Right-wing author embarrass Sean Hannity with Obama errors

ContrarianCommentary.com ^ | Tue 8/05/08 | ANDY MARTIN

[Calpernia]

Right-wing author embarrass Sean Hannity with Obama errors

Rupture on the right; why the right wing rift in Obamaland?

Andy Martin comments on the copycat right-wing writers who have been using his research to publish books on Barack Obama

Competing authors, who track his research and commentary, though not always accurately, vindicate Andy's research and conclusions

Is David Freddoso a joke, or what?

Sean Hannity should screen his authors better (NEW YORK)(August 6, 2008) First, a little mameh-loshen. Let me be honest. Authors compete, just like car dealers, athletes and-egads-politicians. So when I heard two right-wing writers were planning books on Barack Obama after my own book was already announced, I was curious to see if they would come up with something new. Had I missed something? Did my own loyal readers and contributors overlooked some crucial facts or episode?

My second question, for which I do not have the answer, is why the rupture on the right? Four years ago, John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi "wrote" a book together, "Unfit for Command," an attack on John Kerry. Four years later, O'Neil and Corsi are no longer a twosome, and O'Neil is promoting a book by right-wing wannabe David Freddoso. There's a rift there, but who knows why?

Third, it is no secret I am a Republican. But it is also equally clear that when I write my column, ContrarianCommentary.com, I do not write as a partisan. I attempt to be scrupulously accurate. I cover Democrats as well as Republicans, and I cover all of them fairly. My columns over the past four years about Barack Obama have achieved great credibility and notoriety precisely because they were accurate. My opinions may be adversarial, but my research is not.

And so, Monday evening, August 4th I was watching when one of my competitors, the hapless Mr. Freddoso, appeared on the Hannity and Colmes program (yes, I watch the competition; it's mortification of the flesh). Hannity introduced Freddoso with great fanfare, as the author of a new expose on Obama. The only thing Freddoso exposed was his own incompetence.

The selling point to my book, Obama: The Man Behind the Mask, is that I write with forty years of experience in Chicago and Illinois politics. I have seen the sewers of the Daley Machine, and I have watched Obama's swift boat sail happily in Daley's political septic tank.

You can imagine my shock when Hannity/Freddoso led off their interview by falsely attributing the quotation "Don't Make No Waves-Don't Back No Losers" to Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass. Wrong. The "Don't Make No Waves" comment came from Professor Milton Rakove's book: http://www.popula.com/st/no_392/2609990.htm; http://www.lib.niu.edu/1980/ii800122.html

Freddoso obviously parachuted into Chicago, briefly, checked a few clip files, and declared himself an author. It's embarrassing when you make the kind of blunder Freddoso did on Mr. Hannity's program. If Freddoso had done even minimal research he would have known his claims about John Kass were laughably wrong.

"Dr. Corsi" is just as insecure, and possibly as insincere, as Freddoso. Corsi bragged that he had over 700 footnotes in his book. Was he writing a book for ordinary voters to read, or a high school term paper? You don't have to call yourself "Doctor" (PhD.) to know that footnotes are part of scholarly writing or, at their most primitive, high school term papers. You use footnotes to establish trust, because either your high school teacher, or college professor, remains to be convinced of your scholarship.

But when you are writing a popular book-in my case a basic handbook for the anti-Obama movement-you don't need to use footnotes to establish your credibility. You have cred before you start. Or you don't. My credibility was already recognized, by friend and foe alike. I didn't need to prove my experience and knowledge in writing my book.

Now, I am not saying Corsi did anything wrong. But when my own mother saw him on TV, Corsi was using the images and language of my book, as his own. Corsi, of course, has been charged with political plagiarism in the past. So where do we end up?

My competing authors did not find anything new. There is nothing in their books that either is not in mine or was not available to me.

Freddoso probably came to Chicago on a day trip. He didn't do much research. While Corsi claims to have been "researching" his book for two years, no one ever heard of his valiant efforts until he started using my words and images (yes, my mother watches Fox News on occasion; she started watching Hannity & Colmes when I was an occasional guest on that program in its early years).

The bottom line: over the past four years I have meticulously documented all of Obama's fallacies and failures, his fantasies and fabrications. I did the original research, and led the way through the unknown forest, to Obamaland. I am flattered that not one but two copycat authors have now used my work as their template. The cut-and-past right wing hatchet men who have dropped in to grab a few dollars offer nothing new, and have an embarrassing lack of knowledge about Chicago politics.

Maybe "Dr. Corsi" and Mr. Freddoso should read another one of Professor Rakove's books: "We don't want nobody nobody sent." http://www.chipublib.org/search/details/cn/518712?branch=62

Who sent Corsi and Freddoso? You be the judge.

If these men really want to learn about Chicago politics, and to understand Obama in his milieu, I would be happy to teach them.

In the meantime, readers of my book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask, can rest assured my work is still the only gold standard and practical handbook on Barack Obama's unfitness for the presidency. I'd be happy to have any of my readers comment.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I have decided to oppose Obama's election and have become Executive Director of The Stop Obama Coalition, http://StopObamaCoalition.com. By default, I have become the national leader of the anti-Obama movement. I am not acting as either a Democrat or Republican. I have had no contact whatsoever with the McCain Campaign. I am acting as an independent American citizen who sincerely believes Obama is not the man we need in the Oval Office. We are going to run a very dynamic and aggressive campaign against Obama. I will continue to write my columns for ContrarianCommentary.com. Book orders: http://OrangeStatePress.com. Immediate shipment from the publisher now available. --------------------------------------------- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6TH: OBAMA UNLEASHES "THE MOB" --------------------------------------------- ANDY MARTIN EN ROUTE TO WASHINGTON, DC THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 - SUNDAY AUGUST 10 STAY TUNED FOR BLOCKBUSTER ANNOUNCEMENTS, BOOK SIGNINGS, AND MORE ---------------------------------------------------------- Andy Martin is a legendary Chicago muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of www.ContrarianCommentary.com. © Copyright by Andy Martin 2008. Martin comments on regional, national and world events with over forty years of experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. His columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com. Andy is the author of Obama: The Man Behind The Mask, published in July 2008, see http://www.OrangeStatePress.com. MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com [NOTE: We frequently correct typographical errors and additions/subtractions on our blogs, where you can find the latest edition of this release.]

[3AngelaD]

Subject and verb in headline not match.

[xmission]

The writer chose to try to knock down Hannity over this?

[Holicheese]

“You use footnotes to establish trust, because either your high school teacher, or college professor, remains to be convinced of your scholarship.”

Nope. If you are writing a book the left does not like you need to have everything footnoted. Without them the left will just make up facts.

[hoe_cake]

I don’t know if this author’s claims that Hannity was wrong are correct or not, but I’d find it hard to believe that Hannity would be embarrassed by making errors. If anything, if it is true that Hannity made errors, he’ll buck up, own to them, and move on.

[SumProVita]

I already bought both books.....and would STILL buy them.

;-P

[pgkdan]

"Dr. Corsi" is just as insecure, and possibly as insincere, as Freddoso. Corsi bragged that he had over 700 footnotes in his book. Was he writing a book for ordinary voters to read, or a high school term paper? You don't have to call yourself "Doctor" (PhD.) to know that footnotes are part of scholarly writing or, at their most primitive, high school term papers. You use footnotes to establish trust, because either your high school teacher, or college professor, remains to be convinced of your scholarship.

This is a ridiculous point. When you're writing a book attacking the character of any politician you better have your facts straight and be ready to prove sources. Corsi did this...to his credit. The author of this piece sounds like an insecure amateur, upset that he's being upstaged.

[Perchant]

Footnotes really make his blood boil.

[Calpernia]

I bought Obama Nation and Obama The Man Behind the Mask.

[Calpernia]

I’m going to be VERY disappointed if his book, Obama, The Man Behind the Mask, arrives and has no back up to where he cited information from.

[FlashBack]

My thoughts exactly...Ive ordered the Corsi book, hadn’t heard of this other one.

[King Hawk]

Pissed that someone came into his turf and wrote better material than he has.

[Calpernia]

Did you read Obama Behind the Mask or Obama Nation yet? I’m reading Obama Nation now. Still waiting for Behind the Mask.

[Pontiac]

In the meantime, readers of my book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask, can rest assured my work is still the only gold standard and practical handbook on Barack Obama's unfitness for the presidency.

My credibility was already recognized, by friend and foe alike. I didn't need to prove my experience and knowledge in writing my book.

Let me be honest. Authors compete, just like car dealers, athletes and-egads-politicians.

Mr. Martin’s criticisms seem rather petty and the above I think establishes why.

The man is suffering from jealousy. He feels slighted at not being asked on the Sean Hannity’ show.

[Calpernia]

I was taken aback by this too. Hence, I posted it. I’m on pre order for his book. That may shed some light onto why he wrote this. I don’t know.

[xjcsa]

Right-wing author embarrass Sean Hannity with Obama errors [sic]

So when I heard two right-wing writers were planning books on Barack Obama after my own book was already announced, I was curious to see if they would come up with something new. Had I missed something? Did my own loyal readers and contributors overlooked some crucial facts or episode?

But when you are writing a popular book-in my case a basic handbook for the anti-Obama movement-you don't need to use footnotes to establish your credibility. You have cred before you start. Or you don't. My credibility was already recognized, by friend and foe alike. I didn't need to prove my experience and knowledge in writing my book.

My columns over the past four years about Barack Obama have achieved great credibility and notoriety precisely because they were accurate.

And so, Monday evening, August 4th I was watching when one of my competitors, the hapless Mr. Freddoso, appeared on the Hannity and Colmes program (yes, I watch the competition; it's mortification of the flesh).

My competing authors did not find anything new. There is nothing in their books that either is not in mine or was not available to me.

Author: "I'm a really big deal. No really. I'm a bigger deal than Sean Hannity, David Freddoso, and Jerome Corsi combined. Plus I speak caveman."

xjcsa: "I'm sorry, but I'm not exactly sure who you are."

Author: [sound of head exploding]

[Sicon]

OK, whatever Andy, you pompous tool.

Good luck unbunching your panties.

[xjcsa]

So I went to the link and can’t find this article - any tips? By the way, the blurbs for the rest of the articles on there are every bit as “about Andy Martin” as this one is. I think modesty is not his defining characteristic - twenty stories all shouting “Andy Martin is a Big Deal!”

[Calpernia]

His community splash page does get confusing.

Here is the hard URL:

http://contrariancommentary.blogspot.com/2008/08/andy-martin-on-his-competitors-david.html

[Calpernia]

Would you mind updating the URL for this thread? The splash page of his site makes it hard to find the story I posted:

http://contrariancommentary.blogspot.com/2008/08/andy-martin-on-his-competitors-david.html