Woodard's Latest Book Rehabilitates His Position with the Left

RFFM.org ^ | 10.09.06 | Daniel T. Zanoza

[Daniel T. Zanoza]

For the last couple of years, Bob Woodward, the renowned Washington Post investigative journalist who became famous for breaking the Watergate scandal, has been in a bad mood. You see, when he attended those liberal cocktail parties on New York's Upper East side there were people who didn't think Woodward's liberal credentials were still in good standing after his two books on George W. Bush.

Woodward presented Bush in what some say was a positive light and this kind of thing doesn't set well with the Manhattan crowd who sees the president as the incarnation of the anti-Christ. Well, perhaps the use of the word anti-Christ is inappropriate in this situation because most of the things these people believe in have nothing to do with spirituality or at least the type most Americans are familiar with. To many of them, the word Christ is part of a swear word used to add emphasis to one of the "enlightened" comments about the state of the human condition. Every once in a while, they have to be reminded Jesus Christ was a man who many believe Is God and represents a deity to billions of people around the world. But I digress.

Poor Mr. Woodward was feeling lonely. He was tired of the sneers and snubs he received at the posh parties he was still invited to, that is. And a good Bush-bashing book would be just the ticket to get him back on the intellectual scene's "A" list. Woodward's latest literary effort, titled, "State of Denial" seems to have put him back in good graces with the New York Times crowd which often gathers to tell each other how intelligent they are.

I'm personally happy for Woodward. Even though his most recent book is filled with rehashed information that can hardly be considered enlightening, the bottom line is Woodward, again, is a happy man. When Woodward enters a room filled with individuals like Maureen Dowd, Madeleine Albright and Al Gore, he receives congratulatory pats on the back. "A job well done, ole boy," spouts the editor of the New Republic. "Keep up the good work," proclaims Senator Ted Kennedy from his seat at the bar.

You see, Woodward's temporary fall from good graces must have had a devastating effect on his psyche. For years, he was considered a hero by the American left. There was even a movie made about him and his partner Carl Bernstein. Woodward was a cultural icon to liberals across the nation, but when his books depicted George W. Bush as a human being, possessing the flaws we all have, there were those who thought the Washington Post columnist was getting soft. Some believed old age was mellowing the once hard-charging hero of the Fourth Estate and they may have been right. Woodward's writings on Bush were balanced and thoughtful accounts of a president in a time of war. But the left didn't want to hear it and Woodward paid the consequences. It got to the point where the once admired hero of the left was openly maligned on those cable talk shows which pit conservative against liberal with the hope blood will flow--just before commercial time.

However, Bob is feeling fine right now. He's once again considered a card-carrying Bush-basher in good standing. I'm sure most of us are happy for Mr. Woodward because we hate to see the truth hold down any man and, obviously, Woodward's "State of Denial" was certainly causing him substantial grief. It's hard to be rejected by the people who once held you in great esteem.

By the way, Woodward's book arrived at newsstands just in time for the November election. And they will make a perfect stocking stuffer for the situational ethics crowd, too. All in all, it's been a great couple of weeks for Mr. Woodward and, after all, isn't that what really matters.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

I cana't stand that whiny, stuttering woodward!