Ron Paul is Here, and RNC Isn't Happy (Amid Questions of Book Authorship, Hosts 'Counterconvention')

[Hissyspit]

Source: Washington Post

Paul Is Here, and the RNC Isn't Happy
Amid Questions of His Book's Authorship, He Hosts 'Counterconvention'

By Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 2, 2008; Page A27
ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 1 -- Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has boasted that he wrote a book slamming the Iraq war and challenging the nation's economic system to continue a grass-roots movement that grew out of his quixotic campaign. The best-selling "The Revolution: A Manifesto" has become the centerpiece of a counterconvention by Paul that he has predicted will attract thousands of supporters to the Twin Cities.

But although the congressman from Texas has repeatedly called the book his own work, it was largely written by an unacknowledged ghostwriter, and it is unclear how much Paul contributed to the final product. Late last year, Tom Woods, a longtime Paul supporter and libertarian scholar who will be speaking at the counterconvention, sent out copies of the manuscript and indicated that he had written the manifesto on Paul's behalf, according to copies of a letter from Woods and an original manuscript obtained by The Washington Post.

"Enclosed is the manuscript for a book tentatively titled The Revolution: A Manifesto, to be published under Dr. Paul's name," Woods's Dec. 26 letter says. The name of the letter's recipient was redacted. "When my agent shopped the idea around (before I'd actually written the book) back in October, a number of publishers were interested . . ." Woods also wrote that he was "happy to report that Dr. Paul is very pleased with it. He called me with a number of minor changes that I intend to incorporate into the text over the next few days."

Woods confirmed in an interview that the letter is authentic, but said it overemphasizes his role in writing the book. "This is Ron Paul's book in every way," Woods said. When asked if Paul used a ghostwriter, Jesse Benton, his spokesman, said "They are all Dr. Paul's words."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102461.html

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[tblue37]

1. Ghostwriting is not unusual. I have often done it myself for other people.

For example, as a PR writer, you write articles for trade publications, and then they are submitted under the clients' names. As a book doctor, you take another person's manuscript and fix it.

A ghost writer who writes an entire book for someone usually interviews the client and asks questions, getting his information directly from the client, so the final product, though written and polished by the ghostwriter, reflects the client's thinking. Usually, the client will continue to have input all along the way, asking for changes, additions, and deletions.

A lot of people just don't write very well, but they have enough money to hire competent writers to do their writing for them. Those of us who can write get paid to turn other people's ideas into competently shaped words.

[girl gone mad]

2. I wonder why the media..

is even pushing this ghostwriting story.

So many politicians' books are ghostwritten. Was Mr. Woods credited for assistance?

[endthewar]

3. Go Ron Paul!

I hope he fractures the Republican Party in two! :rofl:

[krkaufman]

4. How much time has been spent by the media puffing up the Hillary vs Barack "rift" ...

... and then how much time is being spent by the media covering Bob Barr and Ron Paul, and their supporters' issues with the current Republican Party and ticket?

[trthnd4jstc]

5. I believe in more of the Democratic Platform, than the Republican, yet I like Rep. Ron Paul.

Ron Paul has arguments about making our Gov. smaller. About ending the size of the Military Industrial Complex. I appreciate his views on those things. I also like Ethics requirements for Congress. If the Republican Party was more like Rep. Ron Paul, we would not be in the $hit hole we are now. Thanks for the Post, and Thanks Rep.Paul.

[Blue_Tires]

6. is that the same writer who penned the "race report??"

:think:

[goforit]

7. swiftboating Ron Paul? They must be really scared of him.