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.
No mention that some of the complaints that Barnes & Noble received were over the false title and graphic on the website.
Even after the "hack" was corrected, the incorrect image REMAINED on the B&N server for days (a week?) afterwards.
Some FReepers have also mentioned that they have been treated rudely by clerks when they inquired about the book.
I went to my local Barnes & Noble today to buy the Swiftvet book. It was nowhere to be found, but the lady at the info desk was very nice. She said they sold out rapidly and she put me on a list to get a copy when the next shipment comes in. She even took my home & work phone number and promised to call me when it arrives. I don't know about stores elsewhere, but I think it was simply a case of the demand for the book being greater than expected. I had no reason to think they were trying to squash the book or anything like that. They had a big table filled with political books. Most of them bashed Bush, but they also had pro-Bush books there, too. It's just that there simply are more anti-Bush books on the market.
Correct they used the lying traitor, but know he can not be trusted to show up for work.
Check Berger's pants.
I spent 7$ MORE to buy it B&N....just to increase their numbers on the book. It was worth it....2 other 'military' type guys had copies when I was checking out. The clerks did not seem amused by the interest in the book....or it's implications. sad, so sad.
What are there now, a dozen? How many of the vets who are supporting Kerry were members of VVAW?
I just got a copy ordered from Conservative Book Service.
Their URL is:
http://www.ConservativeBookService.com
Try to get ahold of ANY evidence that the books are being stonewalled. Memos, advisories, employee chit chat, managers notices, whatever. It might be good to quit a few weeks after getting the goods on them, and then posting the specifics here on FR along with evidence.
I called Borders bookstore in Torrance, CA., and they didn't have any in last week. The clerk claimed they don't have any 'cuz it's propaganda!! I said the hell it is and who is your Manager? He backpeddled very quickly and laughed saying he was "just kidding." He claimed he's been yelled at a 1,000 times that day by people calling in about the book. I gave him a thing or two to think about.....like "you better not call the book propaganda if you want to keep your job". He said "no, really, we just can't seem to keep them in stock." I better call back and talk to his Manager anyway....just for grins.
Tip: When you call into your local bookstore make sure you get the NAME of the clerk up front who is helping you. That way, when they make some asinine comment you already have their name.
LL
just received my copy from barnes and noble. Ordered last week.
coop
I called Regnery today since my local Borders has not been able to stock it. Regnery said it's shipping and has plenty of books.
I wonder what the "Vietnam Veterans Against the War" think about Mr. Kerry bathing himself in the glow of his heroism in the war?????? Might be a good thing to look into, I'll bet they are pissed that he has now turned his coat to them, but will still support him, because they know what a coward he really is and want that in the presidency.
I believe it. I could have had a copy two days before it came out at Borders. At the check out I was told that it was in, but since I had ordered it from Amazon in July I didn't buy it. Here it is almlost the last of August and I am still waiting for it to come.
I have a line in to B&N. The largest distributor in the country - Ingram had no stock and 20,000 copies on order last week.
Publisher just didn't see it coming - last I had heard they did a 30,000 print run, now they are talking about a 500,000 print run. Trying to schedule that large of a print run on such short notice with all of the printers tied up with printing college textbooks is darn near impossible.
While Steve Riggio probably follows in his brother's footsteps of being a hardcore liberal, they are in the business to make money. Most often it is the liberal store managers that are guilty of hiding books. Not all of them do it though.
FMCDH(BITS)
Flying our Flag upside down; somebody, somwhere ought to pay a heafty price for that. Separate from the price kerry's paying now and/or in the future. It is just disgusting!
The B&N here in Beavercreek, Ohio told me it wouldn't be out till mid September a couple of weeks ago so I got it on Amazon.
LOL. Squirm, Pinkos!!!
I was told at the local Stockton, Ca Barnes and Nobel eight days ago that they had books in the back, but would not sell them because John Kerry had filed suit. If I was the publisher I would send the books to stores that actually sell the books.
At www.vvaw.org, search on "John Kerry". Nothing yet against him. They say since they're a tax-deductible organization, they can't support a candidate. They are for "Anybody But Bush."
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