PS I think this whole episode foreshadows the Dem Party's upcoming marketing line in elections, which I predict will be something like: "We are the party of TRUTH -- unlike the GOP." Kind of a hard sell, IMO, when you think back at Bill Clinton, Jayson Blair, and a host of other examples the Dem Party probably hopes everyone will have forgotten come Election Day. ("Hey everyone, just remember how we caught that scoundrel-receovered drug addict-author James Frey!")
From E! online:
...
Winfrey also took Frey's publisher, Nan Talese of Doubleday, to task over failing to red-flag the book as less than truthful. She said that her staff had contacted Doubleday after being alerted to possible discrepancies, but were reassured by the publisher that the book lived up to its claims.
"I'm trusting you, the publisher, to categorize this book whether as fiction or autobiographical or memoir," Winfrey scolded Talese, who admitted the book had not been fact-checked.
Doubleday, which initially backed Frey, said in a statement Thursday that it had "sadly come to the realization that a number of facts have been altered and incidents embellished."
Talese stated that a publisher's note was being prepared to send to booksellers to insert into copies and that any future printings would be delayed until the note could be included. She tried to soothe Winfrey, claiming that the revelations about Pieces, were "very sad" for all those involved.
"It's not sad for me, it's embarassing and disappointing for me," Winfrey snapped back.
Despite admitting to penning numerous lies in his account, Frey still refused to reclassify his work as fiction.
"I don't think it is a novel," he said Thursday. "I still think it's a memoir."
Winfrey disagreed. "It needs to say 'based on a true story,' " she said, as her audience applauded...
Yes, "based on a true story" -- the "essential truth" is what Oprah defended before, and despite her "anger" now, is still willing to acknowledge.
Meanwhile, that publisher's new note to readers should say:
"We now admit we here at Doubleday were too darn lazy to do any fact-checking whatsoever, because we were too busy foaming at the mouth over our marketing plans. $orry, Oprah! $orry, readers!"