Even Businesses Foist Their Bias–UPDATED

October 29, 2008 / 12:34 pm • By Dr. Melissa Clouthier

When I was in Destin a week or so ago, I stopped by the Barnes-n-Noble to pick up, hopefully, Jonah Goldberg’s book Liberal Fascism (a must read, by the way).

Here is what I saw:

To calm down from the irritating book display: a walk on the beach.

And this picture I uploaded for my own amusement. Have you ever seen a more hideous lamp? This was the lamp that was in the house we rented. There is no accounting for taste, I’ll tell you that. That thing probably cost a lot of money. It’s more than a little frightening. Don’t you find monkeys as decorative objects freaky?

All photos taken with my 3G iPhone.

UPDATED: This B&N was located in Destin, Florida. There were few conservative books at all. I found one copy of “Liberal Fascism” and one copy of John Fund’s “Stealing Elections” nestled in the Current Events section. One would think, from a business perspective, that the goal would be to cater to the clientele–which in the panhandle is predominantly conservative. But, no.

I can safely guesstimate that the ratio of liberal to conservative books was at least 3:1, probably more like 4:1. That included the table displays (where a tiny corner of the other side of the table pictured had like four obscure–not best seller–books) and the book shelves.

Cross-posted at RightWingNews

Posted in Entertain Me • Political Animals • Show Me The Money
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  • Jen

    That monkey-lamp will haunt my dreams for years to come! YIKES!

  • mer

    Did the eyes glow red and the tongue light up when you turned the lamp OFF? If not, it’s just an ugly lamp, not freaky.

  • Phil

    It’s funny you mention that, because I noticed a very similar display at our branch. You should have walked around the other side of that display table though. If yours is anything like the Barnes-N-Noble where I live, that’s where the right wing display was. Or was it a matter that you felt you had to bolt for the door before you were overcome by the left wing onslaught? One humorous thing about the display here, Michael Moore’s little guide wound up on both sides.

  • http://fuanglada.wordpress.com/ Maysman

    I ran across an incredible pic that I posted at
    http://fuanglada.wordpress.com/
    .
    Along with a political comment, of course…

  • wdnorman

    Liberal Fascism – definitely a great book! I’ve bought 5-6 copies already. Passing it out to people who sorely need to read it !

    * * * *

    At the B&N here in College Station (home of the “Conservative Texas A & M” campus we see the same kinds of displays.

    When Ann Coulter’s latest book came out I had to ask for it. The insolent clerk thought she had a copy in the back room. After 5 minutes of “hunting” she came back out of the back room with a copy but wouldn’t hand it to me. She put it on the counter and threw her disgusting look at me.

    I was so incensed I wasn’t about to buy it from B & N !

    So, I picked it up, looked at it for a few seconds and put it right back on the counter in front of the clerk. I said “ Thanks, I just wanted to see if you had it… I’ll go order it from Amazon.” And walked away.

    Did the same thing with Liberal Fascism. This time the clerk found it; on a table, face down, spine against the cabinet, surrounded by a raft of liberal tripe like you saw. All that could be seen were the cut edges of the book. On top of the stack was one of those card stands proudly proclaiming “Current Best Sellers”.

    With great angst and bitterness in her demeanor the clerk walked over and picked up the card stand, but, wouldn’t go so far as to touch the book ! I had to lean past her to pick it up. I read the title and set it back down on top of Obama’s latest.

    I thanked her kindly but promised to go to Amazon to do my buying.

  • Mr. Chuckles

    That is one funny ass lamp! You should buy it for halloween.

  • Mat

    I worked at B&N for three years. It’s not so much the higher ups that do that, but probably the workers. The full-time workers have a zone to cover (i.e. filling up books, setting up tables, etc.). If the person is super liberal (at my store probably 90% were), then that’s what you’ll see displayed. I’d bet money that this was the case here. I had the current events section for a while, and I prominently displayed conservative books… :o )

  • Glynn W.

    Most people who read books (or can read books) are liberal. The process of writing is an artistic, creative endeavor. You don’t find a lot of conservative dancers, playwrights, sculptors, musicians, or smart people.

  • FTR

    Hey, did you get a doctorate in being a cunt?
    (Was that inappropriate?)

  • Robert Arvanitis

    Dr. Clouthier:

    Who said “The best thing about freedom of speech, is it makes the fools obvious?”

    Works perfectly with Glynn W.

  • Glynn W.

    Jeeeeez!

    Might I add, “humorless” . . .

  • Mr. Chuckles

    Hey look everyone, McCain just posted to the doc as “FTR”.
    Poor Cindy thought she was the only one (and yes, it’s totally inappropriate, even by my liberal ass standards…).

    Things are getting fugly around here.

    P.S.
    I want that fu**ing monkey!

  • http://www.rpgohmy.blogspot.com John F Not Kerry

    Laura Ingraham noticed this phenomenon several years ago, and listeners would call in with their tales of “bookstore vigilantism”, putting conservative books back in plain sight where they belong.

    And Glynn, it is nice that you can see yourself as humorless. It’s the first step.

  • Trish

    If you think this is bad, check out the displays at my local library. (Pun intentional.)

  • Robert Arvanitis

    Trish:

    At least the booksellers only waste shareholders’ money.

    The libraries are far worse, feeding at the public trough.