Quote King Overthrown: Mann Topples Ornstein

By Bernard Kalb

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For those inside the Beltway, a king of sorts has been dethroned. So-called "Quote King" Norman Ornstein has been overtaken by fellow political scholar Thomas Mann.

Both men work at Washington think-tanks, informing journalists and advising those in the media on government operations and policies. But now Mann is the most quoted person in the political media.

The title "King of Quotes" was assigned to Ornstein a decade ago by Washington Monthly, when he was the governmental scholar most quoted in the print media.

Ornstein's usurper, Mann, is as unconcerned as his friend, co-author and predecessor. Commenting on the media coverage of the tongue-in-cheek changing of the guard, Mann said, "It is perhaps the the first time that the amount of coverage of an event is directly proportional to its importance."

The story was first reported by the National Journal when it said that for the year ending in April, Mann outspoke Ornstein 277 quotes to 251.

Taking his new reign in stride, Mann explained the qualifications for being the king of quotes.

One must have, Mann said, "Time on your hands (and) superficial knowledge of a lot of things about politics."

Careful to be represented quote-for-quote, Ornstein had something to add to Mann's description. "I think probably far more importantly than anything else, it's being next to the phone," Ornstein said.

Both expressed a change in the quotes they give. Whereas people once called for straight information, Mann and Ornstein said that journalists are now usually looking for someone to echo their own convictions.

Whatever the call, these two scholars keep dispensing political insight in exchange for journalistic feedback.

And while they work at different think tanks and battle to out-quote the other, the two pundits remain friends.

In the tradition of Beltway humorists, Ornstein wrote a farewell speech satirizing Bob Dole's farewell speech to the Senate calling Dole "just a man." Ornstein's credo is "just a man with his quotes."

Ironically, Ornstein has out-quoted Mann this year in a race that is neck-and-neck.

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