New Book Examines Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain's Favorable Treatment by the Media

On March 25, 2008, Anchor Books will publish "FREE RIDE: John McCain and the Media" -- bestselling author David Brock and Paul Waldman's eye-opening study of how the mainstream media has helped John McCain's political rise from the Keating Five scandal to viable presidential candidate.

New York (PRWEB) February 22, 2008 -- In FREE RIDE, which will be published next month, David Brock and Paul Waldman deliver a profile of McCain and a study of the role of the media in political identity-making. FREE RIDE provides a fuller portrait of McCain, and exposes that he has never been the straight-shooting maverick he claims to be. Brock and Waldman cut through the myths surrounding McCain to show he has benefited from a unique media bias in his favor. His record has always been that of a staunch conservative, even as the media portrayed him as an independent. The media has looked the other way when McCain uttered comments that would have sunk other candidates; it has overlooked his hypocrisies and policy reversals, which have resulted elsewhere in branding candidates as flip-floppers. Also, McCain has learned to use the media to his advantage, by acting the role of the "authentic" and outspoken candidate in the midst of an increasingly scripted political culture.

Ultimately, FREE RIDE: John McCain and the Media explores the way the American media can affect and influence public perception of the candidates and other players involved in national politics. The book will be required reading for anyone interested in the political process, as well as those frustrated or fascinated by the role media plays in American politics.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC: "The press loves McCain. We're his base."

BRIT HUME, FOX NEWS: "John McCain is clearly the Washington media's favorite Republican."

JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC: "I think every last one of them (reporters) would move to Massachusetts and marry John McCain if they could."

FREE RIDE: John McCain and the Media
By David Brock and Paul Waldman
An Anchor Books Paperback Original
On sale March 25, 2008

For more information, and advance review copies, contact:
Danielle Newman             
Publicist, Anchor Books            
212.572.2331      

###