) ethics. It’s a shame that he didn’t think this one through before posting.
The disclosure created one of the bigger blogospheric firestorm I’ve seen in quite some time, with a near-universal consensus among bloggers of all political stripes that what Whelan had done was wrong. Whether the arguments put forth therein swayed him or whether something else is at work, I haven’t a clue. I’ll take him at his word that his contrition is genuine, if belated.
UPDATE: Publius graciously accepts.
I know it was not an easy thing to do, and it is of course accepted. I therefore consider the matter done, and don’t intend on writing about it anymore.
Barring extraordinary developments, ditto.
Photo by Flickr user Joe Penniston under Creative Commons license.
