Does anyone else have a problem with the push to "ban" SBV Book?

[Selwynn]

Look, the book unfit for command is trash, we know that. But I was reading about how media matters for America sent letters to book sellers like Barnes and Noble demanding that they pull the book from the shelves.

Quite honestly, I must confess that I agreed with their response:

"It is not our intention to advocating a political stance, however it is our intention to sell every book in print, whether we agree with the authors or not."

I don't like the idea of banning books we don't like. And I think going around making demands that books be "banned" makes us look like we're afraid, and honestly, makes the book suddenly more important that the worthless piece of junk that it is. What's more, it seems a bit hypocritical for us to be angry and mock conservatives who go to libraries or retailers with a bunch of books they don't like and want "banned" then do the same thing when we don't like a book.

As long as I can still find the nice selection of Noam Chomsky that I can at my local Barnes, and see them stocking Bill Clinton's book all over their store, and as long as they keep giving high visibility promotion to books like "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" as they did when Al Franken's book came out. Then if they want to sell garbage opinions from other people, I'm not only fine with that - I think its a freedom that should be protected. I'm sure Oliver North and Sean Hannity's books are full of just as many out right lies or distortions, but that doesn't mean I think the right course of action is to demand that books be banned.

What do you think?

[annabanana]

1. ..not unless they are convicted of libel........then yes. n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. I'm with ya

If we don't want our stuff banned, we have to let their stuff be available as well.

However, there comes a point in which an author's position is no longer mere "opinion" but has become libel, slander, etc., and puts forth provable, definite lies. In that case, the stuff should be stopped - but that's for the courts to decide, through a libel/slander case.

Constitutionally they have a right to free speech as well; as I would not have them limit my freedom (even though they do), I would not limit theirs.

[Cobalt Violet]

3. I don't think banning books is a good way to handle it.

But suing for libel or slander (I'm an artist and a bartender, so go easy on me lawyers!) is a much better answer.

[liberalmuse]

4. No, on the banning.

I don't believe in banning books, even if they are bold-faced lies. However, I think it is important that it gets out there that this book is slander. I think Kerry should sue for libel because these liars have besmirched his good name. The courts will have to be the onese to make a ruling on this, but I don't think the book should be banned.

[miss_kitty]

7. the term for printed lying is libel, for spoken word, lying slander and

a case needs to be brought in a court of law, then heard, then judgment passed that it actually IS 'libel'. until then, it's legally 'alleged libel' sorry. i am a nitpicker....

a lawsuit would sell more books...remember 'Lies and the Lying Liars...'?

[Rowdyboy]

5. It should be stocked and sold in the Fiction section....

I have no problem with it there

[Toucano]

19. That's the answer.

Wal-Mart put the 9/11 Commission report in FICTION.

I was there (under duress!) and decided to pick it up. My receipt described the item as FICTION.

[miss_kitty]

6. i'm with poster #1

i get pissed when people want books banned in public libraries. if there is a court case and they are found guilty of libel-then sure! off with their heads...otherwise, i thought book banning was something that people who feel threatened did....and is a major broach in free speech rules.

and here's a thought-don't go to Barnes and Noble...surely there is a small independently owned bookshop nearby which carries the same books-or can order it for you and have it in three days or less...

finally: the book is a reflection of the idiots and liars who wrote it out of desperation. it is not a reflection on the character of John Kerry...to try and get it banned is just one more thing to give freepers something to crow about...remember 'Stupid White Men' and 'Fahrenheit 9/11'?

[JohnnyRingo]

8. I will never be in favor of banning or burning a book.

Never, for any reason, ever.
Regardless of the content, intent, or results of said book.

Not much of a fence sitter on this issue.

[tekriter]

9. Agree 100%

Banning books is a first step to banning speech, which is a precursor to banning independent thought.

[sundancekid]

16. Hit that nail square on ... NO banning, BUT how about a dream-team

libel lawsuit, filed by President Elect Kerry on the 3rd of November where Kerry is represented by John Dean (now there's a guy that knows something about those Nixon era boys, like O'Neill, and their tactics)

[JerseygirlCT]

10. I don't like banning books, either -m

I have absolutely no problem, however, with a big, fat, juicy libel suit!

[Pax Argent]

11. I disagree with banning

but I do believe it should be removed from the political/historical section and placed in fiction.

[librechik]

12. Kerry should take John Dean's advice and sue the bastards.Now.

It couldn't hurt--they already have a forum, we might as well either shut them up with a gag order from the lawsuit, or act the aggrieved party with some legitimacy. The banning cry is stupid and unAmerican, IMO.

[TacticalPeek]

13. "demanding that they pull the book from the shelves"

"Demanding" is a little strong, don't you think?

Here's the Media Matters letter, and while I am not exactly comfortable with the "simply pulling it from the shelf" part, it is inaccurate to characterize this as a "demand".

-----------

snip

With the revelations of August 19, it's clear that Unfit for Command is the Hitler Diaries of the current political season -- a complete fraud. As you know, and as Salon.com reported on August 19, "here is a long-standing tradition by reputable publishers of withdrawing titles that prove to be hoaxes or frauds." I would hope that in the case of Unfit for Command, Regnery , the book's publisher, would do the right thing and withdraw it from publication. However, given Regnery's history as an irresponsible publisher, I have no expectation, nor should you, that it will act responsibly with respect to this deeply flawed book.

I therefore ask you to consider what is the responsibility of a bookseller when a prominent work of nonfiction is found to be based on false information. As the president and CEO of Media Matters for America, a nonprofit organization that seeks to rid the U.S. media (including book publishing) of conservative misinformation, I ask you to consider taking some action on Unfit for Command -- if not simply pulling it from the shelf -- to alert your customers that this book is a paid political hatchet job, full of false allegations and lies. One way you could do so is to prominently place on your Unfit for Command product page a link to -- and excerpt from -- one of the many refutations of Unfit for Command and the organization behind it.

snip

http://mediamatters.org/items/200408200003

[Festivito]

14. Banning gives it legendary status, let it remain their lies. nt

[0rganism]

15. That must be a holdover from Brock's Scaife days

LIBERALS DON'T BAN BOOKS. It's that simple. I don't care if it's the next Mein Kampf, it should be available for people to read and form their own opinions. Banning a book on objectionable content alone
(1) sets a dangerous precedent
(2) is ethically bankrupt
(3) makes the book appeal from the "forbidden fruit" angle anyway

Now should it be given a prominent display spot, with it's own promotional cardboard rack? That's another matter.

[Pepperbelly]

17. who is trying to "ban" it? nt

[cindyw]

18. nevermind

[Shopaholic]

20. They just need to stick it where it belongs-----

in the fiction section.

[RamboLiberal]

21. With the newest revelation that Hoffman ordered an atrocity

which the Swift Boat skipper (McCall son of a Repub governor) refused - why can't someone gather all this testimony in news articles, records, etc that refutes these liars and do a quickie book!

I noticed yesterday that the B&N in Dicky Mellon Scaife territory (Greensburg, PA) had a ton of these SBL books prominently displayed in 3 locations in the store. But I noticed that no one was looking at them nor did they seem to be moving.

Took a lot of self control not to scream out at the poor clerks that this shit should've been in fiction and I hope they're stuck with them and I'd soon see them in the bargain bin!

[fujiyama]

22. I'm not into banning books

even if they are full of lies.

[Pushed To The Left]

23. No on book-banning!

No true progressive should ever support censorship! Book-banning is something that the right-wing would embrace, but we should not.