Recommended Reading

John Avlon surveys the huge library out there of hysterical anti-Obama books. Wanna know why our civil discourse in this country is so uncivil? That's it right there: There's money in writing that Obama is a Socialist Muslim who will leave America looking like something out of The Omega Man. And I'm just cynical enough to suspect that many of the people writing those books don't even believe deep down what they're writing…

…or that they do mainly because it's a lucrative belief. Years ago, a noted professional wrestler told me of an odd thing that happened in his line of work. The scenario-writers in what was then the W.W.F. decided that his ring character should be mortal enemies with a certain other wrestler. So the two men, who had been casual friends off-stage, went out and tried to kill each other in the ring and in the pre- and post-match interviews and other public appearances. The wrestler told me — and this isn't a direct quote but it's close…

Night after night, I'd go out and tell the audiences and the camera of my loathing for this guy. Then I'd get in the ring and try to bash his brains in…and it made me very popular. The whole routine got my contract renewed at a higher price so I was making money off it and everyone was cheering me for beating up on this guy. Beating him up and hating him was good for my career so I started to really hate him. It was just easier than feeling like a big hypocrite and it made my act better.

And what is politics these days if not Wrestlemania with more clothing?