Diana Lawless exposes the tortuous reasoning of the Columbia Spectator editors:

The same editorial board that openly condemned the College Republicans for inviting David Horowitz, CC ’59, called Columbia’s decision to invite Ahmadinejad “an impressive demonstration of the University’s respect of free speech and open debate.” In their warped reality, “it is one thing to invite a world leader to campus to share his or her views,” but far worse, “to celebrate incendiary pundits that generate fear and loathing instead of meaningful discourse.” Amazingly, the editorial board actually believes that it is Horowitz, a Columbian himself and a nationally recognized figure, and not Ahmadinejad, who generates “fear and loathing.” This frightening logic is in no way conducive to the “free speech” and healthy “debate” the editors purport to champion.