Stephen Colbert does an excellent job of explaining to us why the right wing yammerers have clutched on a segment of Jodi Kantor's new book, The Obamas, to insinuate that our First Family is a satanic bunch of big spenders using taxpayer funds to entertain kids.

The whole story is much ado about nothing. Even Kantor doesn't say it was secret, acknowledging that pool reporters were invited to cover it. I was able to easily find reports about it, since yes, there were photos posted on Flickr, video on the White House website, and numerous reports about it at the time. As Steve Benen notes, it's a bit of a stretch to understand how this translates into a secret.

But as long as we're on the subject of Kantor's book, here's a brief review. I'm about halfway through it now. It's more of a compilation of other people's impressions than it is an account of the White House and the Obama family's time there. She's sourced everything, but the problem is that the sources are still second-hand. She interviewed staffers and former staffers, as well as friends and others surrounding the President, but tells a story through others' lenses rather than from her own perspective. As such, it tends to magnify relatively minor events while glossing over others which are more consequential. Overall, I'd suggest waiting for the first-person accounts.

With that said, Ilyse Hogue has a different take on the book and its value.

For a President that has been criticized for holding the public at arm's length, the portrayal of him in the book can add texture to his humanity as a time voters are looking to reconnect to their incumbent president. And while pundits speak of a potential enthusiasm gap among women voters, the story of the First Lady's influence over her devoted husband's agenda can help give confidence to a coveted demographic that can secure margins of victory in tight races.

As for the right-wing frenzy over the 2009 Halloween party, I'd say Colbert sums it up best.

Still think handgun insurance is a bad idea? Suppose this Georgia woman had been shot. This is exactly the kind of crazy stuff for which actual victims should be able to sue. Some critics have pointed out that you can already file a claim against someone's homeowner's insurance -- but not everyone owns a home. If this handgun owner knew his mandatory insurance premiums would go up dramatically if his grandkids got hold of his gun, he might have been a little more careful. Right, grandpa?

A 10-year-old Aiken trick-or-treater pulled a gun on a woman who said she would take his candy on Halloween.
According to a police incident report, the 28-year-old victim told authorities she recognized some boys from her neighborhood while they were trick-or-treating about 6:30 p.m. Monday near Schroeder and George streets and jokingly told them she would take their candy.

One 10-year-old in the group of about 10 juveniles responded with “no you’re not …” and then pointed a 9 mm handgun at her.
According to Aiken Public Safety Lt. David Turno, the clip was not in the gun at the time, but the boy did have a loaded clip in his possession.
The boy’s brother, also 10, told authorities he also had a gun. The second weapon was recovered Tuesday morning.

I've always been adamant about letting kids wander in a house with guns. My father-in-law kept a loaded handgun in his bedside table, and refused to take the bullets out while we were visiting. That's why my kids were never allowed to stay overnight with their grandparents. (I was "overreacting," my mother-in-law told me. "Better safe than sorry," I told her.)

This post is written as part of the Media Matters Gun Facts fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship is to further Media Matters’ mission to comprehensively monitor, analyze, and correct conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Some of the worst misinformation occurs around the issue of guns, gun violence, and extremism, the fellowship program is designed to fight this misinformation with facts.

from Gary McCoy.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Crooks and Liars.

Open thread below...

Billy Mays comes back just in time for Halloween...

Open thread below...

It's true, you are dumb, Halloween book burners.

CJSD: Top Ten Reasons We Should Reject Our Nobel Peace Prize

Skippy: Self-Described Troublemaker Whines because People think he's a Troublemaker

PourMeCoffee: Michael Steele Accuses Democrats of Treason, in Writing, and No One Even Blinks Anymore

Ben Varkentine: Looking for something serious to read this weekend?

Guest posted by Blue Gal.

Target Stores has an idea for you: How about being an "Illegal Alien"?

That's right, complete with Area 51 alien rubber mask orange prison jumpsuit emblazoned with the words "Illegal Alien" and your very own green card, you can show your neighbors your grasp on the issues of the day and get candy too!

As one of the reviews for the costume reads:

The costume is a sick sign of the times we are living in this country where those who are not "people like us" might as well be from another planet and are considered less than human. I am surprised Target would promote such a mentality.

Stay classy, Target.

Here's a scary Halloween thought:

President Palin

Aiiieee!!! Run and vote! Run and vote!

SITE NOTE: (Nicole) This Saturday, at 12:00 noon Pacific/3:00 pm Eastern, we will host a live chat with filmmaker Stefan Forbes about his documentary, Boogie Man, chronicling the life of Lee Atwater. And if you don't think Atwater-esque ghosts are not haunting this campaign, you don't know Lee Atwater.

Happy Halloween from everyone here at C&L. Be sure to visit:

The classic Annual Pumpkin Post at Les Enrages.

Headzup's Halloween YouTube Offering.

And Darkblack reminds us too late to have a "safe, mature Halloween."

SteveAudio here again with some tunes to begin your week:

Jesus is Just Alright With Me. . . It seems that Christianity is dead. Or maybe Right-wing Fundamentalism. Or is it the hammer lock the latter has had on the Republican Party for so many years. And by the way, aren't Christians supposed to be good stewards, instead of blowing everything up and killing people?

I remember you, you're the one that made my dreams come true. . . The current Right-wing position vis-a-vis the crop of Presidential wannabees is that they need another Reagan. Because he was so, you know, big and tough and strong and the Daddy some of them never had.

Lies, lies, I can't believe a word you say; Lies, lies, I'm gonna make you sad someday. . . Rudy Giuliani seems desperate, pathological, and mean. Traits suitable for a mob enforcer, or Blackwater mercenary, but for President? Eh, not so much.

Just runnin scared each place we go, So afraid that he might show. . . As a special Halloween treat, some tool at the RNC came up with a "Scariest Democrat" contest. Now there's a good use of html coding talent. Too bad they left the correct answer off the list.

That music you hear means we're playing our break song. If we didn't get to your favorite, we'll try tomorrow. Send any bloggy tips to steveaudio at earthlink dot net, with Blog Round Up as the title.

So long, we're here all week, and try the shrimp, it's great.

Happy Halloween!

Skimpy Halloween Costumes Scary for Parents

Are Halloween costumes becoming more strip club than storybook?
Some say the holiday is becoming scarier thanks to costumes with less material.

Parents are having a harder time finding kid-friendly costumes at party supply and costume stores.

Monday said they are looking for attractive outfits for their children that do not show too much skin.

I don't even want to imagine what the Washington Page Halloween party was like, do you?