The Lies of George W. Bush

From Publishers Weekly
As Washington editor for the Nation, Corn has had his eyes and ears open for what he construes as lies from the Bush White House, and here he has assembled what many will see as an impressive body of evidence. Corn states that Bush has "mugged the truth-not merely in honest error, but deliberately, consistently and repeatedly to advance his career and his agenda." Corn carefully documents alleged falsehoods dating back to the campaign trail covering a full range of issues-from Enron to education, global warming to stem cell research. But this is no simplistic anti-Bush rant; it also faults the media for not underlining the apparent lies and the public for not caring enough. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
It's getting a little hard to find a book about George W. Bush that doesn't have the word lie in the title. First came Joe Conanson's Big Lies [BKL Ag 03], which was followed by Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars That Tell Them [BKL S 15 03]. Corn's take on the topic is straightforward and chronological. No raised voices here. The longtime editor of the Nation, Corn sets out to build a serious case against Bush in which the president's own words indict him. Beginning with the 2000 campaign ("I am a uniter, not a divider"), Corn examines Bush's record on many issues--the environment, health, the war on terror--all referenced to the president's words, e.g., "The bottom end of the economic ladder receives the biggest percentage [tax] cuts." Obviously, how one views the Bush presidency will color one's reaction to the conclusions drawn here, and though Corn sources much of his material within the text, it is too bad there are no notes appended. It is also unfortunate for Corn that so many books about Republican dissembling have come out lately (others include those by Molly Ivins and Eric Alterman). This is a judicious and readable offering, but the target audience may feel they've heard it all before. Still, Corn is sure to do a round of talking-head appearances, so there may be enough buzz to create demand. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
“The Lies of George W. Bush nails the case. Mixing cold, hard facts with a rapier wit, David Corn skewers Bush, using the president’s own words and deeds to prove that the straight-shooting candidate who vowed to restore honor and integrity to the Oval Office has, instead, turned out to be a serial liar. Meticulously researched, Lies sets a crooked record straight and shows that Saddam’s WMDs are not the only thing missing—so is honesty in the Bush White House. Bush bashers, your ship has come in. Bush backers, I dare you to read this.”—Arianna Huffington, author of Pigs at the Trough

“Washington journalist David Corn takes a gloves-off look at President Bush’s public record and finds a disturbing array of White House whoppers. With biting wit and sharp-eyed skepticism, Corn finds a pattern of deception too sweeping and consistent to be dismissed casually as ‘spin’ or “misstatements.’ A valuable look at how often and effortlessly the man who campaigned on the lofty principles of ‘responsibility’ and ‘accountability’ has evaded both.”—Clarence Page, syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune

“One of the oddest aspects of the Bush presidency has been how reluctant journalists are to report that Bush lies. Reporters who jumped on Bill Clinton for disingenuous hair-splitting and piled on Al Gore for harmless exaggerations have given George W. Bush pass after pass after pass. No longer. Veteran journalist David Corn has collected all the glaring evidence. With flair, he skewers Bush and shows—beyond question—that the fellow in the White House has manhandled the truth about Iraq, the war on terrorism, tax cuts, global warming, stem cells, and other crucial issues, as well as his own past. Here are the lies you remember and the lies you don’t. Get ready to get mad. Corn has cut through the spin and crafted an important and powerful challenge to Bush and his crew.” —Molly Ivins, coauthor of Shrub and Bushwhacked

“Any American who cares about his or her country...[should] read it.”
—James Carvile


Review
?The Lies of George W. Bush nails the case. Mixing cold, hard facts with a rapier wit, David Corn skewers Bush, using the president?s own words and deeds to prove that the straight-shooting candidate who vowed to restore honor and integrity to the Oval Office has, instead, turned out to be a serial liar. Meticulously researched, Lies sets a crooked record straight and shows that Saddam?s WMDs are not the only thing missing?so is honesty in the Bush White House. Bush bashers, your ship has come in. Bush backers, I dare you to read this.??Arianna Huffington, author of Pigs at the Trough

?Washington journalist David Corn takes a gloves-off look at President Bush?s public record and finds a disturbing array of White House whoppers. With biting wit and sharp-eyed skepticism, Corn finds a pattern of deception too sweeping and consistent to be dismissed casually as ?spin? or ?misstatements.? A valuable look at how often and effortlessly the man who campaigned on the lofty principles of ?responsibility? and ?accountability? has evaded both.??Clarence Page, syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune

?One of the oddest aspects of the Bush presidency has been how reluctant journalists are to report that Bush lies. Reporters who jumped on Bill Clinton for disingenuous hair-splitting and piled on Al Gore for harmless exaggerations have given George W. Bush pass after pass after pass. No longer. Veteran journalist David Corn has collected all the glaring evidence. With flair, he skewers Bush and shows?beyond question?that the fellow in the White House has manhandled the truth about Iraq, the war on terrorism, tax cuts, global warming, stem cells, and other crucial issues, as well as his own past. Here are the lies you remember and the lies you don?t. Get ready to get mad. Corn has cut through the spin and crafted an important and powerful challenge to Bush and his crew.? ?Molly Ivins, coauthor of Shrub and Bushwhacked


From the Hardcover edition.


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Corn (Washington editor, Nation magazine) chronicles to devastating effect the lies, falsehoods, and misrepresentations of President George W. Bush. And while clearly presenting those deceptions, he also shows that Bush committed them for a reason, engaging in "strategic lying" in an effort to cover up his past and pave his way to governance. The events of 9/11 gave the President license to do so, and "Bush and his colleagues could see that lying worked." From lies about his arrest and National Guard records, to environmental and energy concerns, to the war against Iraq, Corn has painstakingly unearthed a bill of particulars against the President that is as damaging as it is thorough. Here, one will find evidence that is not put forth by the mainstream press (which is still cowering in the midst of a war against terrorism). Calling the President a liar and a prevaricator who "has mugged the truth" will win Corn few friends, but given the weight and volume of the evidence presented, it is a case that cannot easily be ignored. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 8/03.]-Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.


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