About this item
New York Times BestsellerEver wonder how politics turned into a take-no-prisoners blood sport? The New York Times bestselling author of Stonewalled pulls back the curtain on the shady world of opposition research and reveals the dirty tricks those in power use to influence your opinions.Behind most major political stories in the modern era, there is an agenda; an effort by opposition researchers, spin doctors, and outside interests to destroy an idea or a person. The tactic they use is the Smear. Every day, Americans are influenced by the Smear without knowing it. Paid forces cleverly shape virtually every image you cross. Maybe you read that Donald Trump is a racist misogynist, or saw someone on the news mocking the Bernie Sanders campaign. The trick of the Smear is that it is often based on some shred of truth, but these media-driven "hit pieces" are designed to obscure the truth. Success hinges on the Smear artist's ability to remain invisible; to make it seem as if their work is neither calculated nor scripted. It must appear to be precisely what it is not.Veteran journalist Sharyl Attkisson has witnessed this practice firsthand. After years of being pitched hit jobs and puff pieces, she's an expert at detecting Smear campaigns. Now, the hard-hitting investigative reporter shares her inside knowledge, revealing how the Smear takes shape and who its perpetrators are - including Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthal and, most influential of all, "right-wing assassin turned left-wing assassin" (National Review) political operative David Brock and his Media Matters for America empire.Attkisson exposes the diabolical tactics of Smear artists, and their outrageous access to the biggest names in political media - operatives who are corrupting the political process, and discouraging widespread citizen involvement in our democracy.
About the Author
Sharyl Attkisson is a nonpartisan, five-time Emmy Award winning investigative reporter, recipient of the Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting, and a fifth degree black belt Master in TaeKwonDo. She is author of the new book "Slanted" to be released in late November of 2020, and the New York Times bestsellers "The Smear" and "Stonewalled." Attkisson hosts the nonpartisan Sunday morning national TV news program "Full Measure," which focuses on investigative and accountability reporting. For thirty years, Attkisson was a correspondent and anchor at CBS News, PBS, CNN and in local news.Attkisson has helped expose the deep astroturf network of political and special interests that influence and control politics, government, the media, social media and much of what people ready every day on the Internet. She is currently suing the U.S. government after multiple independent forensics exams provided evidence that her work and home computers were monitored by unauthorized intruders using software proprietary to a U.S. government agency, as she reported her Emmy award winning stories on alleged government wrongdoing.In 2013, Attkisson received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for her reporting on "The Business of Congress," whichincluded an undercover investigation into fundraising by Republican freshmen. She received two other Emmy nominations in 2013 for "Benghazi: Dying for Security" and "Green Energy Going Red." Additionally, Attkisson received a 2013 Daytime Emmy Award as part of the CBS Sunday Morning team's entry for Outstanding Morning Program for her report:"Washington Lobbying: K-Street Behind Closed Doors." In September 2012, Attkisson received the Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism and the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence inInvestigative Reporting for the "Gunwalker: Fast and Furious" story.Attkisson received an Investigative Emmy Award in 2009 forher exclusive investigations into the Bush TARP bank bailout. She received an Investigative Emmy Award in 2002 for her series of exclusive reports about Red Cross mismanagement. She has received numerous Gerald Loeb Finalist awards, including in 2016, and Emmy nominations for reporting on Follow the Money, Congressional oversight, aid to Haiti, Firestone tires, and dangers of prescription drugs and vaccines (including links to autism) . Attkisson is one of the few journalists to have flown in a B-52 on a combat mission and in an F-15 fighter jet Combat Air Patrol flight.
