Shelby Steele doesn't believe subtitle of his own book on Obama

[kevinmc]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806230003

Shelby Steele, author of A Bound Man:Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win (Free Press, December 2007), acknowledged that he thinks Sen. Barack Obama "can definitely win" the presidential election, despite the claim in the book's subtitle -- "Why He Can't Win" -- which he said was an "afterthought" that he "regret" and which he said did not represent the book's thesis.

Appearing on the June 22 edition of Fox News' Hannity's America, host Sean Hannity discussed with Steele Obama's "chances of making it all of the way to the White House," asking, "All right, so he can't win?" Steele responded: "He can win. I regret that subtitle," adding, "It was an afterthought. And I don't argue that in the book. He can definitely win. There is a powerful desire in American society today to see someone like him move to the White House."

From the June 22 edition of Fox News' Hannity's America:

HANNITY: As the first African-American presidential nominee, Democrat Barack Obama is no doubt running an historic campaign. But will that distinction help or hurt his chances of making it all of the way to the White House? Joining us now, author of a brand new book, A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win, Shelby Steele. Shelby, good to see you, my friend. Thanks for being back with us.

STEELE: Good to be here.

HANNITY: All right, so he can't win?

STEELE: He can win. I regret that subtitle.

HANNITY: OK.

STEELE: It was an afterthought. And I don't argue that in the book. He can definitely win. There is a powerful desire in American society today to see someone like him move to the White House.


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[jobycom]

1. Problem is, Republicans won't usually read beyond the title, anyway.

[Bake]

9. Fine. Let them keep thinking he can't win.

They'll be in for a shock.

Bake

[rocktivity]

2. Today's Book Subtitles: They're Pandering, Idiotic, Annoying, Embarrassing, Unnecessary

And Way Too Often Longer Than The Actual Book

by rocknation x(

[mopinko]

3. or

say everything that the book goes on to take thousands of words to say.

[babylonsister]

4. So NOW he's backtracking after he's been proven wrong. Smooth. nt

[BklynChick]

5. Shelby Steele has and always be a big sell out!

[ellacott]

6. Huge sell out

[rocktivity]

7. The reviews at the OP's link are well worth reading--a puff piece and two "Nuh-uhs!"

"Obama's bid for so high an office pushes...(race)...to a more abstract level...(of)...a politics of guilt and innocence...Steele writes of how Obama is caught between...(the)...postures...(of)...bargaining and challenging. Bargainers...say, I will not rub America's ugly history of racism in your face if you will not hold my race against me. Challengers do the opposite...charg(ing) whites with inherent racism...then demand that they prove themselves innocent by supporting black-friendly policies like affirmative action and diversity. Steele maintains that Senator Obama is too constrained by these elaborate politics to find his own true political voice..."

"Although Shelby Steele’s substantial intellect is on display in this book...(m)uch of his views are valid for a biracial intellectual conservative growing up in...Chicago in the 1950’s...and not...for a biracial intellectual liberal growing up in...Honolulu and Indonesia in the late 60's & the 70's...This is a book explaining why Shelby Stelle feels he is a bound man."

"Shelby Steele is a smart man. But I think he is trapped in the politics of his time...(T)he reader must agree with Steele's theory that Obama is conflicted or "bound" by having to choose between what Steele draws as either the "compliant black man," or the "angry black man." Neither is true, neither does justice to either Obama's political instincts or intelligence. And it is the opposite of...reality...Obama enjoys widespread support among white...and...black Americans who have evolved past Steele's expectations..."

link

:headbang:
rocknation

P.S. I'm willing to bet the that subtitle was his EDITOR'S afterthought.

[TheDonkey]

8. A Bound Man: [Insert outrageous/inflamatory subtitle here to help sell craptastic book]

he must belong to the Ann Coulter school of cheap publicity