How Pathetic

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Sen. John McCain's long-time ghostwriter for each of his books has been identified as the "anonymous" author of “O: A Presidential Novel." Still bitter about 2008, Johnny? You hired a hit man instead of doing the job yourself? McCain adviser Mark Salter pegged as 'O' author – POLITICO.com:

Time magazine says it has confirmed the identity of the anonymous author behind “O: A Presidential Novel."

It’s Mark Salter, a longtime speechwriter and adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), reported Time magazine’s Mark Halperin on Thursday. The authorship’s been “confirmed by sources,” Halperin said, “but there were lots of in-plain-sight clues” pointing to Salter.

* * *

Last week, Salter offered POLITICO a non-denial about his authorship: “Sorry. Been asked not to comment, and am happy to oblige.”

In a marketing ploy that worked – it got political insiders across the country talking about a book that got mediocre reviews – Simon & Schuster described the author only as someone who “has been in the room with Barack Obama and wishes to remain anonymous.”

"Mediocre reviews" is being kind. Here is what the New York Times book review had to say. ‘O’ Speculates Anonymously on 2012 Campaign – Review – NYTimes.com:

Well, now we know why the author of this much gossiped about, heavily marketed new book wanted to remain anonymous: “O: A Presidential Novel” is a thoroughly lackadaisical performance — trite, implausible and decidedly unfunny.

Though the novel’s publisher has borrowed the marketing strategy of “Primary Colors” (whose Anonymous author was later revealed to be the journalist Joe Klein), “O” has none of that book’s panache or satiric wit. In fact “O” bears about as much resemblance to “Primary Colors” as “Primary Colors” did to “All the King’s Men.”

Ouch! And that's just the opening paragraphs. Since Mark Salter clearly is not an insider to the Barack Obama campain — he is John McCain's myth-maker — the whole premise of this book as an insider account of the Obama campaign is pure fiction. And poorly written fiction at that. How much did John McCain contribute as a ghostwriter to this "trite, implausible and decidedly unfunny" book? Inquiring minds want to know.

This book is already headed for the recycle bin.