Fabian Nunez vs. newspapers

The former speaker accuses those who have scrutinized his lavish spending of racism. The Times responds.

May 27, 2008

Fabian Nuñez, the new ex-speaker of the California Assembly, has not taken kindly to reporting on his extravagances.

Nancy Vogel, our esteemed colleague here at The Times, discovered that Nuñez spent lavishly as speaker, treating himself to fancy dinners ($1,795 for one particularly lovely night out in Paris) and European vacations. He shopped at Louis Vuitton ($2,562 in "office expenses") and gorged at a French winery ($5,149 for a "meeting"). Nuñez did all this on the dime of his contributors; they did not, he naturally insists, get anything in return.

Still, publication of these facts bugs Nuñez, and last week he appeared to have had enough. Why did he think critics were so fascinated by these details? His reply: "Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands."

It's not quite clear who "they" are, but for the sake of argument, let's assume it's white people who work at newspapers, specifically this one. Let us then make clear that we don't begrudge Nuñez luxuries, and we'd hate to see him stuck under a cactus. By all means, Mr. Speaker Emeritus, eat well, see the world, bring home baubles and trinkets for yourself and your loved ones. Just do it with your own money.


OPINION » Obama is getting off easy Jonah Goldberg: The GOP would be hitting a white candidate twice as hard. EDITORIALS\|OP-ED\|LETTERS				FROM THE BLOGS Opinion L.A. Opinion L.A. The best in Southern California opinion journalism The Mother of Waters Mon, Oct 13 2008 8:36:55 PM Dorothy Green would not, I think, have wanted some marble monument to her... more Bit Player By Jon Healey Technology The business and culture of our digital lives, from the L.A. Times Time Warner Cable shows customers how to get TV for free Mon, Oct 6 2008 4:50:15 PM Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt has been an outspoken critic of the networks'... more

Email
|
Print
|
Text
|
RSS

1.	U.S. to pump $250 billion directly into banks
2.	18th child abandoned in Nebraska
3.	Lawmakers push dueling economic aid plans
4.	Florida congressman facing sex scandal
5.	Pediatricians group doubles recommended vitamin D dose for children