Taking Heat: The President, the Press, and My Years in the White House

If you find yourself watching or reading the news and you are panicking about all that is wrong with the world, it would be helpful for you to read "Taking Heat". There are very few presidential press secretary's in the world and who better to explain how information given to the news is then reported by the news. Do yourself, your family and your friends a favor by reading and recommending this book.

Getting a look behind the scenes from one of the top media relations professionals in the country is a real treat. Fleischer's experience in dealing with a high-profile supervisor (President Bush) on one side and some of the most aggressive and sometimes partisan press on the other is a great read.

"Taking Heat" may not be a book that liberals and/or left-wingers will enjoy, for it completely exposes the left-leaning bias in today's media - and for that matter, yesterday's media too. I guess a few, open-minded and less radical liberals (they do exist, don't they?) might be able to find some good in the effort, hopefully. Former press secretary Ari Fleischer does a good job of summing up his service to the president, the daily struggle to perform his job to the best of his capabilities, and the general mood inside the White House during some of the most difficult years in quite some time. I found Ari's writing style to be quite enjoyable, and I was extremely impressed with the fact that every single subject I hoped would be discussed in the book was right there in black and white. Ari did not avoid any topic, and he also did not throw in some lame attempt to "juice" his book up by trying to make others look bad in the public eye. He told his story just like it happened - the way it should be told. I met Ari Fleischer at a book signing in Indianapolis, Indiana. I found him to be a polite, articulate, and just plain calm and humble person; he's also a lot taller than Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (most people are). His book reflects his personality and warm sense of humor. "Taking Heat" takes the reader right to the heart of what it is like for the press secretary to try and balance his loyalty to the president with the need to address the White House press corps with important news of the day. Fleischer does an amazing job of uncovering the media bias against Republicans and conservatives: Fleischer points out that "left-wing" activists are referred to by the media as "protesters", while more often than not, "conservative protesters" (of which I'll add you don't see a lot of) are labeled "right-wing protesters" or "conservative opponents". He also makes it clear that the president's tax cuts were tax cuts for all tax paying citizens and that 65.7 percent of all income taxes are paid by people making 92,000 dollars or more. Half the population of America pays virtually NO federal income tax, "yet they still receive many federal services and benefits." This book also addresses the media's intense focus on only concentrating on controversy, often even trying to create debate amongst administration officials where none exist. Ari writes at length about how the press looks for the negative behind almost every story, ignoring many of the positive stories because they don't grab viewers and readers attention. "Taking Heat" gives the reader a clear view of President George W. Bush, a man who believes he is leading this nation for a reason and that it is his job to keep America safe, even if that means taking a hit in the polls. One of my favorite parts of this book is when Fleischer discusses Elie Wiesel, the noted humanist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Holocaust survivor. Wiesel said, "I

I see this book as having two quite different subjects. Most of this book is on how the Presidency works under George W. And the result has to be considered pretty good. President Bush seems to have a very definite set of ideas, and to be marching towards their implementation. You don't really know what's going on in the Government until the books from insiders start coming out, and this is a good one. Mr. Fleischer is an admirer of President Bush, and it shows. The second major subject of this book is the national press. They get, Mr. Fleischer says, a thousand facts right every day. But he says the press's first and most pressing bias is in favor of conflict and fighting. This is what gets the headlines. Having Mr. A contradict what Ms. B said gets the headlines, and we outsiders here the conflict and not necessarily what's really happening. The next thing he comments on is the so called liberal bias of the press. He asks: Clinton allowed family planning broups that advocate abortion to receive Federal funds; the press reported he "delivered on his campaign promise." Bush reversed this action; the press reported he "did something to quickly please the right flank in his party." Why didn't they say Bush "delivered on his campaign promise?" Right-wing and conservative are standard ways the press describes Republicans, why aren't the Democrats described as left-wing or liberals? Debates about abortion are called debates about "abortion rights." Debates about guns are described as debates about "gun control", not "gun rights." The "religious right" is a press term, why is there no discussion of the "religious left?"