Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Loonymonkey (talk | contribs) at 23:35, 11 February 2008 (Reverted 1 edit by Chairman Meow identified as vandalism to last revision by Dr who1975. using TW). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (ISBN 0-06-076128-8) is a book by Bernard Goldberg that was published in 2005.

The book's central idea is to name and blame a long list of specific individuals for making the United States a "far more selfish, vulgar, and cynical place."

Goldberg's book denounces people, mostly celebrities, politicians and newscasters, and takes umbrage at high-profile incidents like Janet Jackson exposing herself "in front of one-fifth of all the kids in America under age eleven" during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.(p. vi) It decries as "Hollywood blowhards" actors who call American politicians "Nazis" while praising "dictators like Fidel Castro". (pp. vii-ix) Goldberg's chapter for Courtney Love is simply the word "ho."

The book takes aim at "liberals snooty, snobby know-it-alls, who have gotten angrier and angrier in recent years and who think they're not only smarter, but also better than everyone else, especially everyone else who lives in a 'red state' - a population they see as hopelessly dumb and pathetically religious." (p. x)

In 2006, Goldberg updated his book, releasing 110 People Who Are Screwing Up America, in which he adds 10 more entries to his list.

Praise

Conservative journalist Jonah Goldberg (no relation), editor of the conservative magazine, National Review, said the following of the book:

Goldberg is no down-the-line conservative, and you are certain to disagree with some of his choices and rankings -- and probably also with his often salty language. Nevertheless, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken is #37) is a rollicking and revealing look at 100 of the most egregious obstacles on the path of our nation's return to glory.

A review by Brent Bozell, President of the conservative Media Research Center, also offered praise for the book:

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken is No. 37) is out, and it's a wonderful read for anyone not on that list.

It's easy to presume that this is the conservatives' answer to recent published tirades against the Right by leftists like Franken and Michael Moore, but there are important distinctions. First, Goldberg doesn't limit the list to those on the Left. Jimmy Swaggart makes the list, as does Michael Savage. Many in the religious Right will quarrel with his selection of Judge Roy Moore. All should applaud his choice of David Duke.

Criticism

Conservative vs. liberal selections

The book has faced criticism for its perceived bias by predominantly blaming liberals for the decline of society. Just eight of Goldberg's 100 selections are associated with the conservative right.

Cathy Young, who was praised in the book for her criticism of feminism, has pointed out that the conservatives who do make Goldberg's list are "safe" or "token" targets like James Charles Kopp, who murdered an abortion doctor in 1998, and Jimmy Swaggart, the discredited televangelist. The other conservative targets on the list are Judge Roy Moore (no. 21) the Alabama judge who flouted a court order in not removing a monument to the Ten Commandments, talk radio host Michael Savage (no. 61), and disgraced former New York state senator Guy Velella (no. 94).

In summary, none of the listed conservatives are central figures or ideologues of the Republican party. Meanwhile, all of the top 20 names on Goldberg's list are noted liberals or leaders in organizations regarded as "liberal."

Jon Stewart criticism

On July 13 2005, Goldberg appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to promote the book. Stewart criticized the book for including too few conservatives. Goldberg agreed that the criticism was fair, but responded that his book dealt with cultural issues. Stewart also argued that the book focused on a "culture war" he sees as largely "fabricated," and that Goldberg's book ought to have included more politicians and people in positions of "real" power. Stewart said "I wish smart guys like you spent less time worrying about Barbra Streisand and more time worrying about Richard Perle or Karl Rove, or whoever the Democrats had in those positions during the Clinton years." Goldberg responded by stating that the view that the culture war is fabricated supports his book's thesis. His book argues that those who wield power over culture wield power over politics, and help to create an atmosphere tolerant of corrupt politicians.

During this appearance, Goldberg stated that he intended the book to raise the public discourse, and that many of the people on his list had turned public debate into bickering and name-calling.

Factual inaccuracies regarding rap figures and icons

Goldberg received criticism for not having done sufficient research for the parts of his book about rap music. He refers to Ludacris and Eminem as gangsta rappers, a description with which some critics take issue. He also states that the record label Interscope Records pioneered gangsta rap when, in reality, it had been around commercially for at least six years prior to any involvement from the record label. (Artists such as Ice-T, and N.W.A. both had platinum selling success as gangsta rap artists before the founding of Interscope.) Goldberg also states that Interscope Records was entirely funded by Ted Field, when it was actually largely—as much as 50%—funded by Atlantic Records.

Trivia

Some of those included on the list have responded to the book humorously. Cartoonists Jeff Danziger and Ted Rall both said it was "an honor" to be included on the list, with the latter adding "Not only am I grouped with many people whom I admire for their achievements and patriotism, I'm being demonized by McCarthyite thugs I despise." Entrepreneur Todd Goldman quipped that he "hope to be ranked higher next year."

Goldberg's book prompted a response from Jack Huberman, who wrote 101 People Who Are Really Screwing America (and Bernard Goldberg is Only #73)

Ten new entries were added in Goldberg's 2006 update, 110 People Who Are Screwing Up America. Among these were the Neo-Nazi vocal group Prussian Blue, anti-gay activist Fred Phelps, Jeremy Jaynes and several Supreme Court Justices.

Quotations

• "Here's the problem, as far as I'm concerned: Over the years, as we became less closed-minded and more tolerant of all the right things, like civil rights, somehow, we became indiscriminately tolerant. 'You're so judgmental' became a major-league put-down in Anything Goes America – as if being judgmental of crap in the culture is a bad thing." (p. viii)

• "If I have to explain it to you, you shouldn't be reading this book!" – referring to Michael Jackson.

External links

• 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America. Who? Why? - details on individuals who made the list, plus book summary.
• Who's Really Screwing Up America? - criticism of Goldberg's book from The Nation.
• Sample and audio excerpt (Official publisher web page)
• Interview with the author

• 2005 books