Note that Maraniss does not deny that his biography “proves that Barack Obama’s defining memoir is phony and that his entire life is a fraud.” He only disputes the insinuation that he did this “unwittingly”!
He then says (painting with a very broad brush) “doubters and haters” of Obama are much worse than Obama because they are themselves are “frauds and fabricators” and “birthers” to boot and then goes on to try to debunk “birther” claims. Curiously Maraniss, a WaPo editor, fails to provide a rebuttal to or even take note of Sheriff Arpio’s extensive forensic evidence that Obama’s pdf birth certificate “released” on April 27, 2011 was forged, which would be the ultimate fabrication, if true, IMO.
Maraniss’s straw man is what he calls Obama’s “most virulent detractors.” Yes, some of Obama’s detractors are suffering from ODS, (Obama derangement syndrome) but there are many honest, sincere researchers who are vetting Obama using the most scrupulous forensic analysis available. Maraniss gives them and their research no mention and no credit, but his own biography of Obama extensively supports their findings. This is why Maraniss had to write this piece, IMO, to get back into the good graces of his friends in the left-leaning media after writing a biography that was so damaging to Obama’s credibility at all levels.
After Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Posse investigation Maraniss has a lot of crow to eat!!!