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The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality
AuthorJerome Corsi
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectBarack Obama, early life and career of Barack Obama, Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008
PublisherThreshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Publication date
August 1 2008
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages384
ISBNISBN 1416598065 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character

The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality is a controversial book by Jerome Corsi critical of Barack Obama and his candidacy for President of the United States.[1] The book argues against Barack Obama's candidacy for U.S. president by alleging his "extreme leftism", "extensive connections with Islam and radical politics", and "naïve...foreign policy", and past drug use and connections to corrupt backers, among other things.[2] The book has been criticized as containing factual errors[1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9], racially insensitive,[10][11][8], and a political "attack book" containing smears, falsehoods, and innuendo.[12][13][14][15]

Released on August 1, 2008, it was #4 in sales in nonfiction during the first week of its release[16] and on August 13, The New York Times reported that the book had reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover non-fiction books [1], due in part to higher bulk sales.[17][18] The book was published by Threshold Editions, a division of CBS-owned Simon & Schuster, whose chief editor is Republican party political strategist Mary Matalin.[19] The title is intentionally assonant with abomination.[9]

During the 2004 United States presidential election, Corsi co-wrote Unfit for Command, a book associated with Swift Vets and POWs for Truth that was critical of Democratic candidate John Kerry.[1][20][21] He is a regular contributor at conservative internet publication WorldNetDaily, and is associated with conspiracy theories such as the North American currency union[22][23][24][25][26] and the 9/11 Truth Movement.[27]

Content

See also: Early life and career of Barack Obama

In the book, Corsi recounts Barack Obama's upbringing and early political career in Chicago and argues that Obama is an "extreme leftis[t]" who should not be elected president. The book claims to document "Obama's extensive connections with Islam and radical politics", his "religious affiliation with ... black-liberation theology", and his associations with controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright, convicted fraudster Tony Rezko,[9] and radical activists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, formerly of the Weather Underground.[2] The book also argues that Obama supports "far-left domestic policy" and "naïve ... foreign policy predicated on the reduction of the military", and that he is therefore unsuitable to be the President of the United States.[2] Corsi has also said his purpose in writing the book was to "defeat" Obama in the 2008 United States presidential election.[1]

Responses

Obama campaign response

See also: Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008

In response to the book, the Obama campaign issued a 40-page response, "unfit for publication",[28] on the campaign website fightthesmears.com, objecting to assertions made in the book and alleging factual errors.[29] The campaign also issued a press release, reading in part:

This book is nothing but a series of lies that were long ago discredited, written by an individual who was discredited after he wrote a similar book to help George Bush and Dick Cheney get re-elected four years ago... The reality is that there are many lie-filled books like this in the works cobbled together from the Internet to make money off of a presidential campaign... We will respond to these smears forcefully.[1]

The Obama campaign also said it would "push back against this year's vicious Republican attack book."[8] In addition, the Democratic National Committee joined the "counteroffensive" telling its supporters by email: "The media have shown that they aren't going to stop him. It's up to you to spread the truth, so here it is. Below you will find the facts about Corsi and his desperate fabrications."[30]

ABC News reporter Jake Tapper wrote in his blog that although much of the book was false, "the Obama campaign got a little greedy in their refutations."[31] He cited, among other things, that Obama called Corsi part of the "Bush/Cheney Attack Machine," whereas Corsi had actually supported impeachment of President, and was a 9/11 Truther who believed the Bush administration had covered up the "truth" about the 9/11 attacks.[32]

Media Matters

Media Matters for America, which describes itself as a progressive organization dedicated to countering "conservative misinformation in the U.S. media",[33] has pointed out numerous instances of inaccuracies in the book[34][35] and in Corsi's statements promoting the work.[36] Paul Waldman of Media Matters appeared with Corsi on Larry King Live when they discussed the claims.[37] MSNBC's Contessa Brewer confronted Corsi with these alleged inaccuracies; Corsi disputed Media Matters' allegations.[38]

Reception and critical review

The book was ranked #4 in sales in nonfiction during the first week of its release,[39] and subsequently rose to #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover non-fiction books within two weeks.[1] The New York Times notes that the some bookstores report higher bulk sales[18][1]. This has led some Obama supporters to suspect that conservative groups have made bulk purchases to inflate sales, however, Corsi denies this.[40]

Corsi's book has been criticized for inaccuracies by news organizations such as The New York Times,[1] the Los Angeles Times,[3] the Associated Press,[4] Time (magazine),[41] Newsweek,[42] The Daily Telegraph,[5] Editor & Publisher,[6] The Guardian,[7] CNN,[8] The Independent,[9] and The Boston Globe.[43] According to The New York Times, "several of the book's accusations, in fact, are unsubstantiated, misleading or inaccurate."[1] Peter Wehner of Commentary wrote: "conservatives should not hitch their hopes to" Corsi's book because "it seems to be riddled with factual errors — some relatively minor (like asserting that Obama does not mention the birth of his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, in Dreams from My Father; Obama does mention her), and some significant (suggesting that Obama favors withdrawing troops from Afghanistan; he wants to do the opposite)."[44]

The Washington Post called it a "innuendo-filled, mistake-riddled biography" in its online election diary The Trail.[45] Kate Linthicum of the Los Angeles Times wrote "being No. 1 [on the best seller list] doesn't necessarily mean being accurate" in regard to Corsi's claims about Obama's religious faith.[3] The Politico reported that Corsi's book "left a trail of wild theories, vitriol and dogma that have called into question his credibility."[46] The British newspaper The Independent called Corsi's book "a hatchet job on Obama".[9] According to Slate, "neither Corsi nor Matalin responded to e-mails from me asking whether they intended to correct any errors in The Obama Nation – it would be a miracle if there were none" [emphasis in original].[47]

The book also contains what the The Washington Post describes as "potentially offensive passages" about Barack Obama's personal and family life, such as one stating that Obama is less identified with his American roots than his "African blood".[11] Corsi also writes: "Obama's mother chose another Third World prospect for her second husband, a second man of color, to be her mate.", noted by CNN as "lines some might consider racially insensitive."[8] The LA Times also pointed to a line by Corsi claiming "Obama wants to will all the white blood out of himself so he can become pure black," citing "bigoted comments."[48] The Chicago Sun-Times called it "an abomination," and said the book "exploits racial fears [and] hate in [an] effort to scare white America."[10] Corsi has drawn criticism for scheduling an appearance to promote the book on the The Political Cesspool, a "pro-White" radio talk show described as "white nationalist" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.[49][50] He previously appeared on the show on July 20th.[51]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rutenberg, Jim (2008-08-12). "Book on Obama Hopes to Repeat Anti-Kerry Feat". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c "The Obama Nation: Description". Simon & Schuster, Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  3. ^ a b c Linthicum, Kate (2008-08-12). "Book attacking Obama makes the bestseller list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Wills, Christopher (2008-08-15). "Two books, two styles, one target: Obama". Associated Press. Google News. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b Harnden, Toby (2008-08-16). "Barack Obama attacks best-selling book as poisonous crap". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Mitchell, Greg (2008-08-15). "This Time the Press Does Not Wait to Hit a Swiftboater's Claims". Editor & Publisher. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Burkeman, Oliver (2008-08-16). "New anti-Obama book not entirely accurate in every respect". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e Yellin, Jessica (2008-08-14). "Book on Obama blasted for 'vicious innuendo'". CNN. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e Cornwell, Rupert (2008-08-14). "From the author who destroyed John Kerry, a hatchet job on Obama". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b Mitchell, Mary (2008-08-14). "Latest smear against Obama an abomination". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b Saslow, Eli (2008-08-14). "New Books Aim To Unweave the Obama Narrative". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Tapper, Jake (2008-08-15). "The Obama Overreach: Refuting A Few of Corsi's Smears By Re-Writing History". ABC News: Political Punch. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Mooney, Alexander (2008-08-15). "Campaign says McCain didn't hear question on attack book". CNN Political Ticker. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Rutten, Tim (2008-08-16). "The extreme-right way to make a buck". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Romano, Andrew (2008-08-15). "Overdoing the Outrage". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ "Publishers Weekly Best-Sellers". Associated Press. Google News. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Book Attacking Obama Hopes to Repeat '04 Anti-Kerry Feat". The New York Times. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers for week of 17 August 2008". The New York Times. 2008-08-17. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Goddard, Taegan (2008-08-13). "New Swift Boat Book Tops Charts". Taegan Goddard's Political Wire. Political Wire. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Italie, Hillel (2008-08-05). "Anti-Obama books are best-sellers". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Left or right, Obama books are hot". Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Kovach, Gretel C. (2007-12-10). "Highway to Hell? Ron Paul's worked up about U.S. sovereignty". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Hawkins, John (2008-08-14). "There Isn't Going to Be a North American Union". Human Events. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  24. ^ Medved, Michael (2007-01-03). "The 20 Most Annoying People on the Right". Human Events. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Bennett, Drake (2007-11-25). "The amero conspiracy". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Koppelman, Alex (2007-11-25). "U.S. to merge with Mexico and Canada?". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Wheaton, Sarah (2008-08-14). "Anti-Obama Author on 9/11 Conspiracy". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Unfit for Publication
  29. ^ "Unfit For Publication: An Investigative Report On The Lies In Jerome Corsi's "Obama Nation"". Obama for America. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Rhee, Foon (2008-08-14). "DNC joins defense of Obama on book". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Jake Tapper. The Obama Overreach: Refuting A Few of Corsi’s Smears By Re-Writing History. ABC News
  32. ^ Jake Tapper. The Obama Overreach: Refuting A Few of Corsi’s Smears By Re-Writing History. ABC News
  33. ^ "About Media Matters". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  34. ^ "First reported allegation in Corsi's Obama attack book is false". Media Matters for America. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Unfit for Publication: Corsi's The Obama Nation filled with falsehoods". Media Matters for America. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "On three Hannity programs, Corsi offered another falsehood: Obama supports abortion '[a]fter a child's born'". Media Matters for America. 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Larry King Live Corsi and Waldman". Media Matters for America. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ "MSNBC Live". MSNBC Live. 2008-08-05. MSNBC. {{cite episode}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |airdate= and |date= specified (help)
  39. ^ "Publishers Weekly Best-Sellers". Associated Press. Google News. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Nichols, Michelle (2008-08-15). "'Swift boat' author turns to Obama with bestseller". Reuters. Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2008-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ Klein, Joe (2008-08-13). "Scholarship". Time (magazine). Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Outside The Beltway: Jerome Corsi and the Coarsening of American Politics". Time (magazine). 2008-08-16. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Rhee, Foon (2008-08-14). "To aid Obama, Kerry takes on an old foe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "The Obama Smears". Commentary. 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Kornblut, Anne E. (2008-08-15). "McCain Corsi quip irks Obama camp". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P. (2008-08-14). "Wild theories of 'Obama Nation' author". The Politico. Retrieved 2008-08-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ Noah, Timothy (2008-08-13). "Mary Matalin, Publisher". Slate. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |acceessdate= ignored (help)
  48. ^ "McCain catches heat over apparent comment on Corsi's 'Obama Nation'". Los Angeles Times. 2008-08-14.
  49. ^ Holthouse, David (Fall 2007). "Memphis Sewage: In Tennessee, a Racist Radio Host Thrives". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  50. ^ "Corsi reportedly scheduled to appear on "pro-White" radio show". Media Matters for America. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ "Corsi's previous appearance on "pro-White" radio show was streamed live on "White Nationalist" Stormfront.org". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2008-08-15.

External links

Preceded by #1 New York Times Best Seller Non-Fiction
August 10 2008 – 		Succeeded by
current
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Obama_Nation&oldid=232784221

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