Death Toll Revised Down to 24 After Monstrous Oklahoma Tornado…100+ Injured…Children Among the Dead…Stunning Pictures…Woman Finds Dog During Interview!

WATCH on TheBlaze TV: Latest Updates on Tornado Aftermath, Including Updates From Glenn Beck in Oklahoma

Business

Did Amazon Purposefully Ban a Conservative Fox News Personality’s Book?

Jan. 16, 2013 2:15pm Billy Hallowell

See the updates at the bottom of this story.

Fox News commentator and journalist Todd Starnes is well-known for providing news and views of the day. His book, “Dispatches From Bitter America,” merges commentary and relevant cultural stories to create a pertinent assessment of the current sociopolitical scenario in America (TheBlaze profiled the conservative book last year). On Wednesday, Starnes announced that Amazon, a popular Internet sales outlet, has banned sales of the paperback version of the book, claiming that the literary work is “under review.”

Following news of this development — a curious one considering that the book has been on sale now for more than a year — TheBlaze spoke with Frank Breeden, Starnes’ literary agent at Premiere Authors, to better understand the situation at hand.

While the book deals with controversial issues related to politics, culture and faith — all familiar themes to most Americans, contention and debate is par for the course these days. So what, exactly, is at the heart of Amazon’s alleged decision to pull the book from its virtual shelves (we say “alleged” because we are not yet sure that this move was intentional)?

On the book’s sales page, a message from the company reads, “While this item is available from other marketplace sellers on this page, it is not currently offered by Amazon.com because customers have told us there may be something wrong with our inventory of the item, the way we are shipping it, or the way it’s described here. (Thanks for the tip!). We’re working to fix the problem as quickly as possible.”

Did Amazon Purposefully Ban Todd Starnes Dispatches From Bitter America Book?

A screen shot from the Amazon sales page for Starnes’ book (the warning is inside the yellow box in the middle of the page)

Breeden told TheBlaze that Starnes is a hands-on author and that he regularly monitors reader comments. As a result of this engagement, he discovered that the book was removed a few days ago from Amazon’s official sales roster (while the book is not being made available by the company’s warehouses, a Kindle version is available listed and used copies can be published from third parties). The literary agent made it clear that being removed from the seller in such a manner is “a major hit for any title — especially one that comes from a major publisher and has been out for a year.”

“I have reached out to the publisher and Todd has reached out both as an author — and he’s also reached out to Amazon.com as a news organization and requested a response,” Breeden said, going on to claim that neither he nor Starnes have heard back yet. “We are very furious and we are very concerned.”

He said that removing a book that has been on shelves for so long could send a negative message to brick and mortar booksellers — businesses that traditionally watch Amazon book listings closely. Breeden’s fear is that these companies will take a market cue from Amazon and subsequently decrease availability of “Dispatches From Bitter America.”

Photo Credit: Todd Starnes

When asked if he has seen other authors he represents face similar scenarios, the agent said that this is a first for him. Noting that he has been working in his current capacity within the literary world for the past decade, Breeden said he has never experienced anything quite like this.

“It doesn’t mean that it hasn’t happened, but I haven’t seen it,” he added.

It appears Starnes has been petitioning Amazon for a while now to deal with another issue that has emerged on his book’s sales page. Negative comments (not reviews) have been incessantly posted in what Breeden calls “Amazon bomb campaigns,” apparent efforts to disparage conservative voices.

“In this particular case, there are these Amazon bomb campaigns that occur — and it happens a lot with conservative authors whenever they raise the ire of opposition,” the agent explained.

Starnes’ Fox News web site acknowledged this issue in an article that was published this morning. It read, “The book, which examines President Obama’s attacks on religious liberty and the culture, came under intense attack from liberals who posted phony reviews of the book on Amazon. The company declined requests from B&H Publishing Group to remove the fake postings.”

Silencing a conservative voice, aesthetic problems with the copies that Amazon had on — or simply an unintended error on behalf of Amazon? The jury is still out, but Starnes and his team are diligently trying to get to the bottom of why the company removed the paperback version of the book.

Update II: Amazon has responded to TheBlaze’s inquiry about the reason for removing Starne’s book. Publicist Sarah Gelman wrote, “‘Dispatches from Bitter America’ was temporarily unavailable in print format from Amazon.com. As it said on the book’s detail page, this was because customers told us there may be something wrong with our inventory of the item, the way we are shipping it, or the way it’s described on the book’s detail page. During this short period of unavailability, the book continued to be available from 3rd party sellers and in Kindle format. The book is currently available in all formats.”

Update: According to the Amazon sales page, Starnes’ paperback book is, once again, on sale (as of 2:40 p.m. ET).

–

Related:

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (60)

honeydijon13
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 6:56pm
There is no attack on religion.
What moron would buy this book anyhow?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Chuck Stein
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 12:57pm
  “There is no attack on religion.”
  Reminds me of: “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for”
  
  Report this comment
- thecoldfire
  Posted on January 20, 2013 at 1:39am
  I have a hard time believing that the folks at amazon.com are going through the millions of titles they have and seeking some sort of revenge against the conservative movement. This site has more conservative and religious materials available for order then you could read in you and your children’s lifetimes. I’m all about supporting the cause but frankly this is retarded. Conservatives like this are the reason why we lose elections!
  
  Report this comment
Zeke48
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:55pm
That’s it for Amazon, won’t be using there services anymore. These jack ass never learn until you hit them in the pocket book.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Midwest Blonde
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 8:39pm
  Buy one last book on Amazon please – spelling and grammar.
  
  AND Please learn the difference between their, and there and they’re. They do NOT mean the same things. (you used there when you should have used their)
- Dano.50
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 11:21pm
  Oooooooh Midwest Blonde
  
  “Buy one last book on Amazon please – spelling and grammar.
  
  AND Please learn the difference between their, and there and they’re. They do NOT mean the same things. (you used there when you should have used their)”
  
  Y’all better pick up the same book as it probably contains a chapter on punctuation.
  
  AND…
  
  Isn’t it grammatically incorrect to start a sentence with “And?”
  
  “And” maybe pick up one on old sayings while you’re at it.
  
  Unless you just google “Pot calling the kettle black.”
  
  Report this comment
termyt
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:39pm
much ado about nothing. Not everything is an anti-conservative conspiracy. Especially when other, more conservative, writings still are available and this book never left the Kindle format store.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Big Media Bias
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 7:16am
  Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos spent millions in Washington State to promote gay marriage. He is a left wing nut. He promotes left wing nut hiring practices. His staff are left wing nuts. You will not find one single Conservative anywhere in his upper management… except warehouse distribution.
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 10:31am
  As much as I dislike the left and all they stand for I would have to agree that this is a tempest in a teapot. I have been able to find just about any book on Amazon from far far right to far far left. Aside from being a far left jerk the CEO of Amazon apparently is a good old fashion capitalist….
  
  Report this comment
battles
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:07pm
This falls right into a comment I made about Obama’s using the school murders to go after law abiding gun owners:
Gun registration -> gun confiscation -> totalitarian state -> genocide upon any perceived opposition.
The socialist minded Amazon is an example of the state of our government, and without the armed citizen, we would be at the genocide step.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Dede13
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:51pm
I hope this is not true of Amazon…I spend thousands shopping there…almost exclusively except food and clothing…I have been a loyal customer since they opened as a bookseller in Seattle. I will drop them like a hot potato if this is found to be the case. All we have is our shopping power to show our disdain…since we have no more representation in DC.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- behonest
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 7:12pm
  just google it I dropped them last Oct along with Costco,Yahoo
  
  Report this comment
- morpherson
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 8:40am
  I would be sceptical that Amazon would do this for the implied reason. I do believe that it is possible that a bunch of liberal idiots would order the book and return it as damaged…if that happens enough, then Amazon will review their inventory. If this was an issue about content, they would have pulled the Kindle version also. I’ve seen shippipng issues happen with other products and this is pretty much standard proceedure. I think the author probably knows this but would like the buzz about his book. With that said, any book that gets liberals in such a tizzy is worth checking out.
  
  Report this comment
PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:51pm
Yeah, they’ll put books on about the life of child perverts but not this – their filtering process surely doesn’t seem in America’s best interest.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Southernsoul
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:03pm
Doesn’t matter. Amazon is a private company and can sell, or not sell any items they choose.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Winedude
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 8:01pm
  AMEN! My thoughts on the matter, exactly…
  
  Report this comment
Kupo
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:41pm
Bet all you conspiracy theorists are feeling really stupid right about now.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Locked
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:35pm
“Did Amazon Purposefully Ban a Conservative Fox News Personality’s Book?”

As it is with most articles here with a question as the title, the answer is usually “No… but let’s make this controversial.”

Nothing to see, and no actual issue here. And as of right now, the book is available again.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bub47
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:15pm
Amazon has it for sale now… http://www.amazon.com/Dispatches-Bitter-America-Chicken-Baptists/dp/1433672758/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358367247&sr=1-1&keywords=dispatches+from+bitter+america

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JimMadsen
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:03pm
I spend a pretty large chunk of my disposable shopping income on amazon. I have a membership which gets me free 2 day shipping. I laugh gleefully when they send me a bar of soap 2nd day air at their cost. I get diapers, wipes, car parts, books and other crap from them.

And I hate what they do with their profit! I hate how liberal they are. I wish their was a alternative to amazon, but it is like walmart. It really is the best place to shop sometimes, because they have literally everything.

I do want to say though that I have seen similar amazon actions on other books that have no right or left leanings (one was a sci-fi book) because their stock was damaged and people complained. So they put a temp freeze on the item to sort it out.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- jman-6
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:41pm
  So saving a few bucks trumps doing the right thing? Incredible!
  
  Report this comment
dsd13130
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:55pm
Just went to Amazon & it says the book is in stock. If & when I find that a company is censoring what I can buy, that will be the end of my business with them.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bobby D
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:52pm
I just kicked ObaZom to he curb for this and other reasons. So, too, have 9 others I know. It is what it is.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
adimeroll
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:52pm
I hope they come with a good reason for violating the first amendment an am thankful that at least the lame street media has not tried the tactic of not telling us the truth on vital issues…….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ThirtyEightWinks
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:30pm
  Amazon is not subject to the first amendment. They are not (yet) part of the government. If they don’t want to sell something, they shouldn’t have to.
  
  If you therefore choose to avoid buying from them, that is their problem.
  
  Report this comment
hauschild
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:47pm
Brown Shirts at highest levels of corporate America.

Instead of letting the market determine what sells, the Brown Shirts decide; which ultimately affects stock price if the decisions suck.

So, I would then ask that knowing – at this point in time – that earning a profit for a corporation’s shareholders is NO LONGER the primary mission of a corporation, then who in their right mind can invest their life savings in the stocks of these firms??? And, who does this affect? The small investor with their life savings tucked away in their retirement accounts. The schlubs that run these corporations get their golden parachutes, so they couldn’t give a rat’s ass what happens – just like politicians, teachers and all the others with their taxpayer-funded retirements.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:00pm
  TheBlaze needs to take a reading comprehension course and is needless causing an emotional reaction.
  
  Someone complained that either the the copy of the book they bought was damaged or they got the wrong book. It’s likely that the book’s location and where the computers think they are don’t match. Or maybe whoever opened the carton sliced through a few covers with their box opener.
  
  I just heard Glenn Beck on his radio show complaining about American’s distrust of institutions. Why is he complaining when he tells his listeners to distrust institutions for the overwhelming majority of his broadcasts?
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:41pm
  BARYMETHELIZABETH, Of course nothing like a similar mistake happens at HuffPo or any of the liberal blogs, now do they? Had you paid any attention to the posts here you could have easily seen that many here take Glenn’s advice and do their own homework.
  By the way, how’s that diet working out for you?
  
  Report this comment
- hauschild
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:22pm
  My point could easily be directed towards Bank of America and others. It’s frightening how the progressive (Brown Shirt) mindset has seeped into every corner of American life from business to churches, doing all the dirty work for mein fuhrer.
  
  Report this comment
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:48pm
  Rjjinggadsen.
  I’m at 450lbs now. And that case a beer you owe me when I hit 500 better not be Meister Brau, the fascist’s favorite.
  
  And don’t you be getting any ideas about getting lucky either.
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:43pm
I just bought one.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
yougottabekidding
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:37pm
People that have the bully pulpit do their best to keep the low info
voters low info.
If low info voters get informed, liberals lose

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MN Nancy
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:32pm
Yesterday I decided to buy a Kindle Fire HD rather than an IPad Mini. Today that decision is “under review”.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Red Meat
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:40pm
  Did I just hear Beck Inc. take a plunge? Yes, yes I think I did.
  
  Report this comment
- yougottabekidding
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:54pm
  The biggest thing that sets liberals apart from conservatives is, liberals hate the truth!
  
  Report this comment
- Gorp
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:55pm
  I just looked on Amazon’s site and the book is up there.
  
  MN Nancy, I have the Kindle Fire but not the HD version and like it a lot. I got it when they first came out.
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:02pm
  I also like the Kindle a lot .. and do a lot of business with Amazon .. really don’t want to tick me off do you?
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:10pm
  Do you all know your money with Amazon is going to advance gay marriage? The Blaze ran this story….
  
  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/07/27/amazon-ceo-pledges-2-5m-to-defend-gay-marriage/
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:20pm
  @Copatriots
  
  “Do you all know your money with Amazon is going to advance gay marriage? The Blaze ran this story….”
  
  … you do realize that that story says it’s the founder of Amazon, not the company itself, who donated the money? A private citizen, not the company itself (unlike, say, Chik-fil-a, which actually gave company money to the groups they supported).
  
  Report this comment
- jhrusky
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:30pm
  @ locked
  
  “… you do realize that that story says it’s the founder of Amazon, not the company itself, who donated the money? A private citizen, not the company itself (unlike, say, Chik-fil-a, which actually gave company money to the groups they supported).”
  
  I was under the impression that the Chik-fil-a deal was the CEO giving PERSONAL money to groups, not corporate money.
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:01pm
  @ LOCKED
  
  I know you are smarter than this post portrays. You do realize in supporting Amazon it indeed provides money to Jeff Bezos, right?
  
  It’s a principle thing. I no longer shop with Amazon. And I do Eat Mor Chikin.
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:10pm
  Also, LOCKED, JRHUSKY is correct.
  
  But, you should also know Chick-Fil-A is a privately held company (Amazon is publicly traded). Even if Mr. Cathy directed corporate money for his cause, contributions from a private company is as much their right to do with it as they please as it would coming from an individual. Amazon had no such right being publicly held. Which is likely why, Mr. Bezos made his donation individually. Notwithstanding, your point is irrelevant. Mr. Bezos wealth derives from American consumers buying from Amazon. Supporting Amazon filters through to supporting gay marriage as I originally inferred.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:57am
  @JHrusky
  
  “I was under the impression that the Chik-fil-a deal was the CEO giving PERSONAL money to groups, not corporate money.”
  
  Dan Cathy also gave personal money, but Chik-fil-A itself donated millions to their specific charity, which in turn supported the causes that got liberals so uppity.
  
  @Copatriots
  
  “You do realize in supporting Amazon it indeed provides money to Jeff Bezos, right? ”
  
  This is like saying you’ll no longer shop at Chik-fil-A because some of their employees might have voted for Obama. You’re holding a company responsible for the actions of a person working for that company?
  
  “Even if Mr. Cathy directed corporate money for his cause, contributions from a private company is as much their right to do with it as they please as it would coming from an individual. Amazon had no such right being publicly held.”
  
  And Amazon didn’t do so, so why are you in a tizzy? The article you linked specifically says the CEO donated money; not the company itself. I never said that Chik-fil-A couldn’t donate to whomever they wanted; I said that their company did so (fact) as did their president; whereas Amazon has not (fact) but their CEO has.
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on January 23, 2013 at 9:47pm
  @ LOCKED
  
  Ridiculous analogy comparing “some employees voting for Obama” at Chick-Fil-A to the founding family, CEO. Not the same at all. The founding family is far more representative of the company than a few random employees. Likewise, for Amazon. Bezos could not give Amazon money given it’s public status but he represents Amazon, nonetheless. Once again, I will continue to support conservative oriented companies as much as possible. You are the steward of your money and can support gay marriage CEO’s all you want.
  
  Report this comment
filbert
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:32pm
The paperback is for sale once more at Amazon, at least on my browser. I’ll be interested in hearing the reason for the “outage” from Amazon.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DJEyeDub
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:32pm
The left owns the majority of NGO’s and special interest groups that are raising war on conservative values. This is only getting worse as the list of leftist NGO’s grows like an invasive plant killing all the natural plants round them. The funding for these groups is done in subversive ways – getting regular people (and leftist billionaires) to donate to “good causes” and redistribute those funds to radicals. The end game is coming and either conservatives will roll over or they will beat the odds as we know the odds are against us.

This is subversive tactics that most people do not even know is happening.

Not to worry though good will always triumph but the cost will be huge.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Margyt
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:31pm
Some people are going to incredible effort to silence the conservative voice. Instead, they may waken the sleeping giant. Starnes book must be relevant to warrant this level of attack.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
beekeeper
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:27pm
Shocking – LIberals posting false reviews in an effort to silence opponents?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DeVain
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:26pm
“Amazon bomb campaigns” ….I hate it when liberals do that…”review” something the obviously didn’t read so they can give one star and bring the rating down.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:10pm
  How do you feel about a theblaze bombing campaign where they slander and lie, like this story here?
  
  If they were interested in the true this story would never have been posted and would now be removed.
  
  Report this comment
jakartaman
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:26pm
We are getting very close to a revolution.
These progressive secular socialists are humping hard.
Will Patriots have the ****** to stop the decline (before our guns are confiscated)
I am Ready!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:58pm
  I would not have heard you talk like this 2 years ago. It is disquieting. I have been told that any city is 3 days from total chaos. The left did not get that memo. They don;t worry about reliable energy supplies & all the other mundane takes that keep society functioning.
  
  All those lib____s who eschew evil rifles will wish they have one.
  
  Report this comment
copatriots
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:21pm
Conservatives should not still be using Amazon. Sadly, too many still do. We never learn.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- PAlibertybelle
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:31pm
  I guess it’s time for me to go out to buy the book.
  
  Report this comment
- Berfie
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:31pm
  Is there an alternative similar to Amazon for Conservative? Why can’t conservative start producing their own outlet for us?
  
  Report this comment
- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:33pm
  The ‘reporting’ of a problem with availability could be accurate, or it could be an alinsky tactic using your tax dollars funded to soros/obama groups. Too soon to tell. keeping an eye on it.
  
  Report this comment
- copatriots
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:48pm
  I buy through Mardel’s or Lifeway whenever possible. Or…..use your local library. Use money is already going to support them.
  
  Your money with Amazon is going to support gay marriage…..
  
  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/28/usa-gaymarriage-bezos-idUSL2E8IREJ220120728
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.