Posted on 09/09/2004 8:09:50 AM PDT by kattracks
The big bombshell promised by Kitty Kelley in her scorching anti-Bush book "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty," has prematurely imploded, with a key witness behind the book's central charge now denying Kelley's version of her account."I categorically deny that I ever told Kitty Kelley that George W. Bush used cocaine at Camp David or that I ever saw him use cocaine at Camp David," ex-Bush sister-in-law Sharon Bush said in a statement issued yesterday, according to the Washington Post. Instead, said the one-time Bush family insider, "When Kitty Kelley raised drug use at Camp David, I responded by saying something along the lines of, 'Who would say such a thing?'"
The recantation of the book's central charge has flummoxed media outlets that were planning a mega roll-out for the anti-Bush screed.
When contacted by NewsMax Thursday morning, a spokesman for NBC's "Today Show," which had planned to showcase Kelley's book for three straight mornings in a row next week, couldn't say whether Sharon's statement would change their plans.
Newsweek magazine had already rejected an offer to excerpt the Kelley book because the Bush ex was the sole source of Kelley's big bombshell, with lead reporter Howard Fineman complaining Tuesday that the cocaine story was "un-checkable and an otherwise un-witnessable allegation. So if that's the best she's got, that's why we took a pass on it."
Despite the Sharon Bush debacle, Kelley's publisher is so far hanging tough.
"Doubleday stands fully behind the accuracy of Ms. Kelley's reporting and believes that everything she attributes to Sharon Bush in her book is an accurate account of their discussions," Associate Publisher Suzanne Herz told the Post. "Ms. Kelley met with Sharon Bush over the course of a four-hour lunch on April 1, 2003, at the Chelsea Bistro in Manhattan."
Still, industry insiders are wary of a repeat of the publishing disaster that transpired the last time a book claimed Bush was a coke user.
In 1999, St. Martin's Press was forced to recall 90,000 copies of "Fortunate Son," which alleged that then candidate George W. Bush had been arrested on a cocaine charge in 1972.
Only after the book hit stores did St. Martin's learn that the author of "Son," J.H. Hatfield, had served five years in jail in connection with a conspiracy to commit murder. The Bush book debacle is believed to have contributed to Hatfield's 2001 suicide by drug overdose.
April Fools. I wonder which course was the better lunch, that one, or the plate of crow which is about to be served.
Its good fiction for fever swamp Left fans. You know, the anti-Bush Left keeps bringing out one new anti-Bush book a week and they still can't turn the numbers on the table. Nope, I don't think a cocaine abuse allegation is going to answer their prayer.
I grew up under the common sense dictum, "Consider the source."
You know, it's saved me a lot of difficulty, doing that.
The Old Media face-timers obviously missed that one, and never figured out to adopt it. You're right, they just keep humming their own tune, deaf to realistic input.
Exactly! I heard she got a $4 million advance--that's money down the toilet. It is also interesting that the networks are falling all over each other to get Kitty Kelley (amusing name) on their shows while the swift vets are shunned like they have the plague.
Here's what I think happened -- Sharon Bush wanted to get back at the Bush family in a public way. And meeting with Kitty Kelley for a public luncheon was a way to put the family on notice that she was a loose cannon. And both Sharon and Kitty both agree that Kitty was the one to bring up the "Bush did coke at Camp David" allegation. I think Sharon agreed with Kitty about it; heck, at that point, Sharon was so angry with the Bush family that she would have agreed with allegations that W was a space alien!
Anyhow, the divorce between Sharon and Neil Bush was finalized after this meeting, and I would guess that there was a "keep your mouth" shut clause inserted into the agreement. But at any rate, the damage was done. It is curious that Kitty didn't take notes during this lunch, nor did she tape the conversation. It seems like Kelley just wanted to claim that a Bush family member confirmed her wacky allegations.
A liberal replied to me about this by saying Kelly had a witness at the same table.
I said when the source says you lied, it can't be good for your book or credibility.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.