Absurd?
Mercier admitted that it was "absurd to receive this apology from a person so low in the media hierarchy. You really ought to be getting it from the editors and reporters at the agenda-setting publications, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post."
I wondered if Mercier was a spokesman for the media until I saw his disclaimer. I doubt that he is "guilty" of any of the things he is going on about but he certainly has the right to say whatever he likes.