Simon & Schuster has said it will not pull out of a seven-figure book deal with Mike Pence after some of its employees called for the contract to be scrapped, stating that “we come to work each day to publish, not cancel”.
An open letter circulated by staff at S&S said that the publisher had “chosen complicity in perpetuating white supremacy by publishing Pence”, in a two-book deal struck earlier this month and reported to be worth $3-4m (£2.1-2.8m). The letter, which did not reveal how many members of staff had signed, said that the former vice-president had “made a career out of discriminating against marginalised groups and denying resources to BIPOC and LGBTQA+ communities”, and demanded his book deal be cancelled.
I think you're right - the book is likely going to be pages of policy justifications, fictional accomplishments and patting himself on the back for helping Trump defeat everything from ISIS to Covid.The book will likely be a personal admiration of Trump in Pence's milquetoast style.
Basically Mike needs a few bucks.
Don't expect any book reviews suggesting the riveting tales will keep you awake at night unable to put it down.
And probably trying to not mention the whole "cure the gays" thing in Indiana, or worse, trying to say it's an accomplishment.I think you're right - the book is likely going to be pages of policy justifications, fictional accomplishments and patting himself on the back for helping Trump defeat everything from ISIS to Covid.
It won't be a page-turner.
"we come to work each day to publish, not cancel”.I'm curious as to how people feel about this. Simon & Schuster has pushed back against employees who want Pence's book deal cancelled. I'm with the publisher on this one.
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Pence was the Vice President of the United States during one of the most contentious administrations in history. Of course he should be "allowed" to publish his memoirs, despite his religious views.Pence wants businesses free to refuse to serve gay people. There's a lot better case for a business refusing to serve him. He's not censored - he can post on the internet. Should they have any standards for who they publish?
Dang!I'm curious as to how people feel about this. Simon & Schuster has pushed back against employees who want Pence's book deal cancelled. I'm with the publisher on this one.
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The employees need to go back to work, or find a job that fits their political agenda. If enough people want to read Pence's book it will be a success, if not it will fail, that is for S&S to decide. I probably won't buy it.I'm curious as to how people feel about this. Simon & Schuster has pushed back against employees who want Pence's book deal cancelled. I'm with the publisher on this one.
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At the end of the day we are talking about a publishing company going up against a group of their own staff.
The publisher is free to publish this book, and their staff is free to work elsewhere. Conversely the publisher is also free to concede to their staff, and Pence is free to take the book to another publisher.
Unsure why this is even newsworthy, but this is the sort of shit that modern politics brings to the table. Economic litmus tests.
Its noteworthy because a number of employees of a publishing company had an objection to publishing.
So... they are free to voice that opinion.
Freedom is a wonderful thing.I'm curious as to how people feel about this. Simon & Schuster has pushed back against employees who want Pence's book deal cancelled. I'm with the publisher on this one.
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What I don't understand is why hasn't Pence been investigated by the authorities? Just given the fact that he was associated with Trump in the first place makes him suspect. Will there come a time when the awakened population of America will assert their right to contest his citizenship? Okay, that is a bit much I admit. But we have to establish limits, don't we? It seems that we must now begin to think in real terms about just how much influence men of the Christian patriarchy are allowed to have in modern society. He is part of a Christian cult plain and simple. The whole Sky Daddy thing is just crazy.I'm curious as to how people feel about this. Simon & Schuster has pushed back against employees who want Pence's book deal cancelled. I'm with the publisher on this one.
The problem here is that there really are right views and their really are wrong views. It is a 'privileged' view -- Mary are you white? I think the question is fair in this context -- that we can afford to let these wrong ideas circulate. And you can bet the book will be filled with wrongview.Standards? How about the standard of tolerance for views other than your own?
Guilt by association is the practice of totalitarian regimes.What I don't understand is why hasn't Pence been investigated by the authorities? Just given the fact that he was associated with Trump in the first place makes him suspect. Will there come a time when the awakened population of America will assert their right to contest his citizenship?
Employees don't own the company, technically or in any other sense. Simon & Shuster is owned by a publicly traded company (Viacom CBS) and as such is owned by its investors.OrphanSlug said something really truthful -- (I commend you brother for so many of your trenchant comments!) -- the employees have a right to their opinion. But I'd go further and encourage you not to be so timid. The employees make the book publisher possible and if we were really honest we'd acknowledge that, technically, they *own* the company. And if they have struggled to arrive at the right and correct political and social position I cannot understand why the publisher -- the privelaged ownership I will add -- should not be forced to also see the light, the light so obvious to anyone.
Well said.Freedom is a wonderful thing.
1. Pence is free to write a book
2. The publisher is free to publish the book
3. The employees are free to complain about publishing the book
4. I'm free to not give a shit.
I want to know how the book will be held together without a spine.
I don't know where you are coming from with this. You seem to be covering for Pence. I say that Pence is guilty, guilty of running defense for one of history's more vile creatures.Guilt by association is the practice of totalitarian regimes.
Freedom is a wonderful thing.
1. Pence is free to write a book
2. The publisher is free to publish the book
3. The employees are free to complain about publishing the book
4. I'm free to not give a shit.
I don't like Pence one bit, but you haven't listed even one crime he's supposed to have committed.I don't know where you are coming from with this. You seem to be covering for Pence. I say that Pence is guilty, guilty of running defense for one of history's more vile creatures.
Again, guilt by association.T***** (I refuse to write his name) defended the Nazis in Charlottesville. Pence defended Trump. Now tell me again about totalitarian regimes.
I'm on the side of Simon & Shuster's position on publishing the book.What side are you on Allen? This is a time for choosing sides, not defending questionable public figures.
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Did or did not T***** commit a literal crime when he said "good people on both sides'"?I don't like Pence one bit, but you haven't listed even one crime he's supposed to have committed.
I will respect your opinion if you can demonstrate that your opinion can be changed when confronted with truth.I'm on the side of Simon & Shuster's position on publishing the book.
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