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Barnes & Noble Says 'Unfit' Sellout Not Its Fault
Reuters ^ | 8/23/2004 | Bob Tourtellotte

Posted on 08/23/2004 5:29:35 PM PDT by medscribe

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Controversial book "Unfit for Command," which fires an election-year salvo at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's war record, has claimed one unintended victim -- bookstore chain Barnes & Noble Inc .

Barnes & Noble, the world's largest bookseller, on Monday issued a statement saying it had sold out of the book and, in effect, held up its hands in surrender to what it called "thousands of complaints" from both supporters and detractors of the book.

Supporters, Barnes & Noble said, are claiming the bookseller has intentionally not stocked the title or is hiding it, while detractors are asking stores to remove it altogether.

"(Complaints) started in the stores, and the home office has been inundated as well," said a company spokeswoman.

She said the company's statement was meant to "set the record straight." It is not Barnes & Noble's fault, she said, but rather small publisher Regnery Publishing who cut the chain's original order in half.

"We've been put in the difficult position of having to defend ourselves over a title we can't seem to get enough copies of from the publisher," Barnes & Noble chief executive Steve Riggio said in the statement.

A spokesman for Regnery was not immediately available for comment.

The book, written by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi, questions the accounts of an attack on Kerry's swift boat during the Vietnam War, and his actions in the subsequent skirmish that led to his receiving a Silver Star medal.

O'Neill is a member of a group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans for Truth which in key campaign states has been placing television advertisements that seek to discredit Kerry's war record.

Many veterans have come forward to support the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who is running against President Bush, and Kerry has accused the Bush campaign of collaborating with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

On Monday, Bush called for the ads to be stopped.

As for the book, Barnes & Noble said it is awaiting additional copies in order to restock its shelves, and it expects more later this week.

But even the new order would not be enough to meet demand, the bookseller said.

Riggio said Barnes & Noble would not remove any title from its shelves, nor does it have any political agenda.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barnesnoble; booksales; johnoneill; sellout; unfitforcommand
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Looks like liberal B&N is feeling the heat.
1 posted on 08/23/2004 5:29:36 PM PDT by medscribe
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To: medscribe
Riggio said Barnes & Noble would not remove any title from its shelves, nor does it have any political agenda.

Now pull the other leg.

2 posted on 08/23/2004 5:32:25 PM PDT by sionnsar (Iran Azadi ||| Resource for Traditional Anglicans: trad-anglican.faithweb.com)
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To: medscribe

Tereza H. and her book burners are probably buying up all stocks they can get their hands on. On the other hand, Hillary and her cohorts are probably donating money to get more copies into print.


3 posted on 08/23/2004 5:33:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: medscribe

My local Amazon (Montclair, CA) just got a fresh batch in today.


4 posted on 08/23/2004 5:33:12 PM PDT by Smogger
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To: medscribe

BS. They should threaten to fire those associates that misled buyers....I heard several lies on people walking in to buy the book.


5 posted on 08/23/2004 5:33:33 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: Smogger

your local Amazon?

is that a freudian slip?


6 posted on 08/23/2004 5:33:57 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: medscribe
People can get
MY real book here,
right now,
online FREE!!

I'm so proud of it!
The New Soldier,
By John Kerry
and Vietnam Veterans
Against the War
PART I

PART II
PART III

I hope everyone
in the USA gets this book
Maybe FReepers will help!

7 posted on 08/23/2004 5:35:23 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Hanoi Jane and Hanoi Kerry sitting in a tree, sitting in a tree F-R-E-N-C-H-I-N-G)
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To: Jim Robinson

In your scenario, Regnery gains both ways, and should enjoy increased profitability. Its stock may become interesting.


8 posted on 08/23/2004 5:37:56 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: medscribe
Many veterans have come forward to support the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who is running against President Bush, and Kerry has accused the Bush campaign of collaborating with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

What's ths score now? Something like Kerry - 16 Swift Vets 254?

9 posted on 08/23/2004 5:39:31 PM PDT by handy (Leahy you, you Clymer!)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
I hope everyone in the USA gets this book Maybe FReepers will help!

I can help. Let me know if you need additional servers to host the PDFs. It'd be an honor to help spread the word.

10 posted on 08/23/2004 5:39:48 PM PDT by Prime Choice (Democrats. They want to have their cake and eat yours too.)
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To: medscribe

At the local Border's book store I noticed that 'Unfit' was nowhere to be found. I mentioned this and their story was that it was 'sold out and on backorder' ...


11 posted on 08/23/2004 5:41:51 PM PDT by spodefly (I have posted nothing but BTTT over 1000 times!!!)
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To: Prime Choice; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
I can help. Let me know if you need additional servers to host the PDFs. It'd be an honor to help spread the word.

Me too. Just ask.

12 posted on 08/23/2004 5:44:45 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon (LWS - Legislating While Stupid. Someone should make this illegal.)
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To: medscribe

Which one of B&N's employees changed their cover photo and title on their website?


13 posted on 08/23/2004 5:46:58 PM PDT by Rome2000 (The ENEMY for Kerry!!!!!)
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To: handy
How many of the Veterans are from Kerry's favorite country, North Vietnam?
14 posted on 08/23/2004 5:47:17 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (GEORGE WASHINGTON is nothing like a communist tyrant as stated by Kerry.)
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To: medscribe

I thought if you made money, by selling books, you were profitable.


15 posted on 08/23/2004 5:48:17 PM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

why doesn't he move there and run for president???

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT HIM!!!!!!


16 posted on 08/23/2004 5:49:46 PM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: medscribe

"Riggio said Barnes & Noble would not remove any title from its shelves, nor does it have any political agenda."
I haven't shopped at the local B&N since just after 9/11. B&N sponsored a book tour by Bill Ayers, head of the Weathermen (domestic terrorists of the radical Left), just days after 9/11. The form letter I received in response to my complaint read like a PR piece for him! Shortly after, when I was in the store looking for Barbara Olson's last book, and told the clerk that I couldn't find it, his response was "Oh, really!" No offer to look for it, order it, nada. By the way, Riggio is a BIG contributor to the Dems.


17 posted on 08/23/2004 5:49:49 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie
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To: sionnsar

18 posted on 08/23/2004 5:50:12 PM PDT by Rome2000 (The ENEMY for Kerry!!!!!)
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To: medscribe
Freeper N. Theknow says:
"It’s faster than a checkbook, more powerful than a Democratic demagogue, able to lay waste to a liar Kerry with the single click of a mouse. It's a little bird of truth, it's plain to see Kerry's unfit... it's... it's...SuperFReep!

Want to join in the fun?
Click the logo to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

19 posted on 08/23/2004 5:50:17 PM PDT by Chieftain (Support the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and expose Hanoi John's FRAUD!)
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To: medscribe

HA! While you were posting this I was composing this:

Unfit for Command (book sales in Bay Area)
me | 8/23/04 | me


Posted on 08/23/2004 5:43:51 PM PDT by Bobibutu


Went into Barnes & Noble (Emeryville CA) to see if they had Unfit for sale and displayed.

WOW - The store has had 2 shipments in and both were sold out within HOURS!. They are expecting another shipment in within days.

So I called around to the major bookstores in the Peoples Republic of the Bay Area. Most have not received any books yet and are miffed because they are missing out on a big profit item. Very large demand and the attitude of the staff I talked with was positive for the book.

Those that had received them are sold out.

Most expect their allotment in a few days and expect to be sold out quickly - I am amazed with the demand here in the BA. I mean - MoveOn HQ is just a couple miles from where I live.

There may be hope for us in CA yet.


20 posted on 08/23/2004 5:50:21 PM PDT by Bobibutu
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