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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

David Brock's Blinded By The Right

18:38 / 05.04.02

Has anyone read this yet? I heard it plugged on The Daily Show and the story behind it is fascinating as hell. Seemingly makes Nixon's Plumbers look like choirboys.

Throughout the '90s, Brock was the star of Republican conservatives. In March 1992, as an investigative reporter for the American Spectator, he wrote "The Real Anita Hill," savaging Clarence Thomas's accuser as "a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty." In a book by the same title, he attacked her reputation even more viciously, freely quoting her detractors' descriptions of Hill, among other slurs, as "obsessed with oral sex" and "the world's kinkiest law professor."

Brock's next target was Bill Clinton. Again in the American Spectator, in an article titled "His Cheatin' Heart," Brock reported that Arkansas state troopers had frequently been asked by Gov. Bill Clinton to procure women for sex with him -- and had been promised a job in Washington if they kept quiet about it. Brock also made passing reference to a woman named Paula, who visited Clinton in his hotel room and left, telling one of the troopers she'd be glad to be the governor's regular girlfriend.

For his leading role in defending Clarence Thomas and dumping on Bill Clinton, Brock was the hero of the conservative movement. He received standing ovations at meetings of the Conservative Political Action Committee. He was wined and dined by leading conservatives Newt Gingrich, Ed Meese, Bill Kristol, Boyden Gray, Ted and Barbara Olson, and Robert Bork. Rush Limbaugh read parts of his books and articles on the air. He flew around the country, repeating his attacks on countless college campuses and talk-radio shows.

And now Brock admits it was all one big lie.

13:19 / 09.04.02

Saw the same bit on the Daily Show. I wanted to open this up to the Head Shop, but I guess I'll just leave it here. (unless moderators see fit to move it)

From what Brock said on the Daily Show, the above description seems a bit misleading. And I think takes away from possibly the book's best selling point. That being the revelation that there was a right wing conspiracy bent on ruining the President. That the Paula Jones trial was a sham to try to get the president to lie under oath. And that a lot of the people who were behind this are now either in the current administration, or are working for the administration.

if you beleave Brock, then I think John Stewart summed it up for you with, "you're scaring the shit out of me man."

But, I'm at least somewhat skeptical. I wouldn't mind beleaving it, but it's almost a little to good to be true. Could one of thier own have switched sides? Is this some elaborate game the right is playing to discredit the left? Or is Brock just full of shit, and is following the cash?

I'd like to beleave it's the first, wouldn't be surprised if it's the last, probably not the middle though.

Opinions?

18:26 / 09.04.02

If he names names and isn't getting sued for libel, then chances are somebody doesn't want evidence introduced in court.