Great Liberal Backlash of 2003 - Definition

The "Great Liberal Backlash of 2003" is a political slogan coined by Molly Ivins to describe the 2003 opposition to conservatives; particularly, President Bush. She describes the backlash as, "the half-dozen or so writers now schlepping around the country promoting books that do not speak kindly of Our Leader's record." Ivins adds, "Beware the anger of the legions...left too long...without enough help; of the unemployed; of the uninsured; of those who...lost...the right to organize. Beware the anger of those...who see the big rich take their money...the anger of those who are shunted aside.”" [1] (http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1475)

The core authors who have come out with books in 2003 as part of this backlash include:

• Eric Alterman - author of What Liberal Media?: The Truth About Bias and the News (ISBN 0465001769)
• Joe Conason - author of Big Lies (ISBN 0312315600)
• Al Franken - author of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right (ISBN 0525947647)
• Jim Hightower - author of Thieves in High Places (ISBN 0670031410)
• Molly Ivins - co-writer with Lou Dubose of Bushwhacked (ISBN 0375507523)
• Michael Moore - author of Dude, Where's My Country? (ISBN 0446532231)

These authors were seen as a counter to the popular U.S. conservative voices in books, radio and television. Authors from the conservative end of the spectrum who battle for spots on the bestseller list include:

• Ann Coulter - author of Slander (ISBN 1400049520) and Treason (ISBN 1400050308)
• Sean Hannity - author of Let Freedom Ring (ISBN 0060514558)
• Bill O'Reilly - author of Who's Looking Out For You? (ISBN 0767913795)
• Michael Savage - author of The Savage Nation (ISBN 0785263535)

Impact

As a result, the emergence of liberal voices in the book market resulted in the establishment Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank; Air America Radio anchored by Al Franken; and organizations such as Media Matters for America and MoveOn.org.