The Machine: A Field Guide to the Resurgent Right

Before Barack Obama had even taken the oath of office after his historic victory, cadres of lobbyists, political hacks, oil tycoons, and right-wing politicians met to plan his political demise. The massive conservative infrastructure created by business groups beginning in the 1970s would not be sufficient, they concluded: in the age of Obama, something new — and bold — had to be done.

Written by the blogger who first exposed the Koch brothers in the mainstream media and who first reported on the lobbyists who brought us the Tea Parties, The Machine is a withering exposé of the plans to make America conservative again. Informed by years of muckraking research and firsthand reporting, Fang dissects the rise of “patriot” hate groups, explains the dynamics of the conservative message machine, reveals where the money comes from and how it is spent, and explicates how the different gears in the right-wing machine have been cleverly adapted to crush Obama and progressive reform, taking ordinary Americans hostage on the way.

The Machine sheds light on all the dark corners of the resurgent right, laying out its modus operandi in short, accessible chapters. Edgy and irreverent, this is the indispensable handbook for anyone interested in comprehending the conservative machine and the people, the money, and the strategies that make it tick.

"Progressives: get thee immediately to a bookstore and pick up a copy of The Machine; there is no time to waste. Lee Fang documents in lively detail the cogs, axles, sockets, levers, and output of the most insidious political machine in our history — the resurgent right. The reach of this machine is hair-raising, but in order to overcome it, one must know it. Fang, with his years of reporting and insight, knows it better than anyone writing today, and he presents a compelling field guide for smart progressives. A must-read for the left and anyone concerned about the takeover of democracy by the wealthy few." Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan

"With our lawmakers more beholden than ever to dark money, Lees book couldn't have come at a better time. Wealthy corporations and donors have made a huge investment in partisan politics, which means reformers need to arm themselves with the best information available, and this expertly researched book is a great place to start." Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause

"Lee Fang is one of America's best and most prolific investigative journalists, and in this brilliant and insightful work he tells a vital and important story of the takeover of American politics by a small band of billionaires. An absolute must-read for every American who cares about the future of America and of democracy itself." Thom Hartmann, radio host and author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

"Few people have done more in-depth research, reporting, and writing on the post-Obama conservative movement than Lee Fang. The Machine goes beyond the headlines and explores exactly how this ideological movement operates." Amanda Terkel, senior political reporter, The Huffington Post

“A practical addition to literature on conservatism that will be widely appreciated, not just on the left.” Kirkus Reviews

Lee Fang has traveled the country following the right-wing movement, researching and reporting on both wing-tipped lobbyists and gun-toting militia rallies. He was the first reporter to piece together the stealth campaign to derail health reform, and uncovered the memo teaching Tea Party activists how to disrupt Democratic town halls with yelling and intimidation. Fang has tracked down the most poignant examples of Republican hypocrisy and repeatedly exposes the corporate operators behind various anti-reform front groups. His investigations have been featured by Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann, CNN's Ricks List, the New York Times, and the Huffington Post, among other outlets. He lives in Prince Georges County, Maryland.