‘Game Change’ Exposes 2008 Campaign Secrets
Mark Halperin and John Heilemann’s behind-the-scenes account of the 2008 election,’Game Change,’ boasts a series of sensational allegations that are sending shock waves through Washington.
According to Fox News:
The book is written with confidence, describing the drama-packed scenes that filled the race with fly-on-the-wall precision — though many of the sources are never identified and the bulk of the book is written with no attribution. According to the authors, the accounts were based on more than 300 interviews with more than 200 people over the course of more than a year. With those “deep background” interviews, the authors have provided a tapestry of accusations and juicy tidbits to, well, fill a book.
With the exception of Barack Obama, who in this and all campaign histories is ever the embodiment of cool, the major camps in the 2008 race come away from this book wounded, looking more like their public caricatures than ever. There’s already been some collateral damage, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid having to apologize for a passage in which he said Obama does not have a “Negro dialect” unless he wants one. (click here for more on the story)
The book begins with an especially brutal –unsourced– portrayal of the Clintons’ tactics during the campaign and allegations of Bill Clinton’s continued infidelity.
According to the book, there were very specific rumors about the former president’s involvement with actress Gina Greshon, a member of Canada’s parliament, and an unnamed “wealthy divorcee.”
The Clinton campaign created a “war room within a war room” to deal with “the threat posed by Bill’s libido.” and although they managed to discredit most of the rumors, ‘Game Change’ states that at least one was true.
“Bill was indeed having an affair — and not a frivolous one-night stand but a sustained romantic relationship,” the book said.
The book also says that the former presidents public comments were seen by many as insensitive, and racial at times; he is credited with bungling the campaign’s effort for the late Sen.Ted Kennedy’s endorsement. He reportedly offended Kennedy immensely when he said of Obama, “A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.”
Clinton also said to Kennedy, “The only reason you’re endorsing him is because he’s black,” according to ‘Game Change.‘
Hillary Clinton initially declined Obama’s offer of the Secretary of State appointment, citing campaign debt and exhaustion, but during a candid conversation with Obama, Hillary bluntly stated that she was unable to control her husband.
Obama reportedly told Clinton that having her on his team would be worth the risk.
‘Game Change’ also exposes the dysfunction in the Edwards campaign, describing a campaign plagued by distrust, marital discord, and concern over Edward’s ego and his affair with videographer Rielle Hunter.
The book harshly depicts Elizabeth Edwards as a “vicious, spiteful, out-of-control head case.”
The book also delves into the much publicized challenges in the McCain-Palin camp; and Senate majority leader Harry Reid’s racial comments, when he described Obama as “light-skinned” African-American candidate “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”
read full article at Fox News:
Not bad! Although I don’t visit your blog much but I must say that you always post amazing information and the theme is quite good. Keep us updated mate! I love your blog and will keep on appreciating your effort every time I visit.