Dishing About Dishing

Karen Feld today has penned an ode to the Grand Dame of Gossip, Liz Smith, who was in town to discuss her new book, Dishing.

As the two ladies dined on Dover sole at La Colline on Capitol Hill, they discussed the philosophy of gossip and the scene in New York and Washington. Some (largely incoherent) excerpts from Smith:

On Gossip: “Now gossip is watered down by the fact that there’s so much of it – whole magazines devoted to what women wear on the red carpet, and to catching them if they look like bums which they do most of the time if they’re not on the red carpet…. Gossip flourishes in decadent societies…. I’m beginning to think this is one of them.”

“It’s the tawdry jewel in the crown of free speech. Free speech is what is important; what’s not important is momentary public humiliation. I don’t think gossip columnists are beloved. It’s an oxymoron.”

On Washington: “I think the life went out of Washington when Mrs. [Katharine] Graham died,” Liz said. “When Chappaquiddick happened, all bets were off for politicians. Now, Teddy has been rehabilitated–he’s a hard-working senator.”

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