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.
Ehh...Carl, you didn't think that was going to happen sooner or later anyway?
And then what?
Where too many Manhattans were consumed.
I remember Frank Sinatra calling Kitty Kelly a "whore"...and I can't disagree.
The thing that really bothers me is, that when it comes to free speech, that the liberals claim to uphold to the highest degree, they will continue to back a book that is known to be a lie, and do all they can to prevent Unfit for Command to be sold.
The real anti-american terrorist seem to be already amoung us and it is not the muslims.
Kitty Kat Kaught!
Let her sit there and contemplate her stupidity.
We're getting closer and closer to Mrs. Breck-Girl (the fat lady) singing......
He doesn't like to talk about it unless there are other people around...and the press...and microphones...cameras...
WOW- I hope The Today Show really feels good about showcasing three days of propoganda....The main stream media(MSM) really has screwed this pooch.
Whose headline is that? She didn't "recant," which means she takes back her earlier statement--she said in effect that she never said anything like that. Huge difference. And an even bigger win for our side. (Though if we're objective, her official statement has campaign flack hands all over it.)
And the staff are saying
But, but, Andrea Mitchell said she has "a good track record of getting her stories straight" this morning on Imus!
April Fools!
Yuck, yuck.....
How about bringing down a VCR and TV and forcing her to watch reruns of Kerry speeches 24 hours a day?
"Wonder what Katie Couric's gonna do now for three mornings next week?"
She could re-run their special on depression that they did earlier this week. The Dems are gonna need it.
Even though that little twerp Neil did Sharon wrong, I admire Sharon for facing down Kitty Kelley, who writes her usual lies and half-truths, just typical of a demoncRAT's morals and ethics.
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