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59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Laugh at Hypocrisy, January 28, 2008
This review is from: The Brotherhood of the Disappearing Pants: A Field Guide to Conservative Sex Scandals (Paperback)
"The Brotherhood..." describes people who have held the public spotlight as politicians or religious leaders who have railed against the lack of morality, and lost tradition of family and Christian values in our society. The only problem is that these same people have been exposed in acts of stalking, domestic violence, sexual harassment, infidelity, and stealing as bad as, or worse than the lack of morality they were gnashing their teeth about. These preachers and politicians have often been in the national spotlight not only being outspoken against a particular offense but also being sponsors of organizations or bills in Congress to prevent the very things they were eventually caught doing themselves. Their responses to being caught were equally peculiar on many occasions and revealed their level of character e.g. going to alcohol rehabilitation after being exposed for sending sexually suggestive messages to minors, or stating that what they did was not so bad when compared with what others have done, but my favorite is: "I asked God to forgive me and He did." (This is what some call cheap grace). Authors Joe Amann and Tom Breuer have divided their book into three sections: Republicanicus Libidinus, Religious Devianti, and Conservativicus Debaucheria, describing the rich peccadillos and behaviors of about seventy people who are given about two or three pages of type. The reader will quickly get the idea that the authors are disporting themselves in fits of mirth as they add metaphors and similes that cause laughter from the gut and soul. But they impart a more important message here. While they acknowledge that democrats have often had their share of scandals and sexual escapades, they contend that republicans and conservatives have often nurtured the (false) idea that they have always been strong on defense, tough on crime, and stood up for family values and morality. This makes their peccadillos seem especially hypocritical. This is a good read in the car (unless you're driving) or in some waiting area if you're pants are on. (It shouldn't be read in airport men's rooms). It is not meant to be deep or profound as much as enjoyable. It is meant to laugh and scorn others who spent a lifetime of scorning. It is also a reminder that the mightiest often fall the hardest, and that the meek shall inherit the earth. The cardinal sins of pride and lust lead to the greatest downfalls. What the book doesn't explain is why they do it, and the risks they know they must be taking when they are committing unsavory or illegal acts. The book doesn't even pretend to be on this level, but there is one that does that should be considered along with this one: "Conscience of a Conservative" by John Dean is an attempt to do so. Joe Conason also reveals the hypocrisy of conservative positions in his book: "Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How it Distorts the Truth." Why did I read this? The devil made me do it.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Those Who Live in Glass Houses ...., November 5, 2007
This review is from: The Brotherhood of the Disappearing Pants: A Field Guide to Conservative Sex Scandals (Paperback)
This book is the ultimate guide to conservative sex scandals covering all of the major, and many of the minor, sex sandals from the past 25 years. Some are well known, such as Senator Packwood and a lot are much less well known. While the authors admit that a book of liberal sex scandals could also be written, they point out, correctly, that it wouldn't be much of a surprise and would have little hypocrisy attached to it. Hypocrisy is the key word in that the major theme of this book is to demonstrate the hypocrisy on issues by conservatives. A family values platform doesn't mean much if in your spare time you're taking the teenage family babysitter to bed. The book would be sort of dull if not for the acerbic wit of the authors. The writing by them is what makes the book an enjoyable, although disturbing read.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who needs Maher or Stewart..., December 15, 2007
This review is from: The Brotherhood of the Disappearing Pants: A Field Guide to Conservative Sex Scandals (Paperback)
...when we have GOP moralist stalwarts to keep us laughing? These authors haven't left me down. In their "Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly," they exposed more about Billow than I almost cared to know. And in "Fair and Balanced, My ...", they kept my laughing--and informed--about Faux Noise. In this book, they start that, okay, Clinton had his affair. But as affairs go, his was pretty low key compared to, well, many of those who were the most zealous in their persecution of the Clinton administration! And they underscore that the real color, the real charm of those who've been caught in the most embarassing (!) positions, are the biggest moralists in the GOP field! Sure there's names you'll recognize. Mark Foley, Rudy Guiliani. Ted Haggart. But there are so, so many of those of whom you probably never heard. There's preachers whose zeal against homosexuality is without comparison who, it turns out, have their boys on the side; there's GOP award winners who've walked from door to door to announce to their neighbors that they're convicted sex offenders. And more. There's a short chapter entitled "Hypocrites in the House," on the Clinton witch hunters--and their sexual goings-on. And after the whole catalog of amusing hypocrisy, the final chapter is on the porn composed by some of the right's more vociferous moralists, including Lynn Cheney. (All right, if you've read the authors' O'Reilly book, you've already been exposed to Billy's erotic literary offerings. But it never hurts to reinforce it.) I dare not give away too much here. But the book is worth it's weight in gold. Use it when your Republican relatives whine about Democratic and "liberal" immorality. (In the introduction, they suggest that, when on Thanksgiving you hear your uncle again dropping the same Bill and Monica joke you're heard for the last ten years, just bring up some things you've learned from this book.) And the authors' writing talent is commendable. Their metaphors and analogies are among the best I've ever seen. One of them is a veteran of Catholic schools, as am I. See, the Catholic education really DID make him a great writer. Thank you, Sister. I'm proud that I'm originally from the state in which they write. And I look forward to their next books. Thanks, fellas.
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