Winning Without the Spin: A True Hero in American Politics [Library Binding]

Bryant Wieneke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1560727055 | ISBN-13: 978-1560727057 | Publication Date: 1999

This is the story of how Walter Capps made it to Congress. A long-time religious studies professor with no political experience, Capps shocked the 22nd district of California and the nation in 1996 by unseating a Contract-With-America Republican and becoming the first Democratic Representative from that District in 50 years. In a hard-fought and high-profile campaign, Capps maintained his principles -- as well as his sense of humour -- while waging a personal battle against the compromises every politician is tempted to make. Winning Without the Spin is also the story of the campaign itself, seen through the eyes of the author, a political novice whose sense of the absurd increased with every hour on the campaign trail. Throughout the history of American politics, few, if any, books have chronicles the day-to-day aspects of the campaign office in such detail, with anecdotes describing everything from personal power plays by staff to the day Wally Baer fixed the toilet. On the campaign trail, the ridiculous melded with the sublime on a daily basis. Above all this book is a tribute to the memory of Walter Capps, who brought his unique brand of politics to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for only 10 months before this sudden death of a heart attack at Dulles Airport in October 1997.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bryant Wieneke

Product Details

• Library Binding: 340 pages
• Publisher: Kroshka Books (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560727055
• ISBN-13: 978-1560727057
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,620,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent account of Walter Capps' political campaign-1996, May 17, 2000

By 

David D. Powdrell (Santa Barbara, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winning Without the Spin: A True Hero in American Politics (Library Binding)

Bryant Wieneke does an awesome job of summarizing the wild ride of Walter Capps' 1996 political victory for U.S. Congress. I started the book at 7:00 p.m. and didn't put the book down until I was finished with it.

Walter Capps clearly is the type of person we should all have representing us in Congress, and Bryant Wieneke brings this to light throughout the book. Walter was a fair, compassionate religious studies professor that continued to look for the best in everyone, admired and encouraged our differences. His philosphy was that we should work with government instead of against it.

The hair-raising day to day operations of a political campaign are exposed in this book, also; not always a pleasant world to be in. The bulk mailings repeatedly requiring sorting by zip codes because the bar code was too close to the postage stamp was frustrating. The inter-office personalities and conflicts were interesting. Arranging events with the President of the United States, fundraising events at the homes of various Santa Barbara celebrities, arranging television and radio interviews, and on and on. I was exhausted by the end of the book, but I got goosebumps as I read the outcome of the election.

Truly an uplifting account of a remarkable man and his all-to-short political career. One can only imagine what may have become of Walter Capps had he lived to serve a long and fruitful life in politics.

Thank you, Bryant, for writing a beautiful account of Walter Capps' life during this two year period. It is truly inspiring.