‘Obama Nation’ consternation

Re “Rebuttal issued to anti-Obama book,” Aug. 15

Barack Obama states that “The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality” by Jerome Corsi is a compilation of innuendoes and false rumors about him.

The book charges that Obama attended a radical black church and secretly harbors “black rage”; his response is that he is a Christian who attended Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

What kind of a rebuttal is that? Trinity United Church, whose pastor was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., a hate-filled man who in some sermons was anti-American as well as anti-white? What kind of Christian church is that?

So much for that rebuttal.

Bette Hirsh Levy

Tarzana

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While I understand that prurient interest often trumps common sense, Corsi’s fact-deficient biography is a new low for the print media as a whole. This unabashedly partisan, vitriolic book is filled with distortions, untruths and outright fabrications.

I hope that The Times takes the high road in examining this book and publishes an article denouncing this type of smear-writing.

Lisa Williamson

Pasadena

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Re “ McCain denies flippant remark on ‘Obama Nation,’ ” Aug. 16

McCain quips about Corsi’s new book on Obama: “Gotta keep your sense of humor.” But in August of 2004, McCain disavowed an ad based on Corsi’s “Swift boat” attack on John Kerry, saying: “I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable.”

In August of 2004, McCain was not a candidate, and did not benefit from Corsi’s smear tactics -- but that was then, and this is August of 2008. He should have swiftly disavowed Corsi, but he missed the boat.

Dan Schechter

Los Alamitos