The Weird Religions Candidate

Dave Weigel notes that Mitt Romney says his favorite novel is L. Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth:

"I’m not in favor of his religion by any means,” Mr. Romney, a Mormon, said. “But he wrote a book called ‘Battlefield Earth’ that was a very fun science-fiction book."

Dave comments: "No, that isn't true. Battlefield Earth is awful. Nobody reads that book except Scientologists and smartasses who want to giggle at Scientologists, and even they start to cash out by the 7000th page or so." I'm inclined to agree. I do, however, sympathize with Romney since questions like this are intrinsically hard to answer. I feel like the media's basic setup is that you ask it, then if the politician responds with something lowbrow he'll be criticized for being dumb, and if he responds with something highbrow he'll be criticized for being out-of-touch and aloof. Giving a totally bizarre answer is probably a decent strategy.

Personally, though, if I were running for president I'd site something obscure like Andrei Bely's objectively pro-terrorist modernist classic Petersburg

Comments

I'll just be glad to have a President whose reading experiences go beyond "The Pet Goat."

Posted by Ron | May 1, 2007 2:40 PM

Actually, I thought Battlefield Earth was very enjoyable, although it was obviously pulp through and through. Of course, I'm not some snooty Harvard type.

Posted by Steve | May 1, 2007 2:41 PM

As long as he doesn't pick "Battlefield Earth" as his favorite movie too, he'll remain a viable candidate, if barely.

Posted by AJ | May 1, 2007 2:44 PM

To be fair, I read Battlefield Earth and remember it as being kind of a fun book. Of course, I was also eleven years old at the time.

Posted by L Boom | May 1, 2007 2:46 PM

LRon's SF went to hell as soon as he started peddling his pseudo religion. The "Battlefield" books well and truly suck and wouldn't even be in print if Scientologists weren't required to buy the things.

Posted by RAM | May 1, 2007 2:48 PM

I would tell the press that my favorite book is MOBY DICK, because I see a lot of myself in Ahab.

Posted by Ben Cronin | May 1, 2007 2:50 PM

First we find out that Giuliani's SAT score is only marginally better than what you would get with random guessing, and now this. Wow. And Romney is supposed to be the smart Stooge. Does anyone know what his SAT score is?

Posted by Jim W | May 1, 2007 2:52 PM

I guess since my favorite novels of all time are probably Lolita and The Satanic Verses, I'm basically disqualified from holding any elective office anywhere in the world.

Posted by LaFollette Progressive | May 1, 2007 2:54 PM

To be fair, Hubbard did write some decent stuff, (If you have a low taste, anyway.) back before scientology. "Old Doc Methusala" was a classic.

I think it was probably an honest answer, as nobody would ever give that answer as a result of political calculation.

Posted by Brett Bellmore | May 1, 2007 3:09 PM

This shouldn't be that hard for a Republican to answer, Duh, you say either Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead:-)

For us Leftie's The Grapes of Wrath is a pretty safe choice.

Seriosuly though I think there are two different answers, I'd say the best book I ever read was The Brothers Karamozov, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was my favorite, I'm not even sure I could pick a single favorite, depends what kind of mood I'm in when asked.

Posted by Eric | May 1, 2007 3:10 PM

Hey LaFollette-

Don't be so timid! Why, If I were to run for public office, I'd insist vehemently that the fact my favorite book was "Mein Kampf" would have *absolutely no bearing* on the policies I intended to pursue.

(Note: "Mein Kampf" is not really my favorite book. I've never even read it.)

Posted by James Gary | May 1, 2007 3:12 PM

When I was in high school, I published my own science fiction zine. It was listed in a guide of zines (I can't remember what it was called, but this was before Factsheet Five was in existence, and WAY before the internet), and occasionally I would get orders for my zine from people in odd parts of the country. But mainly I gave it away to my friends. Its highest circulation was about 35.

So imagine my surprise in my senior year when a review copy of Battlefield Earth appeared in my mailbox. Never before had a publisher sent a review copy of a book to my humble zine. But here was this enormous hardcover. I was a young guy with a lot of pretty questionable tastes back then, but as even I could discern how profoundly stupid it was. Why they sent it to me, I don't know--my theory was that the publishers knew they had a turd, and decided to blanket every zine in the country for the hope of gaining a few good reviews. On the other hand, Scientology might have provided an enormous marketing budget to the publisher, and the publisher, at a loss as how to spend it all, decided to provide review copies to ever zine they could. It's still kind of a mystery to me.

It is incomprehensible that an intelligent adult would find this a good book. Seriously, if I knew absolutely nothing about Romney, this would disqualify him from being President in my mind.

Posted by RWB | May 1, 2007 3:15 PM

Personally, though, if I were running for president I'd site something obscure like Andrei Bely's objectively pro-terrorist modernist classic Petersburg

God, that book was such a pain in the ass to plow through. It's like the Russian Ulysses. I had to write a paper freshman year about (surprise surprise) symbolism in the novel. I was very close to titling it "Why the Fucking Fog is Fucking Green".

Posted by Cain | May 1, 2007 3:33 PM

I agree with Eric above that Brother's Karamazov was a great book. Other's off the top of my head are War and Peace, and Madame Bovary. I guess I sound too out of touch and aloof to be president. Wait a minute...I AM too out of touch and aloof.

I also agree that it matters when you read a book. Reading Catch-22 in high school was probably the most enjoyable.

As for Romney, I just can't believe he gave the answer he did. The guy has really been a disappointing candidate.

Posted by Jim W | May 1, 2007 3:45 PM

Isn't Laura Bush a big fan of the Brothers K?

Posted by JP | May 1, 2007 4:01 PM

No, Battlefield Earth is not an acceptable answer. Something off the wall but at least arguably decent is a semi-plausible answer, but Battlefield Earth is a truly, truly abysmal novel. It's a really astonishing answer from a Cranbrook graduate. Cranbrook has a whole bunch of author alumni who are better than BE (Ward Just, Thomas McGuane, Edmund White, Brad Leithauser).

But what should anybody answer to the question? It's easier for a Democratic candidate - they can always go for the tried and true like Huckleberry Finn or Moby Dick. Melville and Twain are just a bit too lefty (or pessimistic about America, more properly) for a Republican candidate running to the right. I'm thinking maybe something from Saul Bellow? Well-known enough, wins points with the neocons, not going to kill you with the theocons, doesn't sound insane or fake. And at least Bellow was a fairly good author (I'm personally not fond of him myself, but he did win the Nobel). Or maybe Last of the Mohicans?

If I were a politician myself, I'd probably avoid mentioning the books I actually would want to utter. Maybe East of Eden? Obviously you should pick an American author.

My personal picks would be Flaubert's Sentimental Education or Madame Bovary, or Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road, or Seymour Epstein's Leah.

Posted by burritoboy | May 1, 2007 4:30 PM

How about Invisble Man, by Ralph Ellison? It's not necessarily my very favorite book, but its up there, and I would love to vote for a candidate who said it was his/her favorite.

Posted by Sam L. | May 1, 2007 4:40 PM

For enjoyment I'd have to with A Confederacy of Dunces, all the better that the title is a pretty good description of both politicians and punditry.

Posted by michaelw | May 1, 2007 4:41 PM

"The Bulls: A Championship Season" closely followed by "The Bulls: Another Championship Season" would be a decent answer.

Posted by slh | May 1, 2007 5:27 PM

To Kill a Mockingbird will win you points with everyone.

Posted by benny | May 1, 2007 5:32 PM

He could have gone for the Oprah vote with Cormac McCarthy's "The Road". The story of a man and his boy, struggling to reach the coast in a blasted and seared post-apocalyptic wasteland while avoiding the cannabilistic tribesman/survivors of the Holocaust - its an apt metaphor for running for President.

Posted by calipygian | May 1, 2007 5:33 PM

The depressing thing is that there are almost certainly people out there whose votes will hinge on this sort of nonsense.

Posted by James | May 1, 2007 5:48 PM

RWB,

I can tell you why you received a book.

All Scientology staff member's are judged solely by whatever set of statistics has been determined to be critical to the post they hold. If a staff members "stats" are down for too long, they get to do thinks like scrub floors and wash windows. As you might expect, there is a strong incentive to do whatever is necessary to get keep job stats up.

Somebody's job stat was "number of books delivered to media outlets" So they would have scoured every mailing list known to mankind looking for any recipient they could possibly call a "media outlet."

Posted by Muddy Mo | May 1, 2007 6:09 PM

A classic cannot be obscure you miniscule minded pleb.

Posted by pimp hand strikes! | May 1, 2007 6:45 PM

"Somebody's job stat was "number of books delivered to media outlets" So they would have scoured every mailing list known to mankind looking for any recipient they could possibly call a "media outlet.""

They probably also needed a way to get rid of the copies they mass-purchase from bookstores to create the impression of genuinely brisk sales.

Posted by Jon H | May 1, 2007 6:57 PM

Petersburg? Okay, you are now officially my favorite blogger. I love that book, and no one else who isn't a Russian lit major seems to have ever heard of it.

I actually was a Russian lit major, so that's my excuse. But it's a totally great book nonetheless. Pep Pepovich Pepp uber alles!

Posted by That Fuzzy Bastard | May 1, 2007 7:12 PM

Actually I too quite enjoyed Battlefield Earth, though at the time I was too young to realize quite *how* cheesy it was. In retrospect: pulp, but some memorable ideas and images.

Posted by Andy | May 1, 2007 7:13 PM

Battlefield Earth is about the perfect choice for Mitt Romney.

And I'm bored, so:

John McCain, Shane, J. Schaefer

Rudy Giuliani, Bonfire of the Vanities, T. Wolfe

Fred Thompson, The Last Don, M. Puzo

Hillary Clinton, The Autumn of the Patriarch, G.G. Marquez

John Edwards, Glamorama, B.E. Ellis

Barack Obama, The Short Reign of Pippin IV, J. Steinbeck

These are the first american novels that sprung to mind; I'm sure there are better ones out there, and I make no claim to fairness.

Posted by jbl | May 1, 2007 9:52 PM

Marquez is Colombian, my mistake

Posted by jbl | May 1, 2007 10:11 PM

If you are a sci fi / fantasy fan then most likely you liked Battlefield Earth. I loved it.

I would be interested to know if Romney reads other Sci Fi books like RingWorld, or The Foundation series.

Is it important to his candidacy?

Not to me either way.

Posted by Rick | May 1, 2007 10:51 PM

If you are a sci fi / fantasy fan then most likely you liked Battlefield Earth.

Um, no.

Not even if you're the kind of person who admires Piers Anthony or David Eddings. Or spells "Ringworld" as two words.

Posted by Anderson | May 1, 2007 11:08 PM

I love that book, and no one else who isn't a Russian lit major seems to have ever heard of it.

It totally rules. Russian literature, 19th century French, and analytic philosophy are the subjects I actually had smart things to say about in school. I got a C or some shit in my class on US politics and public policy.

Posted by Matthew Yglesias | May 2, 2007 1:43 AM

well there goes the hardcore SF vote (ha!)

and it's cite, dammit, not site

Posted by firefalluk | May 2, 2007 2:17 AM

w00t Petersburg! I love that book. MY gets my vote.

Posted by belle waring | May 2, 2007 6:12 AM

Imagine a world berift of whining, witless libtards like Matthew Yglesias...

I mean just how boring would it be? I mean has this pathetic clown ever gotten the facts on anything?

Posted by juandos | May 2, 2007 8:00 AM

Matthew should "cite" an alternate book, not "site" one.

Posted by woodie4827 | May 2, 2007 9:27 AM

If you're citing imaginative fiction then go with Tolkien. It has no contemporary references at all, not even allegorical, and you can read into it almost any sort of politics you want, from extreme enviornmentalism to rightwing Christianism.

Posted by JonF | May 2, 2007 10:34 AM

"
Personally, though, if I were running for president I'd site something obscure like Andrei Bely's objectively pro-terrorist modernist classic Petersburg
"

Come one Matt --- you missed a perfect chance to recommend _Checkpoint_ by Nicholson Baker!
(Alternatively, I'd like to see a dem candidate say _The Plot Against America_ by Phillip Roth.)

Posted by Maynard Handley | May 2, 2007 4:16 PM

Nah . . . the perfect answer to the question for a politician is "From Here to Eternity." It takes place immediately before and then after Pearl Harbor, it features tough, military men (to appease the hawks) but they are all also the underdogs who consider their interests intrinsically opposed to the elite officer corps that uses them as servants and will (eventually) be the guys ordering them into battle. The main character, Prewitt, reminisces about the IWW and the wobblies he met while hoboing . . . so you've got the populist/labor vote right there. AND . . . when you say the title the only thing 90% of people who hear you are gonna think of is the movie version, which most have seen and many have liked.

(Actually, my favorite novel is Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum," but for a politician to cite a foreign academic's novel as his favorite . . . suicide.)

Posted by swellsman | May 2, 2007 5:25 PM

Imagine the fun they could have with my choice -- THE PROBABILITY BROACH by libertarian activist and sometimes presidential candidate L. Neil Smith. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes a favorite book is just something you've loved since high school.

And then I'd follow up with A TALE OF TWO CITIES, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD -- which I reread on a three year cycle.

Posted by Rhymes With Right | May 2, 2007 10:25 PM

How about Eco Freaks by John Berlau? Give the man some credit! He got tired of prostitution for a while so now he's writing about science.

Andrew Langer will write a book about politics some day if he can ever manage to win even a local election.

And so I will I. Of course having a name like Brooke Oberwetter is going to be a little weird on Amazon but as long as I stick to things I know all about like chain smoking and quick sex I'll be just fine.

Posted by Brooke Oberwetter | May 3, 2007 8:47 AM