Tom Wolfe: Neither McCain Nor Obama Has "The Right Stuff"

The Chicago Public Library welcomed Tom Wolfe to its Winter Garden on Thursday night as his book, The Right Stuff, was named the Fall 2008 One Book, One Chicago selection. After an hour-long conversation on stage with renowned Chicago journalist Carol Marin, Wolfe met with the audience backstage for autographs and a little conversation.

When it was finally my turn to stand in front of Mr. Wolfe with my copies of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Bonfire of the Vanities, I asked: "I know that you voted for George Bush in 2004, but do you think that either of these candidates in 2008 have 'the right stuff?'"

Wolfe quickly responded: "I'm voting for John Silber, a write-in vote. He was president of Boston University -- not College -- and he almost won the governorship in a very close race of Massachusetts. He's a Democrat, but no matter what he's like Epictetus the Stoic; he cannot assent to what he knows is wrong. He cannot disagree with what he knows is right." Then he smiled and included with a wink, "Just like any other politician."

Mr. Wolfe told the audience earlier that his new book will be called Back to Blood, and it will take place in Miami, Florida. "It's not about wet blood," he clarified. "It's about blood lines." Wolfe also said that it revolves around immigration, there will be passages of great sex detailed with long words, and that it's scheduled to come out in 2009.

Some pictures from the night:

Tom Wolfe talking with Carol Marin about his visit to the new wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Wolfe is a known critic of the merits of modern art (and of blogs).

Up on the projection screen, Mr. Wolfe says that two young novelists who have "the right stuff" are Richard Price (The Wanderers) and Carl Hiaasen (Striptease).

Mr. Wolfe is given a frame containing the Chicago Public Library's original catalog card for The Right Stuff.

Signing books backstage.

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Comments

[feo]

I really like that new writer, Aesop; has good stuff to say. And, Homer, pretty soon he'll catch on. But seriously, why is it that so many "young" writers who "post" things on the Intergoogle seem to have never paid any attention whatever to English grammar and syntax? Is that, like, a Millenial thing or something?

[BryantG]

"Neither has the right stuff" according to Wolfe. Thanks for the input. That insight and a couple of bucks might buy a cup of coffee.

[jacobomorales]

Tom who?

[DuPageDem]

No credibility here. Wolfe wrote the worst-ever book on architecture, "From Bauhaus to Our House," proping up his premise -- that builders of modern architecture are dupes of a "socialist" agenda -- with faulty research (or perhaps deliberate lies.) He's Rush Limbaugh with a better tailor and thesaurus.

[Bluebayou101]

It's interesting that the Wall St. he wrote about in "The Bonfire of the Vanities" has become as broken down as the way he described the Bronx in that novel.

[Nooneyouknow]

It's "assent," not "ascent."
Calling Richard Price and Carl Hiaasen "young novelists" is like calling McCain a "kid."
Wolfe's primary motive is self-aggra­ndizement. Virtually everything he's ever done has been a longer version of "Look at me!", and it's come to nothing. He's not relevant.

[Greg Boose - Huffpost Blogger]

Eeks. Good eye; I changed it. Wasn't thinking...

Wolfe actually preceded his naming of these two authors by noting a "young writer" is still under the age of 50 (or so).

[imfedup]

Sorry to be pedantic, but it should be neither HAS the right stuff.

[Greg Boose - Huffpost Blogger]

**Blushing**

Thanks. I changed that too...

[LawstSoul]

Blush a tad more; "neither / nor."

[cobobs]

Who cares? He is a closet McCain supporter, that is what those words mean. He is just too ashamed to be associated with the slime that McPalin has dredged up.

[crutnacker]

OMG, you have to be kidding me. John Silber was President of BU when I was there, and our first interaction with the man as freshman was an assembly where he spent a chunk of his speech saying that women needed to be teachers and nurses. This was in 1989. He brought BU up, but he was not well liked by the student body there, and he made a small fortune from the university during his tenure.

[mitchoz]

I was there in 1976 and he did the same thing at our freshman orientation.... even then the student body couldn't stand the man... I left in my second year, and he was the reason why.
Where is Norman Mailer when you need him to punch another writer?? I miss you Norman.

[strifeknot]

What Wolfe thinks about this or any other matter is of absolutely no consequence. Wolfe is not now, nor has ever been, a person of any consequence.

[ProfessorDuh]

Precisely. Irrelevant "literary lions" in silly white suits roar away, and no one hears them anymore.

[odoreida]

It's always hilarious when political disagreements are met with personal insults from Obama people.

[spambrando]

Hey, he's a NOVELIST. He lives in his head.

[MagisterLudi]

Ah, yet another blue collar worker comment showing distrust of the "eggheads."

[Viper]

He voted for Bush in 2004... And his opinion about who has the Right Stuff or not should be of value?


Regards

[ChewyToy22]

exactly

[kimk3]

I totally agree and I'll up it with an "irrelevant" and "over-the-hill."

[SmootyBooty]

Richard Price is a "new novelist?" How old is Hiassen?

[cvkathy]

And neither does Tom Wolfe. Duh!

[Promise]

Lots of style, no heart. I was impressed once but that was a long time ago.