100 People Who Are Screwing Up America

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America is a 2005 book by Bernard Goldberg which blames a long list of specific individuals for making the United States a "far more selfish, vulgar, and cynical place."

The subtitle for this book is "and Al Franken is #37".

Goldberg uses his tome to denounce things like Janet Jackson exposing herself "in front of one-fifth of all the kids in America under age eleven" during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.(p. vi) He decries as "Hollywood blowhards" actors who call American politicians "Nazis" while praising "dictators like Fidel Castro". (p. vii-ix)

He lambasts "liberals [who are] snooty, snobby know-it-alls, who have gotten angrier and angrier in recent years and who think they're not only smarter, but also better than everyone else, especially everyone else who lives in a 'red state' - a population they see as hopelessly dumb and pathetically religious." (p. x)

Praise

Jonah Goldberg (no relation), editor of National Review said the following of the book:
"Goldberg is no down-the-line conservative, and you are certain to disagree with some of his choices and rankings -- and probably also with his often salty language. Nevertheless, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken is #37) is a rollicking and revealing look at 100 of the most egregious obstacles on the path of our nation's return to glory." [1]

A review by Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center goes on to say:
"100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken is No. 37) is out, and it's a wonderful read for anyone not on that list.
It's easy to presume that this is the conservatives' answer to recent published tirades against the Right by leftists like Franken and Michael Moore, but there are important distinctions. First, Goldberg doesn't limit the list to those on the Left. Jimmy Swaggart makes the list, as does Michael Savage. Many in the religious Right will quarrel with his selection of Judge Roy Moore." [2]

Criticism

The book has faced criticism for its perceived bias by predominantly blaming liberals for the declne of society. Cathy Young, who was praised in the book for her criticism of feminism, has pointed out that the conservatives who do make Goldberg's list are "safe" targets like James Charles Kopp, who murdered an abortion doctor in 1998, and Jimmy Swaggart, the discredited televangelist. Some of the other conservatives on the list are David Duke (no. 66), a former leader in the Ku Klux Klan, Judge Roy Moore (no. 21), the Alabama judge who flouted a court order to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments, and talk radio host Michael Savage (no. 61).

Meanwhile, all of the top 20 names on Goldberg's list are noted liberals or leaders at supposedly liberal organizations. [3]

On July 13 2005, Goldberg appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to promote the book. Stewart criticized the book for including too few conservatives. Goldberg agreed that the criticism was fair, but responded that his book dealt with cultural issues. Stewart also argued that the book focused on a "culture war" he sees as largely "fabricated," and that Goldberg's book ought to have included more politicians and people in positions of "real" power. Stewart said "I wish smart guys like you spent less time worrying about Barbra Streisand but more time worrying about Richard Perle or Karl Rove, or whoever the Democrats had in those positions during the Clinton years." Goldberg responded by pointing out that the view that the culture war is fabricated supports his book's thesis, and in the book argues that those who wield power over culture wield power over politics and help to create an atmosphere tolerant of corrupt politicians.

It was also during this appearance that Goldberg stated that he intended the book to raise the public discourse, and that many of the people on his list had turned public debate into bickering and name-calling. It should also be noted that his entire chapter for Courtney Love, someone who wields just about no influence in the United States, was simply the word "ho". This has led many to mock his concept of "raising the public discourse."

Part of Goldberg's response to critics may be seen in the notes on the back cover of the book, which read (in part): "Forgive me for stating the obvious, but this is my list. There won't be two people in the whole country who agree with every name in the book."

Some of those included on the list have responded to the book humorously. Cartoonists Jeff Danziger and Ted Rall both said it was "an honor" to be included on the list, with the latter commenting "Not only am I grouped with many people whom I admire for their achievements and patriotism, I'm being demonized by McCarthyite thugs I despise." [4] Todd Goldman quipped that "He hopes to be ranked higher next year." [5]

The list

Template:Spoiler

Quotations

"Here's the problem, as far as I'm concerned: Over the years, as we became less closed-minded and more tolerant of all the right things, like civil rights, somehow, we became indiscriminately tolerant. 'You're so judgmental' became a major-league put-down in Anything Goes America - as if being judgemental of crap in the culture is a bad thing." (p. viii)

External links

100 People Who Are Screwing Up America. Who? Why? - details on individuals who made the list, plus book summary.
The Great Bacon Conspiracy - list of how all 100 people are linked to Kevin Bacon (humor).
ISBN 0-06-076128-8