There are two fundamental truths about Buzz Bissinger: He's a brilliant writer, but a whack job with anger-management and other issues. He carries as much baggage as a 737.
There's been explosive reaction to his forthcoming profile on Caitlyn Jenner, and I don't think I have to explain who that is.
Here's a Q&A he did with the Inquirer's Molly Eichel:
I read it closely because I know Molly, I know Buzz, and I recently did a column on a transgender woman.
At the time, I said writing it was hard, and it was.
The issue (and plight, without being condescending) is exploding around us and, as journalists, it's sometimes tough to keep the gender pronouns straight.
In the interview, Buzz refers to Caitlyn's kids as "his" and Caitlyn's first two marriages as "his."
I guess I can see why because (I think) Jenner identified as a man then, as least publicly. Some gay activists say "she" would be correct, even when Jenner was an Olympic champion. But if Jenner was a "she" then, why did Jenner compete as a male? Could Jenner's gold medals be taken away?
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In the Q&A Buzz refers to his own proclivity (in the past?) for cross-dressing. He snitched on himself in a 2013 GQ piece.
I take him at his word.
But I will question his word when it comes to this passage in the interview: "We all want to be tolerant, at least some of us do who aren't Republicans…"
Does this mean Buzz has never heard of a gay and tolerant Republican? I have. I know some.
So does Buzz.
One is named Caitlyn Jenner.
His was a cheap shot.
Do I have to remind Buzz that during the relatively brief time he was a radio host in Philadelphia he endorsed Mitt Romney for president?
Romney is a Republican.
After his endorsement (which helped Mitt no end, I'm sure) Buzz then went on to say that a number of his tolerant liberal friends actually ended their friendship with him for daring to jump off the Obama train.
Always the provocateur, Buzz takes a swipe at Fox News' (Buzz spent his six-month radio career at right-wing WPHT) Neil Cavuto as "a snarky, pasty, white man…."
White man?
And what is Buzz Bissinger other than a snarky, pasty white man? Look at his picture.
I'm glad he's given up his profane Twitter account, otherwise I'd be getting hell from him.
I may still.
No grudge here, no ax to grind.
Just keeping it real.