Anti-Obama book is New York Times best-seller

“The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality,” a new book that lashes out at Barack Obama and alleges, among other things, that the politician has a secret, radical Islamic agenda, has soared to the top of the New York Times Aug. 17 best-seller list. It's also the most popular nonfiction book sold on Amazon.com

But being No. 1 doesn't necessarily mean being accurate.

For one thing, Obama has stated repeatedly that he is a Christian.

This isn't the first time that the book's author, Jerome Corsi, has hit it big attacking a Democratic presidential candidate on murky claims. In 2004 he published  “Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry," another New York Times best-seller.

The Swift boat scandal was widely considered to have hurt Kerry in the election. Corsi apparently hopes his latest tome will do the same to Obama. "The Obama Nation" stokes all the favorite Obama-related conspiracy theories. It claims he has socialist connections and says he espouses the "black liberation theology" of Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama has vigorously denied both claims. 

Last week, the AP ran a story about other anti-Obama books that are selling well, despite a lack of mainstream media coverage.

The titles tell it all.

One of them is called "Fleeced: How Barack Obama, Media Mockery of Terrorist Threats, Liberals Who Want to Kill Talk Radio, the Do-Nothing Congress, Companies That Help Iran, and Washington Lobbyists for Foreign Governments Are Scamming Us . . . and What to Do About It." And another is titled "The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate."

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo: Simon and Schuster

Comments

[Mr. Unite Us]

Last week, the AP ran a story about other anti-Obama books that are selling well, despite a lack of mainstream media coverage.

Note the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press are maistream media.

No doubt the free publicity is helping with sells.
I doubt if there is anything in these that hasn't been heard over and over again on right wing raadio accusations in these books we haven't heard on talk radio.

[Anju Chandel]

The world is witnessing the worst kind of political canvassing in presidential election in the US and, which is, for sure, going to further make people alienate themsleves from the "drama fo democracy" in the "oldest democracy" on this earth. This is plain silly and crazy.

Poor John McCain; at this ripe old age he has to resort to all these "tactics" just to get over his extreme frustration and jealousy of Barack Obama whom the world has embraced as the "Real Leader" !!!

[McCain is Bush]

For the brain damaged war mongering right winged imbecils who put Bush in office, You are in luck. It is a coloring book. No reading required.

[rosalynneus]

The truth hurts! This book will open the eyes of those who are smart enough to read it. I will go unnoticed for the mayority of his followers because ethey believe in him and no not use their reasoning at all.

[dave]

ad hominem attacks are not really helpful. they distract from the fact that these elections are fundamentally flawed, a sham perpetrated with the help of censoring, manipulative corporate media, and that both candidates foisted on the people do not represent the interests and the will of the people. to place the people in a terrible no-win situation in an operation reminiscent of the 'joker's' ploys in the latest box office hit, is not worthy of a free nation and free, constitutional republic like america. these elections are decisive in that they represent a plebiscite for, or against the continuation of the current administration's efforts to transform the constitutional, american republic into a totalitarian, corporate socialist dictatorship. both candidates proposed stand for the continuation of the current system and agenda. only if, and when the people assume their responsibility, and insist on making their own choices, and see their own interests represented, and demand accountability, can they ever regain control of their government, and reclaim their freedom, their country and their future.
a very good and interesting book that topped the best-seller lists for many weeks, though hardly mentioned by the media for obvious reasons, is one by the legitimate, constitutional republican candidate for president, RON PAUL - 'the revolution: a manifesto.'

[Tim]

When someone can't find policies to argue on, they find mud to sling, even if they can't basically prove it.

I mean, the Muslim thing is really something stupid. I'm sure many GOP people would like to press this in private, but I mean, if Obama was to be a muslim, then why have that hoo-ha about his pastor in March?

And that speech, did ignite the spring and reminded people there was an election going on. So to be honest, the October surprise was done in March, and there's not much right-wing mud slingers from 527 groups can do besides issuing books with facts that aren't much different from the tabloids.

And besides, the writer was part of the Swift Boat people. That says it all.

[tlsmith1963]

When are they ever going to stop this stupid lie that Obama is this secret Muslim extremist? What's disgusting is that people actually fall for it. This is why I never vote Republican. I won't vote for a party that lies all the time.

[Mike]

Kate Linthicum,

You really don't believe Obama doesn't believe in "black liberation theology?"

Answer this: Why did he sit in Wright's pews for 20 years listening to that hate filled racist every Sunday.

Give me a break, typical drive-by-media reporter, Kate Linthicum.

[Mark]

Why does the Los Angeles Times hate Obama, and why are you not coming right out with it, like these hate books. At least there you know where they are coming from and what they are trying to achieve.

[cooday]

Courting all Republican and Independent voters!

Joss Stone "L-O-V-E"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7wA7Zvm6oU

Barack Obama '08

[Tim_CA]

I wonder if Amazon uses shredded unsold copies of Pelosi's book as packing material?

[Samuel]

Sure do love watchin' the dems/libs squirm having their Messiah exposed for what he really is - the lack of coverage by the MSM has not hurt sales for any of the anti-Obama books - people have a right to learn the truth, and if the MSM won't do their job and provide this truth, it's only natural that the good folks in American will provide this information for everyone - and for all the ney saying dems/libs, Dr. Corsi is not a republican or dem - he belongs to the Constitution Party and will be voting for their candidate - you know, the US Constitution - the thing dems like to bend to their own sick liberal ideas like murdering babies - Which Obama is 100% in agreement with, including Partial Birth Abortion - sam -

[Timmay]

Nice BLOG Kate. You wrote, "Obama has vigorously denied both claims. " And John Edwards vigourously denied ever having an affair. The truth hurts and you know it! Wake up Obama Kool-Aid drinkers. I got off that bus after I realized he is nothing but a great teleprompter reader.

[McCain 's Folly]

Only the truly mentally impaired can dream up something as preposterous as...
"Wake up Obama Kool-Aid drinkers."
If someone is reading your tripe, they are already awake. Unfortunately for them. So your writing "WAKE UP" is just nonsense.
If they are asleep, your writing "WAKE UP" is absurdity taken to an extreme.
Silly silly right-winged beer guzzling war mongering Republican screwups.

[bryan]

I love the title, a play on the word ABOMINATION, and there is zero doubt that the media is unwilling to ask Obama the tough questions. Most reporters and supposed "unbiased" political analysts from CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC are clearly supporting Obama, spending most of their time giving advice on how to help Obama(and conversely. very little pro-McCain talk). Obama is simply not ready and the media needs to highlight that aspect as well. Would you really trust your life in a plane to a pilot with meager flying experience ?

[indepenedentorelse]

As a American of color, and a lifelong Democrat, I am "wired", if you will, to like Senator Obama. I admit that it makes me proud to think that he may become the first African American President of the United States. But there are some omissions in his path to power that, frankly, trouble me.

I was initially one of those who, like many of you, believed that right-wingers and neocons were once again Swift-boating this man when they pointed out his affiliations to Islam. Just trying to scare us, I laughed.

Then, one day, it hit me. It was after I read that his biggest client, Tony Rezko, was actually a Syrian. And that, when Mr. Rezko needed bail money to the tune of $8.5 million, that the money was wired from Lebanon.

You know that feeling you get when you read a story and one little fact just naws away at you,and you try to dismiss it but it keeps circling back? That was the way it was with me and the Tony Rezko connection to the $8.5 million from the Middle East.

I wondered why is that Mrs. Rezko bought the lot next to the Obamas and sold it back to them for pennies on the dollar?

I wondered what exactly would lead some one to do that for a Senator? It's like my father used to say, if you want to know who is working for whom, just follow the money.

You know, I have been accused by friends of being too trusting. Maybe I am. But even I can smell that there is something fishy in Denmark about this arrangement with Rezko and his Middle Eastern deep money connections.

None of this has been explored to my satisfaction. The media seems to have disappeared. There aren't any Woodward and Bernsteins around anymore to dig to the bottom of a story no matter what.

[Mark]

Obama is everything outlined in “The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality,” and I am sure much more. How is it that so many Americans can be fooled into following this pied-piper? Wake up America before it is too late. To those of you on the left (I mean you liberals) please do America a huge favor and follow through with your threats to leave the United States in the 2004 election this year after Barak Hussein Osama loses the election and leave us in peace! The left-wing Media and their lop-sided polls do not fool anyone. America will prevail through the storm of lies, threats to stifle the truth, and deceit that is BHO and the left (never right, always wrong).

[karela]

There are apparently a lot of low information voters who read the LA Times. All of these smears have been debunked by FactCheck.org and others over and over. If people are believing this nonsense, it is because they are looking for a reason to. Educate yourself and vote wisely. It's your life that is being affected.
Brad Delong, Economist, U.C. Berley; information:
1946-1976
per capita National Income up 90%
avg. income bottom 90% up 83%
avg. income top 1% up 20%

1976-2006
per capita National income up 64%
avg. income bottom 90% up 10%
avg. income top 1% up 232%

This is what predominantly republican presidents can do for you. If you're in the top 1% of wealthiest Americans, you may be ecstatic about this. If you're anybody else of the 300 million of us, now you know why you're struggling. Dick Cheney's stocks in Halliburton have gone up well over 3,000% since he became vice president. Bush has aggressively pushed for more and more tax breaks for the wealthy and for big corporations. As you can see from the figures above, the wealth didn't "trickle down" and the good jobs have gone to other countries. 2/3's of all U.S. corporations didn't pay any income taxes at all last year due to republican loop holes in the tax code. McCain is doing all he can to make sure that the top 1% are well taken care of but the lower and middle income people will still carry the burden under McCain. You got Bush because you believed the lies about Kerry. If you believe the lies about Obama, you may get McCain, which means another term or two of Bush policies plus, "There will be many wars, my friends, many wars." Clinton left us with a surplus. Bush leaves us with a ten trillion dollar debt. You might think about your own family's well being before you vote. If you're in the top 1%, vote McCain. He loves you guys the best. Everybody else should look to their hold card!

[Leland Falde]

One individual suggested that Barack Obama is one "whom the world has embraced as the 'Real Leader'"...

If both sides can lay aside emotion for a moment, what really has he led?

How can the world embrace anyone as a "Real Leader," legitimately, if he has never led anything that would make him worthy of the candidacy for President of the United States of America.

All he has done to this point is led people to believe he is a "Real Leader." With this under his belt, he is truly qualified and can be classified as a good politician. A "Real Leader" is one who can make the difficult decisions when difficult situations arise. What difficult decisions in the midst of difficult situations has the presumptive Democractic Nominee been forced to make in his career? I haven't heard him acknowledge any. His campaign is centered around "Change We Can Believe In." My question remains, what lasting and worthwhile change has he been the "Real Leader" of?

If you were the only one who could decide who the next president would be, one would need a lot more evidence of Barack Obama being a "real leader" than what I am aware of.

May God bless America as his children fight to preserve the Bible-based values that this great nation was founded on.

[EllenO]

So let me get this straight: anybody who thinks anything in the Corsi book is true is a low information individual.... reading between the lines..... not very bright.

After all FactCheck.org has verified the situation. End-of-Story.

But wait, there is something here I don't understand. If someone is born to a Jewish mother they are - whether they like it or not, a Jew. Similarly (according to discussions with Muslim colleagues) if you are born to a Muslim father you are Muslim.

Of course, you may not practice Islam; of course, you may even denounce it, but according to the beliefs of over 1 billion people - whether you like it or not - you are Muslim.

Similarly the book talks about Obama's odd brothers dotted through Africa and the UK, some of them quite left wing and socialist. But they all claim to be Muslim.

Like all lefties, 'low information', no doubt believes he/she is smarter (even though they a frequently not!) - you can tell by the sanctimonious tone of the posting.

The fact remains, however, the the book is at least accurate on the Muslim fact (despite FactCheck.org).

[Jess]

I'm laughing right now. This is out of control. He's a scary, American-hating extremist operating out of Black Christian Churches AND he's a scary American-hating extremist operating out of Muslim Mosques. Aside from the obvious fact that he can't possibly be both (and REAL PROOF that he is either has yet to be shown), I find it hilarious that the obviously right-leaning media is trying to foist both images on us, nevermind the fact that they basically conflict (He can't be a Christian and a Muslim).

And for people who say that Black preachers like Jeremiah Wright are preaching hate...welp, America's actions and attitude towards Barack Obama (and, subsequentially Black America) are doing nothing more than proving him RIGHT.

[Elliot Yudenfriend]

Kate Linthicum wrote:

"The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality,” a new book that lashes out at Barack Obama and alleges, among other things, that the politician has a secret, radical Islamic agenda, has soared to the top of the New York Times Aug. 17 best-seller list. It's also the most popular nonfiction book sold on Amazon.com

But being No. 1 doesn't necessarily mean being accurate.

"For one thing, Obama has stated repeatedly that he is a Christian."

Duh, gee, Kate, why aren't I smart enough, like you, to realize that when someone "states something repeatedly" that it MUST be the truth? I guess you learn something new every day, eh? There is no doubt in my mind now that Obama is a Christian, even IF Corsi has documented in detail PROOF that Obama has numerous Muslim connections.

From now on, when I see someone repeating something over and over again, I will KNOW he or she is telling the truth. No doubt we ought to free 99% of our convicted felons because THEY have stated repeatedly that they're innocent.

Kate, you are to be CONGRATULATED---no---you ought to receive a MEDAL and lots of money---for singlehandedly simplifying the process of figuring out whether or not anyone at all is telling the truth. What an amazing person you are! Someone ought to write your biography, as millions of people must be curious as to how you came to discover such a simple and infallible way of knowing the truth about people!

Thank you SO much and very best wishes,

Elliot in Metamora, IL

[Jan]

I have always been a true believer that "the truth will out" and it will with Obama. The question is will it be too late for America? Can we undo the damage his administration already put in place? I cannot understand why there are still folks out there that have put their blindness for Obama ahead of their love of their country. I really hope I'm wrong, I really love my country!

[John Kearns]

Why don't you do some investigative research and get at the truth, instead of just accepting Obama's denials as being factual? Isn't that the role of investigative journalism?