Some say The Truth About Hillary should be burned.
Prurient in its focus, shameless in its methodology and vile in execution, this volume is a near-perfect example of what has come to be called “bio-porn,” a particularly noxious subgenre of the polemic literature that nowadays infests our bestseller lists.
Others say it unwittingly helped the former first lady.
In terms of political impact it is not a takedown but a buildup. Dick Morris says its sensational charges will only “embolden” her. They will certainly tend to inoculate her against future and legitimate criticism and revelations. The book is poorly written, poorly thought, poorly sourced and full of the kind of loaded language that is appropriate to a polemic but not an investigative work.
Says the LA Times Tim Rutten,
The way to handle “The Truth About Hillary” responsibly is to give it no further notice, no wider discussion.
Silence.
If the serious media can’t draw the line on this one, then there no longer are any lines to draw.
Funny, I’ve made that suggestion before. When the media covers lies it just gives the lie credibility.
I guess one could argue that a best selling book can’t be ignored. But we really don’t know if it’s best selling. Let’s wait until the returns come in. The book business is one where retailers can buy books on a bet that they’ll be successful but then return them to the publisher if they tank. Judging from the reviews this one is getting, it will soon be on the bargain tables. Where I hope it is also ignored.