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Re your post #4 - That was my impression, too.

Oprah was being very honest when she said she now thought this:

"I left the impression that the truth is not important," she said.

Because that's what one of her guests, Frank Rich, had written about in a recent column, which he practically took down Oprah by maing fun of her version of truth.

But I thought Oprah should have stuck to what she said on larry King, because at that time, she said the book was the "essential" truth of this person's life -- and, in a way, it is, since he made the journey from addict to recovery. Yes, he fudged the truth, and no, he probably shouldn't have done so if he didn't have some sort of disclaimer on the book saying some events have been fictionalized or whatever.

Yet, because of Frank Rich and other media, Oprah perceived her clout was now at issue. So, she invites on this Frey guy again, who clearly had no clue he was about to be attacked, and she attacks him, to preserve her clout.

Meanwhile, I am thinking: this Frey guy is probably so humiliated by all this he may return to being an addict.

In short, Oprah's decision seemed to me to be a bit cruel here, since she decided her clout was more important than anything else, including this guy's recovery from drugs. I would disagree with her on that. It is a miracle for someone to have made the journey from addict to recovery, however he makes it. Oprah should not pay so much attention to Frank Rich. She already said it was the "essential" truth of the book she was defending, and therein, already admitted she knew some of it was fiction.

Finally, the publisher in this matter was a real jerk for not stepping up to the plate at the very beginning and being more open with potential buyers of the book as to the truthfulness of every detail in the story.

Oh, and one more thing -- other than Frank Rich's column and the negative feedback Oprah received from some, what else made her suddenly turn? Nothing, since she was alread told by people at that clinic, LONG AGO, that details in Frey's story were false. It was obvious Oprah was allowing Frank Rich and others to manipulate her, and as a result, she lost some real clout in my eyes today.

maing = making

You nailed it. It was all about her image and I'm reading that she was crushed that her reputation was torn down. Hey, once in how many years that she's been on tv? Shows you the power the consumer and the media have on getting "celebrities" to flip flop. Sounds like a page from the Kerry playbook.