Punch-Connecting Columnist Offers Strong Words

I really couldn’t do justice if I introduced Evening Bulletin columnist Chris Freind, who pens the “Freindly FIre” (ho ho) column for the paper. So let’s have him do it himself:

After sifting through hundreds of readers’ e-mails offering wide-ranging comments on several of my recent columns, it occurred to me that most readers don’t have the foggiest notion about the columnists themselves, just a set of his opinions. Accordingly, in order for there to be a truly symbiotic relationship between columnist and reader, I thought it would behoove said columnist to elaborate on his background and, ultimately, how he arrives at his opinions and commentary.

Given my outspoken nature and the fact that I pull no punches, there are many sentiments which I receive, some complimentary, some disagreeable, others vitriolic and some absolutely unprintable.

Yes, he’s the Bulletin columnist who’s just so popular he needs to introduce himself well after his column began running! (Introduction columns are usually pretty horrid to begin with, but usually columnists have the common courtesy to get it out of the way first.)

More comments of an outspoken nature after the jump.

But one thing which I am definitely not is liberal, so when referred to as a “liberal to the nth degree” in one response to my Ann Coulter column, I figured it would be a good idea to have a personal discussion about my mindset.

For starters, I believe labels are for food cans, not people. One of the reasons for my past successes has been my reluctance to engage in such practice. In this regard, I remain fiercely independent and have no hesitation to take on even the most controversial topics, ones which many colleagues shy away from addressing. Conversely, when a columnist becomes beholden to anyone or anything, his effectiveness and credibility becomes substantially marginalized, and his readership base disintegrates.

This no-holds-barred style has allowed the “Freindly Fire” column to capture a loyal and diverse audience for the simple reason that I cannot, nor will not, allow myself to be labeled, boxed into a corner, or otherwise accused of being a “shill” for any political, business or media entity. I call it as I see it, and I am not afraid to take a controversial position or be on the front line of a contentious issue. As one can see from my past columns, I have been equally critical of both Democrats and Republicans, and have been at the forefront of the issues which have the greatest impact on Americans, such as skyrocketing health care costs, frivolous lawsuits, smoking bans and the Iraq War. Consequently, responses are routinely generated not just from The Bulletin’s local readership, but from across the country and even overseas.

Chris Freind! He’s taking on such topics that no one else will address, like writing about Ann Coulter, the Iraq War, frivolous lawsuits and smoking bans! Who would address these topics for Chris Freind’s loyal and diverse audience if he wasn’t writing in such a way we can’t accuse him of being a shill? Well, a shill for anyone but himself, anyway.

Freindly Fire: A Closer Look: Insight Into The Mindset Of A Columnist [Bulletin]