'This Town' rattles D.C. social scene

[Valin]

Politico:

LOIS ROMANO

7/18/13

 

Washington is a town that shuns wannabes and impostors to ensure no one as unsavory as the gate-crashing Salahis makes it into the inner sanctum. So, its no small irony that a guy who was embraced by the A-list soirees of D.C. ends up toppling the hors doeuvres trays.

 

Indeed, the nations capital is in full spasm over Mark Leibovichs cutting takedown of the citys cozy culture in his new book, This Town. The fear: That it will send a chill through the elite after-hours social circuit where the real business of this town often gets done between reporters and sources. What has rattled many is that Leibovich did a chunk of his reporting at parties and funerals at which he was considered a guest or, at least, not a working journalist taking detailed notes.

 

For better or worse, there have long been some unwritten guidelines in Washington about whats fair game and whats a cheap shot in the coverage of social events. And unless you are officially covering a tony party with notebook visibly in hand, or camera visible, youre expected to be, well, circumspect. Leibovich or Leibo as he is called affectionately is a self-admitted member of The Club and a popular New York Times reporter who is being privately assailed for exploiting his access to parties in order to skewer other members of The Club. The betrayal! Not since Truman Capotes Answered Prayers knocked New York society on its heels with its thinly fictionalized revelations of real players who had thought the author was their friend has a book so riled a citys upper echelons.

 

(Snip)

 

 

FYI Transcript: Hugh Hewitt interviews Mark Leibovich