Newsweek editor Mich…

Newsweek editor Michael Isikoff pulls no punches while reviewing Sidney Blumenthal’s book “The Clinton Wars”. Isikoff was right there in the heart of the news reporting process during that time (even if he did let Drudge scoop him on the Lewinsky story), so he knows what happened and what didn’t. His summary paragraph reads:

“It is my serious intent to have written this as a history,” Blumenthal recently told the New York Times, insisting that his book was written “dispassionately.” But not to belabor the obvious, to write history, you have to have some basic respect for the historical record. You have to make at least some effort at understanding the motivations and thinking of political antagonists-including those you happen to strongly disagree with. Blumenthal has done none of this. His book isn’t history; it’s one big orgy of political spin.

Isikoff hits point after point where Blumenthal either ignores, gives short shrift to, or misrepresents a host of incidents that might shed any sort of negative light on Sid himself or the Clintons. These are not just differences of opinion, either. When, for example, Sidney said he had been “forced” to answer questions about conversations with specific news organizations, the transcripts that were released later showed no such thing happened. In fact, Blumenthal brought up the organizations’ names himself. Another time, when he reported to have been asked a number of outlandish questions about Clinton, it turns out nothing of the kind was asked. He was even chided by the grand jury forewoman because of her concern over his misrepresentation of the proceedings. And of course, in his book, Sid snidely suggests she was put up to that by Ken Starr.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Clinton apologists who read this book to find solace and vindication should understand that neither are in there. It’s only more of the culture of lies, deceit, and personal destruction that came from the Clinton White House. Anything at all emanating from there is highly suspect, and Isikoff shows quite plainly that this book is no different.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!