Bloggers Expose and Sell the “Real McCain”

Reporters may still go easy on John McCain, but liberal bloggers are picking up the slack. Several top bloggers have been promoting a hard-hitting new book by one of their own, Cliff Schecter, who argues that McCain is a serial flip-flopper with a mean temper.

In "The Real McCain," Schecter recounts how the G.O.P. nominee has changed positions on foreign policy, torture, abortion, gay rights and campaign finance reform - a familiar story for many news junkies - while spicing up the tale with new reports about McCain's temper. In one anecdote that recently shot across the blogosphere, Schechter alleges that McCain went to blows with a Congressman in 2006. When asked about the book's allegation on Fox News, McCain flatly denied it.

Since its launch last week, "The Real McCain" shot to sixth on Amazon's list of political biographies, right between tomes by Jesse Ventura and former Pentagon official Doug Feith. Yet there has been no paid advertising for the book so far, and Schecter has not done any major TV appearances to promote it. Instead, web sales are driven by liberal bloggers, who have promoted the book and talked up the new allegations. Shechter netted over 250 blog mentions last week alone, according to Technorati. And that's no accident.

Beau Friedlander, the book's publicist, says the rollout was targeted at liberal bloggers because they know Schechter and are eager to confront the G.O.P: "We decided to run the story through the progressive media because Cliff first emerged on the public stage as a member of the progressive media." Until the Democratic nomination is settled, Frieldander adds, "the progressive media is fighting a proxy war with McCain."

A similar netroots book buzz catapulted Glenn Greenwald from obscure blogger to New York Times bestselling author in 2006. Jennifer Nix, who oversaw Greenwald's book, explained this unconventional strategy in an article for The Nation two years ago:

"How Would a Patriot Act?" rose from obscurity to number one on Amazon largely because [a few] blogs ignited a wildfire of mentions and purchase links throughout the blogosphere. The book stayed there for nearly four days. This sent a shock wave through progressive publishing circles and got stores around the country interested in making Patriot buys… This book rose to best-sellerdom primarily because of the pre-launch push from progressive blogs. Later came [some print coverage], but this book has received very little mainstream coverage. No TV, a little radio--mostly Air America.

Nix contended that by selling books online, progressives can strengthen the political infrastructure and ultimately advance big ideas:

At a time when the right is insisting that the left has no ideas and mainstream media seem unwilling or unable to cover progressive ideas intelligently, we must create our own vehicles to carry our ideas to the American public. And we must build upon what we know is possible when the blogs work together. Progressive membership groups should join in, and help to lift up new voices and ideas. It's not about just selling books. It's about making our ideas successful in the marketplace, so that more Americans can hear about them.

As it happens, Greenwald released a new book this week, "Great American Hypocrites." It currently ranks 173 overall on Amazon, while Schecter ranks 280 overall.

Comments (8)

1. Mam is not only pulling a con job on the neo cons- he pulled one on those of US who actually wanted to see him as the Repug nominee in '00. I'm a life long voting Dem, but gave his candidacy a second look in '00 and at the least wanted to be Gore's opponent-both Worthy choices in my estimation at the time- it would have been a hard call in the voting booth.So Neo cons should take heed this Liberal thought him a rea; contneder fo my vote- in '00. Certainly no longer, Some happened to Hillary. Covert operatives for the corporatist Party which has intentional cut th elegs out from under Our country and caused th einternational issues we now face.Both should have their Banners Read "New World Order"

   Posted by Purple girl at 04/16/2008 @ 06:45am

2. Flip, flop, grrr, flip, flop, grrr, flip, flop, grrr

   Bomb Iran, cut taxes, flip, "ill take that public financing, er nope, got a loan, don't want it now, bomb Iran, that sunni stronghold.

   Posted by crabwalk at 04/16/2008 @ 07:32am

3. In the time of endless war, why would the Finger Fighters for Forgotten Freedoms want a CIC that does not know an Arab from a Persian, a Shiite from a Sunni or who is allied with whom? Do we really need another like that? Or, is that just one more way to get endless war for the Finger Fighters that won't fight?

   Posted by crabwalk at 04/16/2008 @ 07:37am

4. Just don't elect a republican. They play what ever is given to them. But alway to have the ACE Card, fear.Weather its racist,religious bigotry,job lost.This time the old nixon campaign,go right into places your not like. The boos will bring out white men, Hanoi McCain is playing the sympathy card.Its called wet start,Blow it in your face.

   Posted by legion at 04/16/2008 @ 08:45am

5. RESE....you're supposed to go away now. Buh-bye.

   BLOG | Posted 01/25/2007 @ 12:52am Comments for "Edging Impeachment Back Onto the Table" by John Nichols

   "When, say, March-ish, maybe April 2008 rolls around and it becomes legislatively, much less politically, IMPOSSIBLE to impeach Bush and Cheney and they are inevitably going to finish out their 2nd terms and leave on Inauguration Day January 2009.....what are you going to say about them and why will it matter?"----Posted by MASK 01/26/2007 @ 08:44am

   "By then then will have Nuked and invaded Iran. The Draft will be in operation, probably Martial law too and no body will be able to say anthing against them, because all openents will be classified enemy combatants and shipped to work in the New Reich concentration camps" ----Posted by RESE 01/26/2007 @ 1:18pm

   I'll shut up if it doesn't happen!----Posted by RESE 05/22/2007 @ 09:58am

   Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 08:49am

6. For all the "things that have come out or WILL come out" about Obama charges from the Right (and their allies the Hillary Cultists)....

   There's QUITE A BIT about ol' Maverick John that will come out too.

   Plus, under the spotlight 24/7 for the next 7 month, that legendary "McCain Temper" is bound to be exposed at SOME point.

   Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 08:51am

7. It is about time for the real McCain to be exposed. I also saw something admirable in McCain in 2000. Everything that I admired in him he has flipped on, yet the media narrative is trying to paint him as the same person. If the progressive blogosphere can counter the corporate media hooray. I only hope that candidate Obama can conduct a campaign which will make McCain rue the day he chose to compromise his beliefs and run for President. Sad to say, but Obama can not be afraid to totally destroy John McCain. America cannot afford a third Bush term, and McCain is spouting the same nonsense that got us into the mess we are in today.

   Posted by waters at 04/16/2008 @ 09:05am

8. lost thread.......

   Posted by frosty zoom at 04/16/2008 @ 12:58pm