Cutting out the lights on the lies

In a rare moment of honesty and candor, Jerome Corsi copped to his true aspiration for his latest best-selling book, "The Obama Nation," in an interview with the New York Times.

"The goal is to defeat Obama. I don’t want Obama to be in office,” Corsi said.

Corsi is certainly doing his part to make it happen, picking up where he left off after his book "Unfit for Command" helped to sink Senator John Kerry's campaign during the 2004 election. "Obama Nation" is poised make its first appearance on The New York Times best-seller list for nonfiction hardcovers this Sunday — at No. 1.

But calling Corsi's latest release "nonfiction" might be a serious stretch. Here's how The Times describes the book: "(Corsi paints Obama) as a stealth radical liberal who has tried to cover up 'extensive connections to Islam' — Mr. Obama is Christian — and questioning whether his admitted experimentation with drugs in high school and college ever ceased."

According to Media Matters, Corsi cites conservative bloggers, right-wing Web sites, discredited news stories and outright lies and distortions to cobble together "Obama Nation."

This sounds a lot like "truthiness" to me. Or something worse.

But, in an ironic and appropriate twist, John Kerry is leading the counterpunch effort against Corsi and his slimy ilk, proving - once again - that it's never too late to make things right.

Despite the early sales for "Obama Nation," I have faith that Americans won't be suckered again by an unrepentant liar like Corsi. I really need to believe this. And I'm willing to help where I can because as my mother once told me, the truth is the light and the only thing that endures.

UPDATE: Obama's campaign issues a 40-page response to Corsi's best-seller. And not to moment too soon.