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July 13, 2015: Richard Cohen: Washington Post: GOP’s incessant attacks are turning Hillary Clinton into a damsel in distress
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![OP/Ed Bytes: Mar 5, 2014: Richard Cohen’s Feb. 25 op-ed column about national security adviser Susan E. Rice was long overdue [“America’s do-nothing attitude”]. She is among the enablers who allow President Obama to believe his tales on topics from “red lines” in Syria to health care to the economy........What is new, at least so far, is that no one has responded to it by accusing Mr. Cohen of being a racist, a member of the tea party or some loathsome 1-percenter. Not everyone who points out the president’s mistakes is a horrible person or a Republican or both, and a recognition of this by more journalists would help in putting people back to work, strengthening respect for the United States around the world and reducing the toxic partisanship the president blames on others.It’s time for Mr. Obama to listen to criticism and to change, instead of lecturing and pressing on in ways that clearly do more harm than good. (SOURCE: Letter to the Editor: Washington Post:](/uploads/4/2/3/7/4237252/1438336372.png)
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Cohen worked for United Press International in New York. He joined the Washington Post as a reporter in 1968 and later became the paper's chief Maryland correspondent. He covered the investigation of former Vice President Spiro Agnew and wrote a book called A Heartbeat Away: The Investigation and Resignation of Vice President Spiro about it with fellow reporter Jules Witcover. In 1976, he began writing a column for the paper's Metro section, which became nationally syndicated in 1981.
In 1998, Cohen was involved in a dispute with editorial aide Devon Spurgeon that was ultimately mediated by Washington Post management. Cohen reportedly asked Spurgeon questions about "casual sex", told her to "stand up and turn around", and gave her the "silent treatment" for three weeks. Cohen contended that "it was a personality dispute at an office, but it had nothing to do with sexual harassment as the term applies today". Post management concluded that Spurgeon had been subjected to a "hostile working environment" but not to "sexual harassment" and that Cohen was guilty of "inappropriate behavior". He is a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in the "Commentary" category.
In 1998, Cohen was involved in a dispute with editorial aide Devon Spurgeon that was ultimately mediated by Washington Post management. Cohen reportedly asked Spurgeon questions about "casual sex", told her to "stand up and turn around", and gave her the "silent treatment" for three weeks. Cohen contended that "it was a personality dispute at an office, but it had nothing to do with sexual harassment as the term applies today". Post management concluded that Spurgeon had been subjected to a "hostile working environment" but not to "sexual harassment" and that Cohen was guilty of "inappropriate behavior". He is a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist in the "Commentary" category.
