Conservatize Me: How I Tried to Become a Righty with the Help of Richard Nixon, Ann Coulter, Toby Keith, and Beef Jerky
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We always hear how everyone in America is firmly planted in red or blue. They're permanently conservative or irreversibly liberal. But are we all really that locked in to the left or the right? Is America still a place where it's possible to change someone's mind and get them to cross over to the other side of the ideological fence? Is it possible to do that to yourself? For John Moe, it simply wasn't enough to just read the Wall Street Journal editorial page a little more often or buy a framed picture of Barry Goldwater. He went in all the way, drinking deep from all aspects of the conservative universe to see if he could become that which he encountered. Raised in a family of proud left-wingers (except for his late father, whose fondness for Nixon he is forced to confront) and living in deeply liberal Seattle most of his life, Moe set out to determine if what we believe is based on environment or actual conviction. Was there actually a conservative trapped inside him all along, just yearning to be set free? Moe puts himself on a strict conservative regimen: He resets his radio dials from NPR to Rush Limbaugh, goes head-to-head with some of today's most influential conservative thinkers for a series of "conversion sessions," makes pilgrimages to the Ronald Reagan and Richard M. Nixon museums, spends the Fourth of July in the most Bush-friendly county in the country, attempts to set his inner Charlton Heston loose at a gun range, flies cross-country to be nearer to Toby Keith, and test-drives the type of massive gas-guzzling SUV so feared and loathed by liberals (and becomes uncomfortably fond of it). Through it all he tries to maintain positivestanding with his lefty wife and young but already liberal kids, including their four-year-old son, who joins the Sierra Club. These are but a few of the adventures chronicled in Moe's hilarious and timely first book. Conservatize Me will strike a powerful chord with millions of disgruntled Americans ready for a fresh, humorous, and highly entertaining look at our country's political landscape. Moe's sharply observed prose will have enormous appeal for anyone interested in a new perspective on debates that have, for years, preoccupied our country and dominated our bestseller lists. Will Moe end up getting a Dick Cheney tattoo and swearing loyalty to the Christian Coalition? Will he get a Dennis Kucinich tattoo and dedicate his life to cooking vegan food at protest rallies? Read Conservatize Me and find out. Publishers Weekly Inspired by Matt Spurlock's Supersize Me, Moe submerges himself in the conservative Republican culture for 30 days to see if he will be converted into a snarky, dominating hatemonger, speaking out against wimpy liberal pacifists and "the gay." He does this by meeting with such icons of conservatism as the National Review's editor Rich Lowry and male-escort-turned-White-House-reporter Jeff Gannon, and visiting geographic destinations symbolic of Republican conservatism. With his Wal-Mart wardrobe and iPod filled with right-wing musicians, Moe spends some quality time with the other side. Unsurprisingly, his results lead him down the middle road to understanding the system and desires of both sides. Moe, a radio personality, reads with evident delight. His execution of sarcasm and irony cannot be understated, particularly when his concept of reality is challenged by extremely inaccurate, misguided or asinine statements, as during his interview with Gannon. His vocal characterization of his young son invokes awe, wonder, determinism and warmth. His most endearing moments come when he interacts with his child. Listeners will delight in Moe's sincerity, comedic delivery and overall performance. Simultaneous release with the HarperCollins hardcover (reviewed online). (Oct.)Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
