Customer Reviews

Red, White & Liberal: How Left Is Right & Right Is Wrong

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I found this book to be just what the doctor ordered. I think this book is written with conservatives in mind. I think a lot of what Alan Colmes does on Fox News and on the radio is done to present liberal positions to conservatives. This book is a huge success in that direction. Colmes lays out his views in a logical manner. He does display his wit and humor, but he does not make a mockery of those he criticizes. The argument that people on the right like Alan Colmes so therefore he is not a liberal or is just playing the part of a liberal is ridiculous. The only way that you can convince someone of your position is to get them to listen to you. Making fun of them, yelling at them, or worse shutting them out is not going to educate anyone. Colmes may not be the fair haired boy of the left or the right but he is definitely contributing to the body politic by talking to people not at them.
Read all the books put out by liberals but don't exclude Alan Colmes because he behaves like a mature adult and not a raving lunatic.

Alan Colmes book is empty of passion. His words are strung together arguments that attempt to form a text for his liberal beliefs. To put his book in context it's without substance much like a boy band is to the rock music scene.

Alan seems like a nice guy. I believe he feels the way he does about being a liberal but beyond that this book is totally souless. It appears to be the work of a very good editor who organized Alan's points into chapters which became a book. If anyone is to be credited, it's Alan's editor who, to me, appeared to be a driving force in making this a presentable work. Which goes back to my point about this being similar to a boy band. It's not heartfelt. It's passionless. It mimics other books much like a boy band mimics other acts but it's all contrived. There isn't any deep rooted emotions here.

Alan spends time saying this conservative is my friend and that conservative is my friend to the point that he is so busy appeasing everyone that he comes across lacking depth. He fence straddles on several points to the extent that you think he was running for office or something.

In short, while the points raised in the book appeared to be Alan's beliefs the book is empty of an emotional core that brings the writer into what is being said. Read Sidney Blumenthal's "Clinton Wars" to see what a real writer with heart and deep rooted convictions writes like. Those who like an "intro to liberalism" may find this book acceptable but everyone else can take a pass.

Alan Colmes probably feels like Leon Trotsky on some days. It was Trotsky's fate, of course, to be laid low by an ice axe at the behest of the very revolution that he helped to spawn. But here he is (Alan, not Leon) with a very visible television gig, a daily radio program, and now a book. Yet liberals treat him like a redheaded stepchild! You'd think he was Joe Lieberman! Why is that? The answer, I think, is contained in his book RED, WHITE & LIBERAL.

Colmes seemed to spring out of nowhere onto Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes. He's been around for a while, however. His radio program dates back to the 1970s. On October 1, 1990 he came to be renowned as the first nationally syndicated liberal radio talk show host (he's not, but that's an argument for another time). His program in most markets immediately followed Rush Limbaugh, the thought apparently being that stations could stir up a little right-left interest. And in some cases it worked.

I used to listen to him every day, primarily for his "Radio Graffiti" feature. Listeners could call up and say one sentence over the air, then it was on to the next caller. It moved quickly and was on for about three minutes at the beginning and end of his program. It was fairly easy to get through --- Alan, alas, didn't have much of an audience --- so there were regulars who called in such as myself. There was also a really entertaining guy who called himself "The Alabama Dittohead" and who occasionally, though not always, made more sense in one sentence than Alan did in two hours. But in between Radio Graffiti, there was Alan, reliably liberal as he attempted to defend the indefensible Bill Clinton and a host of other causes du jour. It was on the strength of that program that Sean Hannity recommended Colmes to co-host the program now known as Hannity & Colmes. And, of course, he has a new radio program.

Colmes often comes across as Howdy Doody to Hannity's Buffalo Bob Smith, but that is merely because he is passionate in what he believes. You can tell when Colmes has had his buttons pushed because he bounces up and down in his chair. One of the cardinal sins of our current age is to look bad on television, and Colmes in the past has raised that to an art form. But he is doing better. True, the old Alan has been manifesting himself lately as he reminds everyone each night that he has written a new book. But that's almost endearing; it's actually kind of refreshing to see a media figure like Colmes being proud of something he did without a hint of faux modesty. So more power to him.

I want to assure you though that Colmes really frosts me. I spent as much time throwing RED, WHITE & LIBERAL across the room as I did reading it. It has more air miles at casa de Hartlaub than the Concorde. Some people accuse Alan of being a closet conservative but it's hard to read RED, WHITE & LIBERAL and still believe that. No, Colmes is still reliably liberal. Go down the checklist and he's right on the Left. Abortion, check! Gun confiscation, check! Increased taxes, check! Blame Bush for everything, check!

Sponge Al Frankenpants has taken Colmes to task --- confronted him, actually --- for not taking the fight to Hannity directly on the program they co-host. Such criticism misses the format of the program, wherein the co-hosts confront the guests, not each other (think Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff? and you'll get it). If Colmes has needed to establish his bona fides, however, RED, WHITE & LIBERAL does that. I mean, one chapter is entitled "Bill Clinton, Our Greatest President." Another is called "Jesus Was A Liberal." But you know what? As strongly as I would disagree with those statements, they are argued reasonably. Forcefully, but reasonably. Colmes occasionally distracts from his arguments by sprinkling the chapters with transcripts of e-mail he has received from disgruntled viewers, but for the most part he stays on track.

So why then is Colmes disliked by liberals? The answer, I believe, is ultimately contained in Chapter Eleven, entitled "Where Right Is Right." It's one of the shortest in the book, as one might expect (Colmes IS a liberal, after all, and the presence of the chapter in this book is remarkable in itself). But Colmes ultimately gets it. He is not part of the "blame America First" crowd, and I have a feeling that if one of the ne'er-do-wells who are fronting for A.N.S.W.E.R. came on his program he'd hand them their head as quickly as Hannity would. I mean, here is a guy --- a liberal --- who closes a chapter with a transcript of the lyrics of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." No wonder Franken takes off on him! Colmes doesn't hew to the party line!

Yes, RED, WHITE & LIBERAL infuriated me, but only because I disagreed so strongly with so much of it (except of course with Chapter Eleven). If you want to understand where that scatterbrained sister of yours (or her husband) is coming from, however, or if you're a liberal seeking to better articulate your worldview to your conservative friends, this (and it pains me, oh how it pains me to say this) is the book you should pick up.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Alan Colmes wrote a good book. Say what you will about his place in Fox news but the guy wrote a honest, non-extremist, non-sensationalized book about liberalism. The man deserves some credit. He leaves little room for reproach. His moderate tone and pragmatic approach, though not as entertaining as others, gives an excellent, though academic, defense for liberalism and moderation. Though not immune to harsh criticisms of certain conservatives, Colmes, in noble fashion, delves into matters of thought that are very worthy of discussion...especially in today's very divided red-blue political landscape. Of particular interest to me was the chapter concerning "church and state", morality and religion from the standpoint of our forefathers. I must say, of all the books I've read, the insightful argument made on this misunderstood yet widely abused facet of politics is unique to this book. That chapter alone is worth the book purchase and will cause many to rethink their mantras. Must-read material for everyone.

Alan Colmes is the man who shares the stage with co- host Sean Hannity on the popular Fox News program "Hannity and Colmes". He is a generally likeable fellow and he comes across as warm and sincere in this, his first published book. Alan wrote this book to offer readers an alternative to the mostly conservative publications, to demonstrate why he is liberal, and to explain why he feels that the so- called "right" is wrong on so many important issues.

Colmes begins his debate by talking about the War on Terror and how a misinformed public has been hoodwinked into supporting it. He offers the many government lies about the Vietnam War to show that we, the American people, cannot always trust governments to tell the truth and to emphasize the point that the American people should be more insistent on knowing the full truth before jumping headfirst into a war against a nation that never attacked us. This chapter on the war and the chapter that follows (about the erosion of civil liberties under the current administration are among the books strongest chapters and they would be even better if they were longer and more thorough.

Colmes wrote some of the chapters in this book, it would seem, as a deliberate way to get the attention of readers- especially Republican readers who will be shocked and (hopefully, in Alan's view) want to read the chapters to find out more. What I am referring to are the chapters that proclaim Clinton as the greatest American president; state that OJ Simpson was innocent; and assert that Jesus Christ was a liberal. These chapters sound like the type of reading material intended to infuriate. But the fact is that what the chapters discuss isn't all that radical or extreme after all. With the proclamation that Bill Clinton was the greatest president, Colmes is referring to the robust economy in the 1990's more than anything else. In the case of OJ Simpson being innocent, what Colmes is really talking about is the fact that OJ Simpson was already declared innocent in his first trial and should not have been tried a second time. With the assertion that Jesus is a liberal, Colmes bases his belief on actual passages taken from the New Testament. Many readers will strongly disagree with Colmes on this matter but essentially, Colmes is playing Republicans at their own game: Using the Bible to back his claims in much the same way that conservatives so often do.

Throughout this book, Colmes includes examples of the many hateful e-mail messages he receives each day to his Fox News e-mail account. Many of these messages are incredibly mean spirited and some borderline on threatening. What is interesting is that Colmes offers a comment after each one and every one of his comments uses humor to diffuse the situation. Humor, in fact, is one of the key ingredients to the enjoyment of this book. Alan uses his dry, sarcastic wit on most every page, offering up sarcastic humor to illustrate the silliness, the hypocrisy, and the downright meanness of some conservatives.

What I like best about this book is its respectfulness. Alan Colmes shows the same respectful demeanor in this book that he displays on the Hannity and Colmes television show. He never resorts to name calling, even when his adversaries deserve it. He remains nice, and he even points out a few areas where he is in agreement with his conservative foes. But he never loses touch with his liberal roots, showing over and over again why he is liberal, why he doesn't agree with Republicans/conservatives on the important issues of the day, and why he feels the liberal agenda is the one that is best for America.

I don't necessarily agree with everything Colmes says in this book and even when I do agree, his commentary is far too short to convince many people to switch sides. This is one of the main weaknesses of this book and it is one I hope Alan corrects when he publishes his next book. A little more length and concentration on just a couple of issues would have worked wonders for the book's effectiveness. For example, I like the parts about civil liberties, the war against Iraq, the agreement with Republicans on certain issues, and the quotations from key Republicans because they allow readers a chance to see just how wrong some of these people are by using their own words. But I wish the best parts of the book were a little longer and more thorough. This is especially true in the short chapter, "Where Right is Right". Among other things, Alan states his agreement with Republicans that borders need to be more secure but he devotes less than two pages to his discussion- not nearly enough to cover the issue. Not only that, but Colmes doesn't offer any rebuttals to Republican plans on border security. Colmes might agree with a few basic points regarding immigration but I'm confident he would disagree with others, like the radical proposal to build a wall on the Mexican border and deport Mexicans back to their homeland, including those who are currently working and making a positive contribution to American society. Again, there just isn't enough space dedicated to this and other issues.

Overall, "Red, White, and Liberal" is a good, respectable book from Alan Colmes and it is worth reading even if you don't agree with Alan's political stands. Many Republicans have recommended reading the book and some of these endorsements are included on the book's cover. Colmes doesn't cover each issue thoroughly and while some of his arguments are solid, others are not very convincing and are too sweeping in their generalizations to be effective. But this book is still good enough to recommend. Alan Colmes concentrates his efforts on the illogic of Republican solutions to world problems and the often hateful attitudes of rock- solid Republicans and whether you agree or not. Alan Colmes has made his point. He is a liberal through and through, and proud of the red, white, and liberal stripes that he wears every day.

Alan Colmes couldn't convince me of many of his ideas, but I had fun plodding through his efforts at "Colmizing" readers. He presents often quite logical (even if one-sided) interpretations and maintains a fairly open mind. Bill Clinton most likely won't achieve the "best prez" status he assumes history will give him, and Mr. Colmes's efforts at presenting recent events regarding the former president in the most positive light possible are often rather astonishing. Clinton should appreciate such a devoted follower. What I enjoyed most was his light-hearted and often subtle sarcasm and humor, obviously a throwback to his stand-up comedy days. He has a unique writing style and I enjoyed skimming through this book. Best of all, I wasn't raging in frustration and anger at the end of it as I often have been with other political writers. Showing respect for everyone and still conveying controversial opinions and ideology is an unusual talent.

I really like alan Colmes and think on his radio show and on TV he is a thoughtful and respectful representative of the true liberal ideals. His book doesn't play dirty (as admittedly many books on the right do), and he remains intelluctually honest unlike the moveon/Sheehan/netroots crowd. While I still wholly disagree with him on most issues, I understand the basis of his beliefs and get the feeling that we are on the same team with mostly the same goals for the country and the world even if we support different means towards those ends. Kum Ba Yah, etc, etc.

I am a loyal liberal obsessed with how the Bush administration is ruining America's image both here and around the world. I bought this book because I knew I'd be able to relate to Colmes's view points and maybe learn something new.

All Colmes does is use e-mails from his viewers to prove his point. What is his point? That Republican conservatives are all jerks who send him hateful e-mails. Every once in a while he'll throw in a self-serving e-mail that says something like, "I'm a Republican and I watched your show and now I'm voting Democratic!"

About half way through the book I decided that this was a waste of my time. Colmes tells us what we already know and puts me to sleep doing it. I wanted to like this book so badly, but all I've done is recommended that no one waste their money on this book.

Although Alan Colmes speaks from a liberal point of view, he does it on the Fox News Channel, which some say has a conservative bent. (In his book, Colmes argues that Fox really is "Fair and Balanced.") Worse still, Colmes recognizes that not every issue can be seen in terms of black and white, or, more specifically, liberal and conservative. He understands shades of gray. For these infractions, Colmes has drawn fire from some of his fellow liberals. Some have criticized him for being too moderate, and some even have gone so far as to suggest that he is not really one of them. As a cable holdout, I cannot discuss Colmes' commentary on "Hannity & Colmes," but if you are under the impression that the former comedian is just putting on another act every night, you should read "Red White & Liberal," which is one of the best books about politics I have read this year. In their email to Colmes, his fans often thank him for speaking for them, but here he has done more than that: he has given them the tools they need to articulate their own views, support them with facts and hold their own in the ongoing national debate. Colmes also provides a timely reminder that patriotism and love of God are not the sole property of the (Religious) Right. He points out that conservatives who dispute this may want to reread Christ's Sermon on the Mount, as well as various writings by Thomas Jefferson!
Nevertheless, if you are an independent or a conservative, you need not be put off by Colmes' subtitle, How Left is Right and Right is Wrong. Despite his liberal take on everything (including the policies of presidents past and present, religion, and even the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial), Colmes reaches out to all sides, even including a chapter in which he discusses points of agreement with conservatives. He also couches his arguments in a wit that is dry but never nasty. This should provide a refreshing change for those who are fed up with the tone of our political discourse, which, in the seven years since Al Franken first set out to satarize it, has only gotten worse, judging by most of the email that Hannity and Colmes have received in response to their work--some of which Colmes reprints in his book--and several of the political screeds now parading across our bookshelves! While other pundits accuse each other of "Slander" and "Lies," leaving a "Legacy" of "Arrogance," Alan Colmes talks about the issues--in a tone that would not be out of place at a civilized dinner table. By "talks," I mean he provides genuine discussion with well-reasoned arguments, instead of rehashing tired sound bites and relying on gimmicky visual aids.
If you are an independent or a conservative who is willing to read opposing viewpoints, you should find Colmes to be an amiable Olive Branch to the liberal ideology. If you are a liberal, here is your charter. "Red, White & Liberal" will leave you thinking, "Right on!" Or should that be, "Left on?"

The first 60 pages or so of the book were so unfocused that I could not grasp where Colmes was heading or what he was trying to do. The only real thing he seemed to be doing was showing how unhinged some of the people who e-mailed him really are (lots of people have wished him ill for his points of view) and he uses these nutjobs as a brush to paint conservatives as a group as downright mean - in fact that is the title of one of his chapters. (despite his own admission that people fire off e-mails without thinking and say things that they would most likely never say to someone's face)

Finally, Colmes gets focused and the last 2/3 of his book is a decent read - even though he keeps the e-mail theme going and it really loses its effectiveness. His political commentary is full of the same type of political cheap shots that he accuses the Right of using, such as:

-Colmes has a little chart showing the political spectrum from left to right. He shows it going like this:

Communism Socialism Liberalism Conservatism Fascism Totalitarianism

And then he makes a big deal about how American conservatives are closer to totalitarianism than Liberals are. Come on. Was the USSR anything other than a totalitarian state?

-Colmes digs out specific comments from some Conservatives to show they are all racists (he likes Trent Lott, especially). I can do the same thing with Bill Clinton who once commented to the NAACP that if such and such bill were passed into law they could succeed like "regular people."

-Colmes blames Bush for the malnutrition rampant among Afghanistan's children and the and the fact that one-fourth of Afghan children don't live to reach the age of 5. The publishing date of this UNICEF report? October 2001. Yes, I'm sure Bush caused all of this, despite the fact that the Taliban controlled Afghanistan when the stats were compiled.

-He claims that the Conservatives do all of the nasty smear ads. His proof - Willie Horton. He ignores the Bush is Hitler ads posted by moveon.org and two awful NAACP's ads in the 2000 election. One stated electing Bush will just result in more murders of black men - it featured a pickup truck dragging a logging chain and the daughter of the man who was killed by dragging in Texas (the perpetrators are now in prison for the rest of their lives). Another ad against John Ashcroft said that a vote for a Republican is a vote for more black churches to be burnt down.

-I could go on (really - I have more than a dozen similar things, but I can't really imagine who'd want to read them all.)

Colmes has a quirky sense of humor and he makes frequent comments that sometimes make the reader nearly laugh out loud. He also does something interesting - he includes a chapter about where he thinks Conservatives are right and Liberals are wrong. Topics include race reparations and securing our border.

So, all in all, I give this book "3 stars" - the choice of using the e-mails actually hurts the book. The unfocused first quarter of the book was frustrating. The cheap shots were annoying, but to be expected - this is not the first book of this type that I've read. All of the political commentary books do it.