New book makes outrageous claims about sex, lies, and stupidity of ex-governor
The latest about Sarah Palin splashed across the headlines this week was Joe McGinniss’ new book, The Rouge: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin. It’s a book that I think is taking a great reporter’s career to new and unexpected lows.
I know tons of people hate Sarah Palin these days, especially the liberal media, but I like her. I’ve always liked her. I do have to admit, since 2008, Palin has become a bit of a celebrity. I don’t blame her completely, but there’s no denying that once she signed on for the TLC reality show, she had picked up the shovel and started digging.
My point is that when it comes down to it, no matter how much I like her, I no longer think she is fit to be in government. I know she’s been toying with the idea of running in 2012, but I genuinely don’t believe that’s going to happen.
This leads to the uselessness of this book. Joe McGinniss is trying to exploit a woman who no longer needs to be exploited. Palin is falling into the background anyways, and if she isn’t running for office, (which I highly doubt) I can’t really say I care about whatever he found. Turns out, I’m not the only one.
McGinniss seems to go about writing this book as if he has forgotten how to behave as a respectable journalist. It’s like he’s so convinced that he’ll find something so over-the-top shocking, that everyone will ignore how he got the info.
The guy moved in next door for crying out loud! A lot of people would like to argue that he was just so darn committed to getting the whole feel of the town, the people, and what it was really like on a day-to-day basis. The book just doesn’t seem to support this theory, however.
McGinniss reportedly calls Palin a clown, a nitwit, a rabid wolf and a lap dancer. What I think happened here is that McGinniss wasn’t finding the support for rumors that he needed, so he resorted to name-calling and filled his book with childish sounding details and accusations.
Even the New York Times reported a poor review on the book. The thing is, McGinniss should be a credible guy. He’s got the experience of over 12 published books, and years of investigative reporting. Even still, he definitely isn’t getting support from the right places.
Janet Maslin recently wrote for the New York Times on the book, saying that “Mr. McGinniss used his time in Alaska to chase caustic, unsubstantiated gossip about the Palins, often from unnamed sources like ‘one resident’ and ‘a friend.’”
Maslin goes on to cite several examples of contradictory accusations in the book, which genuinely ruins McGinniss’ credibility. If you can’t get the New York Times behind your book, you’ve got a rough road ahead.
Ok, so honestly, me and Keith Olbermann are not BFFs. In fact, I may have said a few things behind his back once or twice. But what I love about him is this; when it’s really wrong, he swallows his left-wing pride for a moment and admits it. In terms of the book, at least, Olbermann defended Sarah Palin—something I never thought I’d see. Just over a week ago, on Real Time with Bill Maher, Olbermann admitted to being on Palin’s side about the book.
“Most of the stuff in there, why is it relevant, and what’s the point, and how well-sourced is it really?” said Olbermann about the book, after quickly calling Palin an idiot in order to retain his Palin-hater dignity.
There are a lot of people, still, who say we should give this book a chance. They trust McGinniss’ experience and what should be wisdom of age. Most of the people who have written about the validity of this book seem to hate Sarah Palin a lot, and they usually admit it. The bottom line, however, is that if you can’t even get the liberal media behind a Palin-bashing book these days, you must have screwed up big time.
I trust the New York Times, and as much as it hurts me to say, Keith Olbermann, more than I trust a few bloggers who clearly have a similar vendetta against Palin as Joe McGinniss does. If there is any justice in the world today, this book is going to fail miserably.
