Matalin: 'Obama Nation' Attack Book "Good Piece of Scholarship"

Jerome Corsi, the right-wing pamphleteer who wrote Unfit for Command, and helped set the tone for the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry in 2004, is back. He's now trying to do the same to Barack Obama with Obama Nation:

Mr. Corsi has released a new attack book painting Senator Barack Obama...as a stealth radical liberal who has tried to cover up "extensive connections to Islam" -- Mr. Obama is Christian -- and questioning whether his admitted experimentation with drugs in high school and college ever ceased. Significant parts of the book, whose subtitle is "Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality," have already been challenged as misleading or false in the days since its debut on Aug. 1.

The book is being published by none other than Mary Matalin, who released this hilarious defense of the book:

Ms. Matalin said in an interview that the book "was not designed to be, and does not set out to be, a political book," calling it, rather, "a piece of scholarship, and a good one at that."

Given that she's married to James Carville, I assume the woman has his rather impish sense of humor and that she held her hand over her mouth to conceal her laughter while she made this comment. Otherwise, perhaps she was on drugs.

I find it astonishing that this "piece of scholarship" otherwise known as a--dare I say it--"book" begins its life as number 1 on the NY Times Bestseller List. I've been struggling with the idea of whether or not to pursue writing a book myself. The fact that this jerk has written not one, but two of these execrable pieces of nonsense is galling beyond belief. There is no judge and there is no justice, is all I can say.

Comments

[pithy]

Did y'all know Simon & Schuster is part of the CBS corporation? It's listed on their website.

[willynel]

Mary Matalin is good friends with Tim Russert's family.

I wonder what Tim would say to her, if he were alive today.

"This is a serious piece of scholarship?" He would then read the passage about how Obama wants the rest of the white blood taken out of him.

Dear Mary, what would Tim say?

[Coronadoman]

We are right to be fearful of the Republicans efforts to steal this election, like the others.

Please check to see that your local election officials have a paper trail voting method.

Please keep the pressure on your own local Republicans.

Get your own letters to the editor published regarding our well-founded fears of Diebold and their other Lee Atwater dirty tricks to prevent and/or discourage voting in America.

These anti-American activities must be discovered, publicized and there must be consequences.

[yelmer]

Mary Matlin pretty much gave it away when she said it was not "a political book," rather, "a piece of scholarship, and a good one at that." This implies, as the recent Republican era has time and again demonstrated, politics is divorced from fact.

[teembee]

In typical liberal fashion I see here nothing but attacks on the person who wrote the book. Why not try something new for a change. Challenge the factual material in the book.
Please start a list with factually incorrect infomation that is alleged by the author. I am sure all of you have read the book and know Obama's background so well that this should be a pretty easy task.
I am waiting.

[research]

Why would a read an entire book from a known liar?

[Oridaman]

"In typical liberal fashion I see here nothing but attacks on the person who wrote the book." So why should we believe anything YOU say when you start your post with that sentence?
http://mediamatters.org/items/200808150015?f=h_top

Maybe this link will help you out.

[baba2nde]

My 2-cents. Why are we talking about this book? "It is on the best seller list", you say. How did it get there? If I publish a book and then convince some of my wealthiest friends to snap up a million copies, does it become a best seller?

It is probably a mind game ... the sort of scholarship Ms Matalin may have had in, uh, mind.

[research]

republican organizations bought the book in bulk, so we would think it's popular. as the NYT notes.

[Unsui]

Same as Coulter and O'rielly "Best Seller's".

[HatingTheGame]

In volume terms it doesn't take a lot to get on the best seller list, just a few thousand. If the repug smear machine bought 10,000 at $25 a pop, it'll get there.

That's how record companies operate as well. Its all part of the marketing budget that's built into a marketing campaign.

Its all an illusion America. We live in a perpetual simulation machine where those with money are punking the rest of us over and over and over.

That's what they call freedom.

[Dr. Sam]

To call this trsh a No. ! New York Best Seller is a streght. What you are not being told is that rightwing groups placed bulk purchases of the book for distribution to their members and outlets. Let's you forget, Mary Matlin is a rightwing ideologue who worked for Cheney for a couple of years. The book should make us question the real relationship between Matlin and James Caville and their united interest to slam Obama. But this time, "swift-boating" wouldn't work. Americans are not as stupid as Mary Matlin and the author of this trash believe they are.

[genia]

Mary Matalin is a publisher? Since when? Ahh...the republicans...if it's a low life tactic...they think of everthing.

They are planted everywhere.
The Political polls..? You can bet that there are repug planted employees working for these independent polsters . Bet on it.

[roooth]

Well, you know, she showed the complete lack of experience and training required to be an editor in chief but she espouses the right politics, so she got the job - made up for her.

Can you imagine if she had to find a well-paying job on her actual merits?

[LucieLee]

I would be curious to know what James Carvelle things of this piece of trash....!! Oops! he was for Hillary Clinton.....wasn't he??

[naschkatze]

I'd like to see him questioned about this book.

[roooth]

He's home with the kids, keeping his mouth shut and watching the bank account grow. He is now officially a hack, too. Complete sell-out.

Maybe we don't hear from him because Obama isn't interested in his hackery.

[fearwig]

Unfit for Command is one of the least scholarly works I've ever read. I find it hard to believe even Mary Matalin could sink so low as to compliment someone who is such a perfect antithesis of the intellectual.

[AbrakadaBarak]

The "Obama Nation" Book, by author/swift boater, Jerome Corsi, has a subliminal message to the title, and that is: "Abomi_Nation". It's title is just hateful, period.

"Obama Nation"
"Abomi_Nation"
"Obama Nation"
"Abomi_Nation"
"Obama Nation"
"Abomi_Nation"
"Obama Nation"
"Abomi_Nation"
"Obama Nation"

Does this ring a bell?
Shame on you, swift boater, Jerome Corsi.

[chonus]

interesting...

good catch.

[MPCarr]

The question is, are the facts in the book true or false. Who here has read the book and knows?

[SharonAustinTX]

Media Matters is a not-for-profit whose purpose is to research conservative media and proove lies, distortions and falsehoods are just that. They are a reliable organization. Thank God there is someone out there policing the MSM. See their website -- they address all the lies/disto­rtions/fal­sehoods made throughout this book.

Personally, I'd rather read their evaluation then waste my time and money in support of this trash.

See: www.mediamatters.org


I could not withstand these types of attacks. Obama must be an incredible human being to put he and his family through this sort of garbage. He has my respect and support. He truly is devoting himself the service of our country. Obama = Country First! McCain can't even come close.

[ratiocinative]

Media Matters has never been known for being objective, let's not kid ourselves.

[drgrph]

Hold on one second. Exactly how is a not profit group whose sole mission is to investigate conservative media then defined as "reliable". The fact that this organization does not monitor all media, regardless of political persuasion, proves that they have an inherent bias. Thus they can be no more than "reliably biased". They, like their counterpart Accuracy In Media, are true faux news organizations.

If you are truly concerned then you have no option than to "waste your time and money" and evaluate things yourself. Finding truth has always had it's costs. Sort of like liberty.

[Ides]

Media Matters had debunked 80 of the claims as of two days ago. I don't know how much more they've debunked.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200808130007?f=h_latest

[LJ329]

I read part of the book. It appears to use distortions, things taken out of context, innuendo and speculation based on ideology. There are "facts" sprinkled through out the thing so that they can be pointed to and given scholarly looking citations, but it is a deeply untruthful book with one motive - to convince people not to vote for Barack Obama.

Take a look at Media Matters list of errors - it is long. If you do read it, fact check as you go and you will see what I mean.

We've seen this stuff before. Don't be fooled again.

[truthynesslover]

Thats the question?How about this one;Is the author reputable?Would you believe a book about the sucksessful presidency of george bush penned by carl rove?

[Fremon]

What does Matlin know about scholarship, etc. She has been speaking trash for so long she wouldn't know the truth it she saw it. The right wingers never worried about truth or scholarship or they would have no defense for their last several campaigns. Trouble is they direct themselves to the most poorly educated and rabble of our nation. And, apparently there are enough of them so they win at times.
This is a country that wants debates. In the Kerry Bush debates, Kerry arguably won 2 1/2 to 3 of them. Bush did best in the second. Yet he still wo n. Go figure. Now we see that by not listening and rationally evaluating those debates we got a totally disfunctional and inept government. But, he was a guy one "wanted to have a beer with". Does anyone ever comment about his "ranch" in Crawford, where Shrub goes to pick up branches and brush???? Where are the cattle and horses? Man of the soil!. Must be one of us. God save this nation.

[thereigoagain]

maybe we can write many anti-Bush books. oh yeah, we've done that.
how about anti Bush movies? Farenheit 911, etc... oh we've done that.
how about anti Bush radio? air America oh yeah we've done that.
how about anti bush websites? oh yeah we have that.

hmmmmmmmm. why can't we win???

[manan01]

Because we live in a country choke full of idiots. The myth that Americans are smart is all but over now, except to the stupid MSM and pandering politicians who need this "American are smart" meme to blow smoke up our collective asses.
That our political discourse is highly influenced by the likes of Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reily, Rush Limbough, Savage, et al, is proof positive that low IQ is prevalent in this country.
That Jerome Corsi holds a PhD from Harvard is, in and of itself, the arguement FOR Affirmative Action.

[brandon102]

I agree our problem is we have become a nation of idiots. Not just Fox News & Limbaugh, but we read a salacious swift-boat book attacking Barack & don't question if the author is looney. Mary Maitilin? Hasn't made sense in years, but on television she's put right next to intelligent, legitimate reporters and it looks like they're on equal footing. America hasn't been a great nation for a long time, and no one cares -- that most of our kids can't find CHINA on a map, we have the worst healthcare system in the "developed " world, Bush & Cheney tore up the Constitution & no one noticed. Whenever the halycion days of America existed, assuming they did, they're a historical curiosity now, and this book, and the fact it will have more credibility than Obama's 42-page rebuttal, are merely symptoms -- Bread & Circuses. Except if you're poor. Then, no bread. We can't afford to feed our citizens, you know.

[11907281]

Now list the other sides movies, books, websites .. ect. But I have yet to see those "anti-bush" materials you mention inspire a church shooting. When you live in Dittoland, everything is out to get you.

[gerireig]

Most Republicans hate free societies, which is why they have no trouble buying right wing tracts wholesale to perpetrate a fraud, and STEALING VOTES WHOLESALE for the same result.

[PlanetKansas]

Many "best sellers" in the NYT are engineered. Political donors buy massive lots of the book and redistribute them to churches and other Republican outlets for free.

Pumping up the bestseller list is part of the strategy to make the book appear legitimate.

The real damage is done not the 20,000 readers who may actually read it, but by the infinate commentary of the factoids, and talking points in the MSM.

[hooboy]

And we can be sure the left wing buys tons of the garbage book praising the left, can't we.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

Ah sure, and this is something you've probably never even considered, some of them are actually based in fact. not innuendo.

My personal favorites are the ones written by all those long-time left-wing wackos that used to be associated with the Bush administration, like that wild and crazy Scott McClellan.

[JimNauseam]

You couldn't be more correct. Whenever Ann Coulter comes out with a book, you immediately see it hawked for $5 on rightwing web sites. Obviously they're buying up huge quanities, which "artificially" makes the book land on the NYT list.

[OlderBudWeiser]

And that's Chicken Fat you can believe in.