Peter Beinart, political hack

Having complained of the Republican hackery of National Review's Rich Lowry, I now note the Democratic hackery of the New Republic's Peter Beinart.

Beinart at least had the decency to become a "senior fellow" at a think tank before offering himself as a freelance campaign consultant for Barack Obama, but exactly what affirmative action has to do with "foreign relations" -- Beinart's area of presumed expertise -- is beyond me.

Young journalists, take note: If you want to be a journalist, be a journalist. If you want to be a campaign consultant, be a campaign consultant. If you want to be a policy specialist, be a policy specialist. Beware the hubris that makes you think you can be all of the above. You'll only make yourself look ridiculous.