Synopses & Reviews
After her dazzling convention speech in August 2008, Sarah Palin was on track to win John McCain the presidency of the United States. Never before had a vice presidential candidate gotten such a strong response. Then Katie Couric and Tina Fey came along... Sarah Palin spent more than a decade making her town and her state better-she slashed government spending and corruption and encouraged economic growth. In 2008, she took to the national stage to bring her successful vision to the entire country. America quickly embraced her message, and Palin became the hottest rising star the country had seen in years.
Palin was a strong and popular conservative with traditional values-work, family, and religion-and Washington Democrats and their allies in the so-called mainstream media decided she had to be destroyed. These elite liberals attacked everything from Palin's clothing to her parenting style to her church. They spread one malicious and untrue rumor after another, including claims that Palin:
* Had been a member of the separatist Alaskan Independence Party (New York Times)
* Had been a supporter of Pat Buchanan (MSNBC)
* Fakes giving birth to Trig Palin, who was supposedly her grandson (Atlantic Monthly)
In addition to spreading lies and distortions, the media treated Palin with such insulting condescension that it frequently lapsed into mockery. Palin was routinely ridiculed and vilified-and so was her family.
The liberal media did not succeed in one way: It was able to give the election to Barack Obama, a man with dangerous and radical ideas. However, despite the media's disdain, Palin persevered and remains one of the most important figures in the Republican Party. Because she speaks for Main Street America on issues from energy to health care, her star will only continue to rise.
Review
Synopsis
The real story of the Republican vice presidential nominee and her collision with the elite liberal media As the second woman ever nominated as a candidate for vice president, Alaska governor Sarah Palin became an instant phenomenon. Americans were enthralled by a woman with charm, ambition, natural political talent, and a passion for conservative values.
But the fascination of ordinary people quickly drew an unprecedented attack from the media elite and liberal activists. Far beyond the normal bounds of tough questions and challenges, Palin's enemies decided that nothing was too personal to attack-including her marriage, her children, her faith, and her wardrobe. The media distorted Palin's positions and beliefs beyond recognition. And almost every word out of her mouth was spun as a "flub."
Weekly Standard writer Matthew Continetti reveals the true story of the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and her persecution by the elites who tried to hide their bias with solemn declarations of objectivity. Continetti offers fresh examples of malicious spin and deceit and shows how liberal snobbery has become a driving force in American politics.
Palin's ordeal has become a rallying cry for the GOP in the Obama era. This perceptive book is a must-read for conservatives who want to understand what really happened-and how to avoid a repeat.
Synopsis
"A compelling account of journalistic malpractice on a grand scale. Those called out in this book should not be allowed to forget what they did." -Brit Hume, senior political analyst, Fox News
Sarah Palin spent more than a decade making her town and her state better-she slashed government spending and corruption and encouraged economic growth. In 2008, she took to the national stage to bring her successful vision to the entire country. America quickly embraced her message, and Palin became the hottest rising star the country had seen in years.
Palin was a strong and popular conservative with traditional values- work, family, and religion-and Washington Democrats and their allies in the so-called mainstream media decided she had to be destroyed. These elite liberals attacked everything from Palin's clothing to her parenting style to her church.
They spread one malicious and untrue rumor after another. The media also treated Palin with such insulting condescension that it frequently lapsed into mockery. Palin was routinely ridiculed and vilified-and so was her family.
Continetti shows that the liberal media did succeed in one way: they were able to give the election to Barack Obama.
About the Author
"Matthew Continetti has written a touch, revealing look at how the bias or habits of liberals in the media led them to assault a political figure who shared neither their values nor background. Whether you like Sarah Palin or not, this well-researched and meticulous volume strips the bark off influential players in journalism."
-Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush
"A compelling account of journalistic malpractice on a grand scale. Those called out in the book should not be allowed to forget what they did."
-Brit Hume, senior political analyst, Fox News
"What set off the media feeding frenzy over Sarah Palin's place on the 2008 Republican presidential ticket? Was there something wrong with Palin? Or something wrong with the media? In The Persecution of Sarah Palin, Matthew Continetti finds the answer-and exposes the media's worst excesses."
-Byron York, chief political correspondent, The Washington Examiner
"If every member of the anti-Palin media was simply forced to read and understand just the first page of this book, what is left of journalism in this country would be greatly improved. If every voter had done so prior to the election, we might have a different president right now."
-John Ziegler, creator of the film Media Malpractice
"During the 2008 campaign the 'mainstream media' wrote a narrative about Sarah Palin that had very little to do with the facts. Now Matthew Continetti, who told us the truth about the Republican machine in The K Street Gang, tells us the truth about how Palin was chosen by John McCain and how so many in the press set out to destroy her."
-Michael Barone, resident fellow, American Enterprise Institute; coauthor, The Almanac of American Politics
"Matt Continetti has not only written a great book about Sarah Palin, he has also written a classic study of the modern political press, complete with the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly. This book should be required reading for political journalists."
-Yuval Levin, editor, National Affairs