One of the points you made, that a lie may take only a few words and refutation could take pages, is really at the heart of the frustration that comes along with this topic and this area of nefarious intents. In the time it will take any of us to digest your book, looking things up and verifying them ourselves, doing a tiny fraction of the research into aspects of the issues that you and others have spent hours, days, ... hell, YEARS researching, the dogs on the other side will have cranked out another book or three, collected another outrages speaking fee, and laughed their way through more interviews.

How in the world do we combat that kind of propaganda?(sp?)

I wish I knew the answer(s). I don't.

But I think the solution can not rest on the efforts of one person, one online community, one organization, one social group, or even one political group. The response to this kind of premeditated manipulation of public thought will ultimately have to be one that is more solid and well thought out than the attack itself. It will not be enough to simply, intellectually defend. The defense will have to be one that not only deflects, but disarms the attacker. I don't know how we will get there. But I do know that works such as yours and works such as those the other amazing researchers, watchers, and wardens on this site and sites like it produce will be foundational to that effort.

So I will say thank you for your years of toiling and your willingness to share your tireless, meticulous research with others. And more than fame and fortune, I hope that you get to see your work used as a tool for good. I hope that you get to see your work used as fuel for a light in the midst of the darkness and chaos being cast over the minds of so many.

RAHilliard

by rahilliard on Thu May 05, 2011 at 08:37:48 PM EST

I heard from the local library yesterday. They couldn't locate a copy of Liars for Jesus, which I recently requested through interlibrary loan. To my surprise, Barton appeared on the Daily Show later that evening (which you know). I missed part of the interview and wanted to see all of it, plus I wanted to see the part that is put on the site. Today, I went to the Daily Show site and found -- to my amazement -- that your book was available in its entirety.

I do not think you're making a mistake at all. I think answering Barton with sound reasoned arguments will benefit us all. And, hopefully, will benefit your bottom line in the end.

Thanks for doing the the work you do.

by justanotherjones on Fri May 06, 2011 at 12:43:32 PM EST

My response,"Who was it that said,'the easiest way for evil to prevail, is for a good man to do nothing.'?

My beloved friend had told me the person who said that right away, and gave me such a heartwarming look....a look of admiration, and knowing...with a hint of resignation that she could not sway me to make some jewelry because I was doing what I was meant to do...and the crux of why we became such good friends....is that I stand for the truth, and I abhor mendacious snake oil salesman, such as Barton, Perkins, Sprigg, Dobson, Hagee......and Palin, Bachman, et al.

My point being is that I'm a newbie to the prodigious scholarly minds that I have come to admire and respect.  I truly believe that you wanted a respite from the constant vigilance you espouse with regards to these, the great charlatans of mankind.

With the greatest respect, Bernie

by OneOfTheWatchers on Wed May 11, 2011 at 01:59:56 AM EST