Ever been depressed but totally unsurprised by news from someone? Well that’s how I felt immediately upon reading that all, as in three, anti-Obama books have wormed their way into Amazon’s top 20 books. I guess that isn’t really a surprise, since you’ve got the Coulter-reading crowd that simply wants books to back up what they think.
However, what really bothers me is how completely uncritically CBS and the AP can print the following statement:
The authors allege that Obama is not a benign spokesman for hope and unity, but an ideologue with close ties to 1960s radicals and the Chicago political machine. Corsi is already known as a co-author of “Unfit for Command,” the influential attack against the war record of Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats’ presidential candidate in 2004. Fredosso is a reporter for National Review Online, while Morris is a former aide to President Clinton who has since made a career of bashing Democrats.
Okay, listen up. I’m glad that they pointed out that Dick Morris’s career went from being a Clinton aide to sitting on FOX News as token Democrat that agrees with everything Sean Hannity says, but simply stating that Unfit for Command was an “influential attack” on John Kerry is like saying that the Left Behind series is a compelling chronicle of what happens when Jesus comes back. Let’s not mince words, Coris is a liar, and his claims have been debunked time and time again. Simply painting him as the author of an attack makes it sound like his writings can be trusted, which they can’t.
Media Matters goes through in typical MM fashion and simply tears Corsi’s book apart. I expect the other two to be similarly dishonest barring any surprising developments (and no I won’t give these jackals any money). They’re simply proving that the right DOES have an advantage that the left doesn’t: they’re willing to straight-up lie to achieve their goals. We liberals seem tragically limited by our own honesty.
And the massive sales of these books just goes to show that people will eat up sleazy, tabloid publications. Hopefully the media will do their damn job this time around and these “influential attacks” won’t gain tread like in 2004.
…but simply stating that Unfit for Command was an “influential attack” on John Kerry is like saying that the Left Behind series is a compelling chronicle of what happens when Jesus comes back.
As somebody who’d be inclined to believe those books include at least some truth, I can honestly say I didn’t interpret “influential attack” as implying the attack was accurate.
We liberals seem tragically limited by our own honesty.
Do you support a picture ID requirement for voters?
“I can honestly say I didn’t interpret “influential attack” as implying the attack was accurate.”
It doesn’t qualify it in either direction, which is a problem. The attacks of Unfit for Command were outright falsehoods, and not identifying them as such would lead someone unfamiliar with the book to think the books might have been honest.
As for ID for voters, that’s an issue I’m on the fence about. One thing is that, as a crime, voter fraud like that simply doesn’t happen. There’s never been a recorded incident of someone voting twice, claiming to be someone else. If it were an actual problem, then maybe I’d understand.
Maybe it’s me…… But does Mr. Corsi really think that he can get away with this malarkey again? We are in a different time with a different kind of man running for president. The right is really terrified of Barack Obama and it is really sad the depths they will go to destroy him. And to think they call themselves the Moral Majority. They lie like the rest of us heathens.
It seems like the media is finally doing their job this time around, so maybe he won’t get away with it for once. I’m optimistic, anyway.
The better (although similarly deceptive) phrase would be “controversial book.” Now that leads to curiosity and gives greater unfounded legitimacy to the author and the book. Fortunately the mainstream media hasn’t gone there… yet… like they did in 2004 with Corsi.
Fun Fact: This is Corsi’s eighth book in four years! And some people actually think the book is researched.
I think Corsi’s blown his cover — and it’s about time.
Meanwhile, he’s appearing on White Supremist web radio shows promoting his garbage.