The Letter Killeth, But the Spirit Giveth Life

In general, I like Andrew Sullivan, even if I suspect that there are many issues over which we disagree. I do not read Hugh Hewitt much, but what I have read, I do not like. I do not think that my reaction is based simply on my feelings about their respective politics, although I am sure that is part of it.

Reading Hewitt's interview of Sullivan, I found Hewitt's single-minded attack on Sullivan tendentious. Hewitt's tactic is basically to assert a superior knowledge of Constitutional Law and Catholic theology and then attempt to trip Sullivan on the details. Cross examination may be an effective means of determining credibility in the courtroom, but it does not make for a very pleasant or enlightening book interview. As a rule, when I watch a book interview, I am more interested in substantive information about the book than I am in skewering the author. I am willing to give the author enough of the benefit of the doubt so that I can learn something about his book. I have not yet read Sullivan's book, but the impression I get from his blog, in contrast to Hewitt's, is that he is more interested in a free spirit of inquiry than in playing the role of the grand inquisitor. Humility is a becoming trait, but it appears to be one in which Mr. Hewitt is singularly lacking.