A sneak preview of veteran reporter Bob Woodward’s new book “Fear” portrays a White House wrought with chaos, in-fighting, and a staff all too willing to badmouth President Trump.
The President himself has quickly taken to refuting major portions of the book, calling quotes in the book “made up” and suggesting the author is “a Dem operative.”
“The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly,” Trump insisted. “Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public.”
Top White House officials have concurred with the President.
Kelly called the effort “another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated the book amounts to nothing more than “fabricated stories” made up “by former disgruntled employees.”
And General Mattis delivered his usual candor and snark in assessing Woodward’s book.
Statement from Secretary of Defense, James Mattis: pic.twitter.com/OneaxKCneV
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
Critics of the President will no doubt label these responses as a coordinated rebuttal to those friendly with the White House.
But there is a rich history of comments and evidence from other sources that seem to back up the author’s penchant for embellishing ‘facts’ and statements.
Legendary Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee had openly expressed “fear in my soul” that Woodward embellished elements of his reporting in the Watergate scandal, for which he had become known. One element involving the source known as “Deep Throat” being signaled by a flower pot was something a colleague asserted “strained credulity.”
Another author had been approached in 2004 to essentially rewrite a biography about legendary comedian John Belushi because Woodward had so completely mangled his own story about him. Comedian Dan Aykroyd labeled the book “exploitative, pulp trash,” while Belushi’s manager said it was so off-kilter that it made you wonder if President Richard Nixon may have been innocent.
In another book about CIA Director William Casey, Woodward is alleged to have concocted a deathbed confession regarding the diversion of Iran arms sale money to the Contras. Casey’s daughter claimed it never happened while members of his own security detail said they didn’t allow Woodward into the hospital room. Worse, Casey was unable to speak at the time Woodward alleged to have heard his confession.
In 2013, Woodward claimed he had received a threatening email from a “senior White House official” under Obama. They responded by releasing the email exchange which showed little more than a cordial exchange between the two.
The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly. Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2018
The list of fabrications and falsehoods by Woodward goes on and on. A simple internet search will reveal many more than have been outlined above.
One thing that seems consistent about his writing is that it is wildly inconsistent. That, and the fact that people on both sides of the political spectrum have refuted his claims time and again.
Now, however, because he’s written about Trump, his tall tales will be taken at face value. Sounds quite similar to the big splash made by author Michael Wolff who also tried to bring down the President with ‘fake news’ stories in his own book.
You don’t hear very much from him anymore, do you?
