Killing the Messenger: The Right-Wing Plot to Derail Hillary and Hijack Your Government

by David Brock

David Brock is the ultimate happy warrior. Once a leading right-wing hit man, Brock is now the Left's pre-eminent defender and truth-teller.

In this incisive, personal account, Brock disarms the major tentacles of the Republican the Koch Brothers, the Clinton haters, and the Fox Noise Machine. With the acumen of a seasoned political player, Brock takes readers inside his Democratic war rooms and their 24/7 battles with right-wing forces for control of the story lines and messages that will decide the 2016 election. And he chronicles his own evolution from lead Clinton attack-dog to one of Hillary Clinton's fiercest defenders as he knocks down the conservative case against her.

Finally, Killing the Messenger provides the no holds barred playbook for what the new right-wing conspirators will do in this election cycle to tear apart the electorate-and what good, engaged, and informed citizens can do to stop them.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

David^Brock.

There is more than one author by this name in the database.

David Brock is a journalist currently living in Washington, DC. He started out in professional journalism with a piece in "The Wall Street Journal", that caught the attention of John Podhoretz, who was assigned with starting a magazine for the conservative daily newspaper, "The Washington Times".

He worked as a news reporter for a while at "Insight" (the Washington Times' magazine) until eventually moving up to work for the paper, itself. His prominence in the conservative movement as a journalist got him a job at the American Spectator. During his time at the Spectator, Brock became very well known for filing "hatchet jobs" against then-President Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Clinton) and the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He wrote the hugely popular book, "The Real Anita Hill", which attempted to paint Anita Hill (who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment while he was being confirmed to the Court) as being a liar who could not be trusted (Brock labeled her "a bit nutty and a bit slutty").

He eventually "broke" with the conservatives and went on to try to make amends for his character assassination and fabrication of the truth while he was in the movement.

He detailed these fabrications and denounced much of his own earlier work in his 2002 book, "Blinded By The Right".

He is now the CEO and founder of "Media Matters for America", a progressive media watchdog group thats mission is to find and correct conservative misinformation in the mainstream press.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Regis

Reviews

[Fred Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some background. My Dad helped run Kennedy's campaigns in NH and WV and his last political job was in Delaware for then Senator Biden so I have always been a bit of a policy wonk when it comes to politics. I tend toward the right on fiscal issues, the left on social issues so pretty much end up in the center. One thing I have noticed is that when I receive political material on social media like Facebook or by e-mails, when I fact check it, probably 90% of the stuff from the right is either untrue or lifted out of context. Rarely does the left wing material suffer from similar distortion. This book does an excellent job of explaining why. Hillary was not kidding when she complained of the "vast right wing conspiracy" determined to undermine the Clintons and most Democratic candidates by shoveling Koch money, among funds from others via SuperPACs to distort and fabricate the issues. (I know, the Dems have their own sugar daddies but it seems to me they tend to play more defense, hoping to defuse the b.s.) Before you doubt Brock's material, remember he used to be a right wing hatchet man so he knows of what he speaks and the players involved. The book does tend to worship Hillary and Bill a bit too much, but his dealing with the techniques and issues is on the mark. One thing that had puzzled me that Brock explains is what happened to the New York Times. It was always known as a bastion of liberalism but when it comes to the Clintons, they were quick to pick up and spread (and lend credibility to) the machinations of the right and they were slow to retract and correct when the items turned out to be wrong. Some interesting insight on this issue. Also confirms something I have noticed among the right wing folks is that even when proven wrong, they tend not to care. True or not if if is anti- Hillary, Obama or liberal spread it around! Interesting book for those with a political bent - learn the tricks of dirty politics as well as defensive measures employed. Looking for some insight on why the Republican committee will not release the transcripts dealing with Hillary's friend Blumenthal? Want to learn why the e-mail issue is also a non-event? Want to see what is really going on with the Clinton Foundation? Great book for some timely insight on these events.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2015 book has passed from "current events" (can Hillary Clinton win in 2016?) to history, but it's still useful to remember how hated Clinton was by the deranged, as well as by a solid chunk of the mainstream media, including those supposedly liberal bastions the NYT and Washington Post. There are endless examples here. Before Trump and his cronies became our national sewer, there was Rush Limbaugh wondering: "Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?" As she campaigned, hecklers would yell, "Iron my shirt!" Conservatives sold shirts that said "Life's a bitch, don't vote for one." A Facebook group had the name "Hillary Clinton: Stop Running for President and Make Me a Sandwich." While Limbaugh worried Clinton might be too female, Peggy Noonan had the opposite fear: Clinton "doesn't have to prove she's a man. She has to prove she's a woman." This was the level of idiocy Clinton had to deal with - before you even get to unhinged NYT columnist Maureen Dowd.

Former rightwing swamp resident Brock (author of The Real Anita Hill), turned progressive and Clinton booster, goes through the "scandals" that were ginned-up by the rightwing propaganda machine and then laundered into the mainstream media. The Clinton Foundation was shady or corrupt; Benghazi was either mismanaged or all Clinton's fault; Clinton's use of a private email account broke either laws or rules. He refutes the accusations fact by fact. The NYT's Clinton-hating Washington bureau chief and politics editor Carolyn Ryan (now managing editor) is singled out for criticism, as articles covering Clinton during her tenure were riddled with errors.

As a bureaucrat, Clinton was highly skilled. As a politician, she was untalented. But not singularly so: most politicians lack natural talent, as well as charisma. That is, they lack the talent specifically to politick. It's a rare politician who makes voters' hearts soar in appreciation. Even so - as untalented as Clinton was - she got 65,844,954 votes in 2016 to Trump's 62,979,879.

The surreal thing about this book - published in September 2015 and intended to prepare readers for the 2016 election - is that Trump doesn't figure in it at all. Well, he gets one mention - in reference to the 2012 presidential campign. Trump came down the golden escalator on June 16, 2015. Brock writes that a reporter named Ronald Kessler "had been a promoter of a series of wacky lost causes, ranging from Donald Trump's 2012 presidential campaign to the claim that Hillary had driven former White House lawyer Vince Foster to suicide." Brock writes that Jeb Bush was the "most formidable Republican nominee" of the campaign. Oh, those innocent days.

[Alec Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Politics is no longer about issues, but about misinformation, propaganda, spin and manipulation of what appears to be an ever increasing uninformed voter base. Both "sides" are eager participants, but the right started and lives by this game. David Brock, an early and former right wing operative who co-founded Media Matters provides a good account of this dismal state of affairs, going back to how this started in the Clinton years, what the left has done in response, and the details of the current efforts to stop Hillary. Informative and important.

[Fred Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you support Hillary and want to get angry.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Hillary Clinton, this is a good book for you. David Brock is an unapologetic fan, though once an ardent enemy. He tells his story of leaving the Republican party in the late 90s as previously revealed in Blinded by the Right (2002), after serving as a Republican "hitman" for many years. He goes on to tell about the founding of fact-checking site Media Matters in 2004, at the urging of Bill Clinton. Subsequently he has also created Correct the Record, a Hillary super PAC designed to set the record straight on right wing lies, myths and slander about Hillary.

In Killing the Messenger Brock describes how conservatives have systematically set out on a mission of character assassination to bring Hillary Clinton to her knees, making sure she never sets foot in the White House again. Using Fox News, The Drudge Report, Breitbart, The Heritage Center, 8 super PACs, the Rupert Murdoch empire, and sometimes even the New York Times, they have used lies, innuendo and fake "scandals" for over 25 years to bring the Clintons down. Even more chilling is the $900M that will be spent by the Koch brothers in 2016 to defeat Hillary in November, and their attempt at taking over the Republican Party and the US Government, all to fatten their bottom line, according to Brock.

The author goes into great detail to debunk myths and lies about Benghazi, the emails, Hillary's career at the Department of State, Travelgate, Hillary Care, Whitewater, and the Clinton Foundation. Each event was thought to be the perfect scandal to bring the Clintons down once and for all, but they survived every attack. Brock paints a picture of Hillary as the most qualified, talented and committed politician that has ever run for the US Presidency, and he says she scares the bejeebers out of the Republicans. He describes the conservatives as obsessed with bringing her down. "They are motivated not by what they want, but by who they hate." He claims that the politics of personal destruction is not just a tactic that conservatives use, it has become the conservative movement. He describes the conservative three-pronged strategy of 1. Red Meat for the base, 2.Discourage the Democrats with continuous assaults on Hillary (they don't have to be true), and 3. Sway the Press.

Criticism of the Democratic Party is not spared. He is critical of the party for not recognizing the reality of the Citizens United decision. Conservatives leaped at the opportunities it afforded them to spread their message, while liberals dragged their feet reluctantly. He is claiming some credit for awakening the party. He is also critical of those Democrats that are "worried" by Hillary. To Brock's way of thinking, there is nothing worse than a worried Democrat. He admonishes them to not fall for the meme of "Hillary Fatigue". It is a myth perpetuated by the right he claims. He says (speaking of the 2014 mid-terms), "Republicans were willing to do whatever it took to come out on top, while Democratic leaders seemed more concerned with maintaining decorum than winning the damn election."

The book was published in July of 2015, and does not even mention Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. I have the feeling that Brock didn't see either of these phenomenon coming. I would be interested to hear what his take is on the current situation.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember Michael Pollan's advice about eating? ("Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.") Brock's advice about politics and the media acts as a modification: "Read widely. Trust your instincts. Ask questions."

Hillary Clinton's stand against the "vast right-wing conspiracy" has help from Brock. Chapter by chapter, Brock takes on the du jour attacks against her and he not only refutes them with her record but also identifies the source of the animosity. As a former right-wing hit man who kicked the rock down the hill to start the Paula Jones non-issue against Bill Clinton in 1992, he should know. He accounts for the Koch's entrance into the game--a real player when one considers that the Democrats will spend $1 billion in the 2016 election, the Republicans will spend their $1 billion, and the Kochs will decide the election with the cleanup $1 billion. Brock debunks the #Benghazi fracas, the email smokescreen, the Romney-ization of Clinton (the perception that she is detached from the population), the Clinton Foundation fallacy (you can't disprove a negative claim), and ultimately, the rancid misogyny that she persists against every day.

My take on this, ultimately, lies in trying to vote well. I was a Delegate for Sanders in my Legislative District this year but as of this writing, the Democratic Convention has yet to occur. In the meantime, reading about the opposition--loaded with money, strategic, amoral, and dedicated to the ruination of whoever carries the Democratic nomination--needs to be known. Brock's last sentence in the book needs stating here--spoiler or not: "Staying silent in the face of outrageous right-wing misconduct just isn't our style."

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: in 2016, I am a Hillary Clinton supporter. I remember when David Brock wrote "The Real Anita Hill." It was intriguing to read of his journey from the far right end of the political spectrum to support of Hillary Clinton. I would recommend this title to every American. It's a fascinating look at money and media and politics at every level of the American political system.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was excellent. The only reason that I gave it four out of five stars is due to the fact it does not address Bernie Sanders directly. This was most likely due to the fact that it was written before Hillary Clinton had any serious competition for the White House. As with Blinded by the Right, David Brock explains how he moved from being a conservative paid to publish dirt on Democrats to a full fledged Clintonista.

This book explains how he started Media Matters. His organization became a game changer simply by documenting and providing transcripts to the hate speech spouted off by Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Bill O'Reilly and others. This is fascinating by itself, but seeing the rewards (or damage if you are a conservative) that this has done through a campaign lens is compelling.

Some highlights of the book include his description of the Right's linking of the Clinton Foundation to Hillary's campaign. This was done by a debunked book that bombed on the bestseller lists, but was very successful in putting the buzz into the mainstream news after being tossed around in the usual far right sources.

Another highlight was what the author calls the Mitt Romneyization of Hillary. The right started a campaign to turn someone that they claimed for decades to have been a carpetbagger, hillbilly, tax and spend Marxist into an elitist, self-serving, out of touch aristocrat. Two contradictory ideas that both do their job in discrediting Hillary Clinton across the political spectrum. These ideas are spun from cross quoting articles from British rags, the Wall Street Journal, FOX News, Bloomberg and other sources that have not generally worried about the working class. Moreover, these sources maintain an unapologetic love for Wall Street. But, this love does not apply to Hillary Clinton - a person they currently have dubbed the baroness of Wall St.

Another interesting topic was the author urging Democrats (even Obama) to use PACS and campaign fundraising tactics despite their personal and moral opposition to unbridled fundraising. This came after the Citizens United decision.

In essence, the Koch Bros held a gun fight on their turf. Unable or unwilling to adapt to the new realities, many Dems arrived with knives only to get a beating in 2014 (See Joni Ernst and friends).

This book is insightful and pragmatic. Personally, It reaffirms my support for Hillary Clinton. But It also shows how susceptible any candidate can be to the propaganda and the relentless scrutiny provoked by pseudo-scandals invented by the right. See Dukakis (soft on crime), Gore (pathological liar), Dean (screaming lunatic), Kerry (coward). The Bernie Sanders people seem to state over and over again that Sanders has not been treated fairly by the press. In my view, they seem blissfully unaware of the battle they will face if he does secure the nomination. This should be a concern of everyone interested in keeping a Democrat in the White House.

[Chris Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Brock worked for the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy that Hillary Clinton claimed was out to get the Clintons. He knew that it did exist, because he was a part of it. But he had a change of heart. He was paid to write a hit piece on Hillary, should she ever seek higher office, but after looking into her found that she was really a very qualified candidate. He began working for the other side, calling out the right on their lies and distortions. This book was very illuminating, and couldn't come at a better time. The battle for 2016 is on.

[Smiley III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just important, but a tracing of why, and what it is you're parsing about Hillary Clinton in this current election; so many things we Thought We Knew, filed away time out of mind because they came up somewhere, were really the result of Richard Mellon Scaife's money-machine and dig-upper squads for things that were known to be specious, unestablished, and the result of sullen resentful types venting to a microphone, at best. (Heard of Whitewater? No you haven't. There's no such thing. Feel better? Feel alarmed? Feel confused?)

Read. This. Book.

[sleeping panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only David Brock could see the irony in his writing. Somehow everything Media Matters does is "fact finding" while his opponents on the right are always "dirt digging."

This book gets three stars because it is well written and brings up a crucial topic. However, it is almost already out of date due to Sanders challenging Hillary for the Democratic ticket.

[Jess Sweitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book intrigued me. Brock, a reformed conservative, in his own words, discussed tactics used to undermine candidates and the political process. I am one that tries to see all sides of the issue before making any personal assessments of issues. Brock shows how that is difficult. This is definitely a must read.

[Pat Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good explanation of the past and current well-funded right-wing hit squad that set their sights on the Clintons and other democrats and issues years ago and the complicity of certain members of the press who should know better but have their own axes to grind. The method by which the BS is trickled up to supposedly legit sources is well-explained.

[Mike Higashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential readng for this presidential election year. This book shows how well-funded right-wing extremists manufacture misinformation and inject it into the mainstream media. If you plan on voting, you need to umderstand how that works. This book doesn't cover Bernie, but I'm not taking away any stars for that because he hasn't been targeted by lies the same way Hillary has.

[Ed Kohinke sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this presidential election year, if you have time for only one political book, this is the one to read. It is very well-written and delivers a powerful message whether or not you like Hillary Clinton.

[Dennis McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped open my eyes and be aware of the origins of much of the negative connotations directed towards Hillary Clinton and that much of this is fabricated and false.

[Julie K Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very telling about the state of politics in this country

[Rick Westenkirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows what politicians will do, especially the crooked Clintons, to get elected and defraud the voters. This is one reason we need term limits.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped this book would be about Hillary Clinton and help motivate me to like her more so I could vote for her in November without holding my nose (right now I'm still Feeling the Bern). It didn't necessarily accomplish this purpose. It's more about Hillary fanboy David Brock, his organizations, and his work to further the Hillary cause with a few chapters on specific "scandals" and why the Right has blown them out of proportion. The best chapter was the Benghazi chapter - I honestly hadn't paid too much attention to the details of the Benghazi "scandal" since I knew it was much ado about nothing, but this clarified what exactly happened in Libya and the Right's subsequent witch hunt. The chapter on the infamous email "scandal" could have been better. I still don't understand what it is all about - I know the Right is crazy but there's got to be more to it than Hillary used a personal email address for government business, like all other Secretaries of State before her have done, and she turned over all the emails to the State Department when asked. To me it seems like common sense to use a work email for work, but it doesn't seem like much of a scandal. Where the book fails - and David Brock, if you're listening, this is what I need to be convinced of to vote for Hillary in good conscience - is that it tries to make a case for Hillary being a regular person from a middle-class background who cares about progressive issues, cares about the middle- and working-classes, and is not a slave to Wall Street. I'm still not convinced. In the debates I've watched between Hillary and Bernie, Hillary comes across as condescending, elitist, and fake. Maybe it's the media spin, maybe it's the Right sowing doubt, but I need to be convinced that this view is wrong. Heck, I WANT to be convinced. But I'm not. Hopefully by November.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

A by-no-means unbiased account of how the modern news cycle gets fed- especially when it comes to a certain former First Lady. Author David Brock is a self-professed one-time right wing character assassin, and current founder of left wing watchdog group, Media Matters. His inside the Beltway perspective on politics and media; and how (and why) they collide to drive the public opinion is certainly food for thought. But as mentioned, it is clearly tilted towards defending Hillary Clinton and spends the duration of the book dissecting and taking apart each major "scandal", and in some cases following them to their origin source and just why the Clintons have been so dogged in the press from the time of Bill's Governorship. Those inclined to stay in the "No Spin Zone" will not likely be convinced, but the mechanics of how such disinformation is generated, disseminated and ultimately, accepted by the voting public is laid bare by this (reformed) dirty trickster bent on revealing his trade's secrets.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

If nitty gritty about political tactics is your bag, then this book is for you. I learned more about the Koch Brothers than I wanted to know. I have always been interested in politics but this is more down and dirty than I ever wish to be.

Mr. Brock does a good job in outlining the ways the Republicans will attack Hillary, some are already dated with the turns the Presidential election has taken (He wasn't expecting any competition within the party..i.e Bernie Sanders). He will defend her but it is going to be a bloody battle.

Sadly the one thing this book made me realize, we have turned a corner in our approach to politics in the last decade and it is only going to get nastier and disheartening. I will vote but it won't be with a happy heart and that is a shame.

[Pauline Barlow]

David Brock is a Democratic activist. He founded Media Matters, that he said "is the nation's premier watchdog". He is very much pro- Hillary and in 2015 believes she will win; and we know how that turned out. I'll admit that the Clinton Foundation has accomplished a lot of good: ie: cured diseases, alleviated poverty and promoted interest of low-income people all over the world. David Brock was once a right-wing hit man and now the left's defender and truth teller.
Rate:3
I read the hard cover edition (not kindle)

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a systematic rebunking of right wing smear campaigns against Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately nobody will read it except those who already believe they exist. Also unfortunate that Brock may have inadvertently suggested a potential new stumbling block-- running a further left version of herself against her to dazzle and distract the progressive wing. My question: is Bernie Sanders a straw man?

[Ann Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prereading for the upcoming debate. To me this was a fascinating read and helped me understand how narratives are created and disseminated through media channels. I'd like an updated version to include Bernie Sanders and provide more information on newer media streams. How much weight do traditional media sources have compared to bloggers, vloggers, and oft-tweeted soundbites? Information is louder, faster, harder to verify, and increasingly siloed.

[Kurtbg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book written by ex-republican operative about how the republican political infrastructure attacks democrats to smear character and try to bring them down. The centerpiece is how they've continuously attack the clintons and fan the fires of scandal with the end result of the allegations being false, but regardless placing an aura of scandal and wrong doing.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done look at the way the right-wing and even mainstream media goes after Hillary Clinton in a way that they don't with seemingly any other politician. It's definitely useful to have a clear-eyed look at the various pseudo-scandals and what they actually entail, so you have counterpoints the next time your uncle starts going off about Benghazi at the dinner table. 3.5 stars.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. 1. It's written by a former leading right wing hit man (he wrote the hit piece on Anita Hill, and 2. 2016 general election scenarios mention Bush. Not once is Trump or Cruz even considered.

[HunterGonzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book - a must read - worth the time. Entertaining and informative.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the Right-Wing plot to derail Hillary and hijack the government. It tells us that the partisanship of the Congress runs things, and the world of politics is murky at best.

[Larry Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting how much more polite the liberals are. Most conservative authors sound like Trump 's name calling rotates.