a Washington investigation without conspiracy theorists
"It wouldn't be a Washington investigation without conspiracy theorists," the item began, signaling that what was to follow shouldn't be taken seriously. Stolberg continued:
"So it was no accident on Tuesday that one commissioner, Richard Ben-Veniste, asked Attorney General John Ashcroft about reports that he stopped flying on commercial aircraft before the attacks. Mr. Ashcroft was only too glad to set the record straight, saying he 'never ceased to use commercial aircraft for my personal travel.'
"Mr. Ben-Veniste was pleased, too. 'By putting that in the public domain,' he said on Wednesday, 'I think we can at least take the step toward reducing the number of conspiracy theories, of which there are many.'"
The short concludes with a description of "an elderly man carrying an overstuffed satchel" full of documents, whom Ben-Veniste smiles at politely-- apparently illustrating the attitude readers are supposed to take toward those who peddle "conspiracy theories."
The problem with placing this item in the "Reporter's Notebook" section, and framing it as a cute example of the kooky things some people believe, is that Ashcroft's avoiding commercial flights before September 11 is not a conspiracy theory, but a documented fact.
