by John Corry

About the author: John Corry is a former media critic for the New York Times and author of My Times and Adventures in the News Trade.

First, there was the name-calling; then came the sullen truce. It began when Bill Clinton said he had not meant to blame Rush Limbaugh and his like-minded colleagues for the Oklahoma bombing, although obviously he had, and everyone knew it. The evening news broadcasts all led with his remarks— “They spread hate.... I’m sure you are now seeing the reports of some things that are regularly said over the airwaves”—and as Dan Rather pointed out, Clinton had left no doubt about “who’s talking that talk.” Indeed, Clinton had left no doubt at all, and much of...