Posted on 06/26/2005 11:06:58 PM PDT by kromike
In what may be an unprecedented act of media censorship, several major TV and cable networks – including NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Fox and CNN - have cancelled planned appearances of the author of the new, red hot book on Hillary Clinton.
Edward Klein's sizzling new biography "The Truth About Hillary: What She Knew, When She Knew It and How Far She'll Go to Become President" has caused a storm of controversy after Sen. Clinton lashed out at it.
Her aide called the book "full of blatant and vicious fabrications contrived by someone who writes trash for cash." [Editor's Note: Get our FREE Offer for this book Go Here Now.
Hillary's top aides and supporters have also launched a major effort to stop any discussion of the book over the TV airwaves. So far, their censorship effort has been a huge success in stopping Klein from appearing on television.
Though the celebrated author was scheduled to appear on more than a half dozen major TV network shows, all have cancelled except one, Fox's "Hannity & Colmes."
However, conservative host Sean Hannity did reveal that he was under immense pressure to cancel the program.
"I've had more political pressure than I've ever had in all my years in radio," Hannity said to Klein during a radio interview. "Do you know the number of requests I've had to cancel you and not have you on this program? I've never in the history of this program had more demands to cancel the guest."
Hannity did not identify the source of the "political pressure."
Other hosts had similar experiences. Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher, syndicated nationwide, said he was deluged by emails opposing Klein's scheduled appearance and demanding he drop the author. Gallagher described the campaign as "very unnatural, like an orchestrated [effort]" and not from his listeners.
But other networks, particularly television, have succumbed to the pressure.
Klein's original schedule had him appearing on several top-rated TV shows. But all of them have cancelled. Among the cancellations: "Extra;" MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews;" and CNN's Paula Zahn show.
Several shows apparently expressed a keen interest in booking Klein until pressure from the Hillary camp stopped them, among them ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "Today" show, and CNN's "Aaron Brown."
Still more shows were expected to sign on after the book began hitting the bestseller lists. It has done just that, but Klein's publicist's phones are still not ringing.
A source close to Klein's publisher, Sentinel, blames the censorship effort solely on the Clintons and their enormous power base.
"A number of people who have booked me on TV and radio have already cancelled," Klein told Sean Hannity last week. "And the reason they've cancelled is because the publicity machine of the Clintons is hard at work."
On the day of his only Fox News appearance, Klein's book hit the #1 spot on Amazon's coveted bestseller list, as well as top positions at online sellers like Barnes & Noble. "Truth" has also been the biggest selling book in the history of NewsMax's online store.
The liberal censorship of Klein's book has aroused the ire of Rush Limbaugh. America's number one talk show host was the first media person to condemn the spineless cravenness of the so-called mainstream media.
"It's very rare that you see the media circle the wagons to defend a politician," he noted. "You just don't see it, other than with the Clintons."
The media blackout on Klein's book can only be chalked up to a political motive. Not only is his book near the top of the bestseller lists, but it's a major discussion subject on talk radio and in the blogosphere.
Last week, Klein kicked off his radio appearances on Sean Hannity's radio show, the second largest syndicated show - with 13 million weekly listeners. Since then Klein has begun a schedule of non stop interviews on major talk radio shows, including Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher, Westwood One's Jim Bohannon, and the Laura Ingraham Show.
But the TV cancellations are raising questions about the unusual effort by the Clinton Spin Machine to stop this book.
An MSNBC producer told NewsMax that Chris Matthews' "Hardball" had merely considered booking the Hillary author, saying the idea was dropped when producers found out that the book was "a big piece of crap."
However, another source at the network told NewsMax that MSNBC chief Rick Kaplan has long been close to the Clintons (he was one of the celebrated Friends of Bill and Hillary who spent the night in the Lincoln Bedroom) - a fact that could have played a role in the network snubbing the Klein book.
Media's Double Standard
Critics complain that Klein's book - chock full of sensational allegations about Hillary Clinton's personal life - is too dicey to touch.
Among the criticisms are claims that Klein has accused Hillary of being a lesbian and that Bill Clinton raped his wife.
But a read of Klein's book shows that he never makes either allegation.
"This was Hillary's spin, an exaggeration of items of the book to make it look extreme," former Congressman and NewsMax columnist John LeBoutillier said. "When I read that even conservatives are saying Klein accuses Bill of raping Hillary, I know immediately these people didn't even read the book!"
One reason LeBoutillier suspects the Hillary spin machine is out in full force is that Klein's book is not a conservative attack piece on her.
"This is a book about Hillary's true character written by a journalist with solid mainstream credentials," he said. "This cannot be dismissed as a right wing attack on Hillary."
Klein is a veteran journalist who served as editor of the New York Times Magazine and held top editor jobs with Newsweek and Vanity Fair.
In previous books, Klein's in-depth investigations of his subjects have won him serious praise – and widespread television media coverage.
Klein's recent bestseller, "The Kennedy Curse," exposed the rocky relationship between JFK Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette.
The book was sharply criticized by many in the media, especially those close to the Kennedys. Yet almost every major television outlet featured Klein.
Others are noting the media's hypocrisy in dealing with the Klein book and how the same media treated Kitty Kelley's book "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty." Kelley's book offered far more salacious allegations about George W. Bush.
The books are hardly comparable, though; Klein is a veteran, award-winning journalist known for serious, and non political biographies, while Kelley has developed a reputation as a purveyor of gossip on her targets.
Last week, Fox News host Neil Cavuto told his audience, "Kitty [Kelley] was booked on shows. Ed is getting no bookings, period ... Could it be the media relished dirt on the president, less so on the woman who wants to be president?"
With a heated presidential campaign underway last year, Kelley was given star billing on show's like NBC's "Today" show (with an unprecedented interview over three days); CNBC's "Capital Report;" CNN "Newsnight" hosted by Aaron Brown; CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight;" CNN's "American Morning" with Paula Zahn; MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews, among others.
Though Kelley made unsubstantiated allegations, including charges of illicit sex and drug use against Bush (previously she accused President Reagan of date rape in a book that received page one coverage from the New York Times), her book drew huge media interest.
But today, Klein, once a favored media author for serious bestsellers including "All Too Human: The Love Story of Jack and Jackie Kennedy" and "Just Jackie: Her Private Years," has been banned from major TV shows.
We know why.
During his interview with syndicated radio host Laura Ingraham this past Wednesday night, Klein revealed just how radioactive he's become.
He related how a leading mover and shaker had called him to disinvite him for a dinner party in Manhattan honoring a liberal politician.
The host told Klein it wasn't personal against him. She simply explained: "Hillary will ruin the politician's career if she finds out you were there."
Klein's story underlines his central complaint that Hillary is dangerous and "Nixonian" with power. But that may be an understatement. Even Richard Nixon as President didn't have the power Hillary Clinton seems to wield today over the mainstream media.
She makes Saddam look like an amateur.
I've always said it: Dems HATE Democracy!
Klein's background is hilarious.The guy has all the credentials that every liberal looks for and here they eat one of their own.
Klein really should have named a source or 2 in this book and he would have had some clout. His own doing. The book is filled with no-name sources.
That graphic is disturbing; perfect for a Vincent Price horror flick. Gives me the willies with all the lights on.
I don`t know why all the fuss is about this book. Hitlery did just as much slander to herself with Lying History. "I was gulping for air" ...uhhh yeah, OK Hitlery. And aliens are beaming microwaves in my brain.
If this book is a bunch of lies, why is Hillary not suing for slander? Perhaps because some of it is true and she doesn't want that brought out in court. (just a thought)
I don't get Hardball being refered to as a top-rated TV show,though.It's late and maybe I'm just being picky.
Whenever I see the words, "hillary pressures," I picture horseheads in people's beds and Arkansides.
HA! One second apart, and we were thinking the same thing.
I'm sure we aren't alone.
And the 'Rats complain about W's administration being secretive? Hillary doesn't have the power of the White House and she's capable of a censorship drive that's 98% effective. In the White House she would be a tyrant.
It's late for me but who could forget Vince Foster and Ron Brown etc.etc.? They are RUTHLESS and will stop at NOTHING to get what they want. Recall McDougal and his "heart attack" while his spouse received the best of care for keeping her mouth shut.
This article actually inspired me yesterday to go order a copy of the book from amazon.com.
~;-D
Isn't it amazing that the Dims start threatening tv networks when people write revealing (and true) books about them. JF'ns folks went beserk when Unfit For Command was published. If this book is what Hillary portrays it to be, she shouldn't have to get her hatchetmen to threaten lawsuits.
I'd lo9ve to see a lawsuit go to civil court. That will reinforce the sleezy woman even more.
Unprecedented? Might want to ask Gary Aldrich about that.
Ping.
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