The Truth (With jokes)

Infobox Book
name = The Truth (With jokes)
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Al Franken
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
subject = 2004 presidential election
genre = Political satire
publisher = Dutton
release_date = 2005
media_type = Hardcover/paperback
pages =
isbn =
preceded_by = ""
followed_by = and Franken's research into the Republicans' strategy in their victory.

Fear, Smear, and Queers

In the book, Franken looks at what he calls "fear, smear, and queers," or the Republican strategy used to win the reelection of George W. Bush. As in his previous work, Franken relies on direct quotes from Republicans.

Fear

Franken uses several quotes from throughout the 2004 campaign. In several instances campaigners heavily relied on the events of 9/11 to paint President Bush as a strong military leader and John Kerry as a waffler. Franken counters with direct quotes from the 9/11 Commission that suggest Bush ignored or overlooked several key pieces of intelligence from the CIA that, if acted upon, could have prevented the attacks altogether.

Franken also wrote that Bill Clinton received similar intelligence regarding potential attacks on January 1, 2000 and was able to quickly raise the security level and prevent terrorist activity.

mear

Franken addresses the accusations of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group that alleged during the 2004 election that John Kerry's medals for valor were actually based on an act of cowardice. The incident, involving Kerry's killing of a Vietcong soldier, was not witnessed by any of the group's members. Moreover, the group dubiously claimed that Kerry shot a potentially unarmed and wounded teenager in the back while attempting to escape.

Franken states, using the testimony of the soldiers who were actually there, that Kerry's original version is the correct version. Franken also quotes a Ted Koppel story from 2004 when Koppel went to Vietnam and actually spoke with the commander of the Vietcong attack, who verified the man killed by Kerry was an adult, and military records that show the man was in possession of a grenade launcher.

ame-sex marriage

The book describes ways in which gay marriage was used as a wedge issue to break off certain voters who would have otherwise supported Kerry. It argues that Republicans relied on misrepresenting Kerry's position by saying and implying he is in favor of gay marriage. Franken lays out John Kerry's exact stance on gay marriage: he's against it but agrees with civil unions. While Franken disagrees with this view, he says that Kerry has spoken on the record with the same opinion since at least 1996.

Franken shows photos of protesters and pamphlets in red states and swing states that say "Support Gay Marriage, Vote John Kerry." Franken implies that these protesters were employed by Republicans trying to sway voters by using the controversial issue of gay marriage.

tyle

As the title states and as with his previous work, Franken blends humor with cited fact in an attempt to create a more compelling read.

ales

"The Truth (With Jokes)" debuted at #1 on the November 13, 2005 New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/13/books/review/13tbr.html] It remained on the bestseller list for ten weeks. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EEDF1E30F936A25752C0A9609C8B63] Upon its release in October 2006, the paperback edition appeared at #12 on the paperback nonfiction bestsellers list. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E0D91030F931A15753C1A9609C8B63]

References

External links

* [http://www.al-franken.com/truth_about.htm Official book website]