Ari Rabin-Havt: The Economic Homophobia of Niall Ferguson

A gaffe according to the oft-repeated definition is getting caught saying something you actually believe. Last week Harvard Professor and Daily Beast contributor Niall Ferguson offered an " unqualified apology " after remarking that the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes should be ignored because of his purported sexuality. In the  Harvard Crimson  he seems to withdraw at least the "unqualified" nature of his remorse  claiming  "not for one moment did I mean to suggest that Keynesian economic as a body of thought was simply a function of Keynes' sexuality." According to the economist, "nor can it be true--as some of my critics apparently believe--that his sexuality is totally irrelevant to our historical understanding of the man." Ferguson goes on to state "Keynes' sexual orientation did have historical significance.