Pro-Kerry Hackers Attack Barnes and Noble? And Now Amazon, too?

Human Events Online ^ | August 10, 2004 | Human Events

[hinterlander]

Yesterday we reported that the Barnes & Noble website carried an altered cover of the hot new anti-Kerry book, Unfit For Command (Regnery, 2004 -- a Human Events sister company). The title had been changed from Unfit For Command to Fit for Command. Likewise, the Kerry photo on the jacket was been changed to feature a pro-Kerry war photo worthy of a John Wayne movie. (Barnes & Noble has since fixed the error. No explanation has been given.)

Now it appears pro-Kerry gremlins have invaded Amazon.com, too.

Amazon, thought by many to be the top (and unbiased?) online purveyor of books, has either been hacked, or has oddly changed an important practice. Amazon's Editorial Review section generally leads with a note from the publisher, and then continues with other published book reviews. Except in the case of Amazon's top-selling (#1 on Amazon's bestseller list) Unfit for Command, where, as of this morning, harsh words from an out-of-context quote by Sen. John McCain are now positioned as the lead "Editorial Review."

McCain made the divisive statement in response to a TV advertisement created by a Swift Boat organization, not to the book, which he has not yet even had an opportunity to acquire. Yet Amazon (or the hacker? or a pro-Kerry employee?) has positioned Sen. McCain's quote in such a way as to make potential readers erroneously assume McCain is commenting on the book.

Regnery Publishing's president, Marji Ross, reacting to the McCain "review" said, "This is unheard of. I can't believe Amazon would lead with a partial quote from a news interview -- particularly one that had nothing to do with Unfit for Command. I can only assume someone hacked into their site, or that an unauthorized change was made by a rogue employee." Ross continued, "I don't think it is physically possible for Sen. McCain to even have a copy of the book yet."

Calls to Amazon had not yet been returned at press time.

[Dog]

Uh oh!!!!!

That book has them really spooked.

John O'Neill needs to sue B&N and Amazon......just for the hell of it.

[Callahan]

Somebody hacked John Kerry's campaign website and made every picture of his face look all long and Lurch-like. I demand an investigation.

[Jenya]

Admin Moderator, please do not move this. The other ones were moved. This is News and most definitely Activism. Amazon needs to be Freeped and put in their place.

I complained to them, and others need to as well. I can't believe they have that McCain quote on their website.

[gunnygail]

That book has them running for cover faster than Hitlery Klintoon after Vince Foster showed up dead! OOOOPS!

[NavySEAL F-16]

I called McCain's office yesterday afternoon after seeing this on Amazon's site. They were completely in the dark. She pulled up the site (I don't think she believed me).

His office said they would look into it -- since what McCain said was not about the book.

[Callahan]

From Today's Washington Prowler column on Spectator.org: According to a Kerry campaign source, senior campaign advisers tasked two Washington-based campaign staffers to vet the recently published Unfit for Command. "The purpose was to compare what that book had with what we had on file from Senator Kerry," says the campaign source, who said that the research project developed more than 75 instances where Kerry's recollections, previous remarks, or writings conflicted with the book's reporting. "We took some of the most glaring examples, like the Christmas in Cambodia story, and presented them to senior staff, and we assume that those things were put in front of Senator Kerry," says the source. "We haven't heard a word about it. All we were told is that it was being taken care of." The campaign source said that the book was not considered a "serious" problem for the campaign, because, "the media wouldn't have the nerve to come at us with this kind of stuff," says the source. "The senior staff believes the media is committed to seeing us win this thing, and that the convention inoculated us from these kinds of stories. The senior guys really think we don't have a problem here." The Kerry Campaign is counting on their media pals to give them a pass.

[WOSG]

I gave amazon.com feedback via their 'request a book' feedback form.

Maybe it will make them shake their butts on this. maybe not.

[Jenya]

I'm posting this only to show that this needs to be dealt with, and this current thread must stay in Activism. Amazon is pulling a dirty trick.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1188436/posts

[Legion04]

I've also noticed that most recently they've been Google bombing, so there is no longer www.johnkerry.com to be seen when one does a google search for "waffle" (for shame!) however now George W. Bush's bio comes up at around #10 or so.

[boxerblues]

The campaign source said that the book was not considered a "serious" problem for the campaign, because, "the media wouldn't have the nerve to come at us with this kind of stuff," says the source.

the MSM may not have the nerve but freepers and bloggers do hehe

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

They can try, but the book is still #1!!

[claudiustg]

I saw that and complained to Amazon yesterday. So far there is no reply, which seems to be the standard response when Mr. Kerry is involved.

[Jenya]

Good for you. Do you have McCain's number handy? I'd like to give him a call myself.

[Callahan]

I noticed last night that swiftboatvets.com (as opposed to the proper swiftvets.com) directs you to a pro-Kerry Salon piece by Joe Conason. When you can't release your medical records, it's best to just keep the masses in the dark.

[knuthom]

I just checked the current Amazon site. They have corrected the title. But McCain's comment is still there.

Editorial Reviews
Senator John McCain
"Dishonest and dishonorable... none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded."

[Legion04]

Or maybe....there AREN'T ANY medical records! ;-)

[Jenya]

I don't think there was an issue with the title on Amazon's site. That was Barnes and Noble's deceit. Amazon has the misleading and lying critique from John McCain.

[OHelix]

I see a bunch of people must have canceled their orders as a result. The book's rating on Amazon.com has dropped form #1 to #15 in very short time.

[rwfromkansas]

Wow.

This is incredible.