“DISTRACTIONS” DISTORTIONS, DECEPTIONS, and Outright LIES

About the Book

The second edition of Distractions is an updated copy of the original book written in 2018. Part I (Conservative Strategies) outlines how conservatives deal with the critical issues of communications, the economy, the electoral process, the law, and DEMOCRACY. Part II (The “G’s”) focuses on the issue areas used mainly by the GOP to gain acceptance in the eyes of the general public. An additional chapter has been added — “Gerrymandering”. With the advent of Citizens United, The Gutting of the 1965 Voting Rights Act with the ruling in the Shelby Co. v. Holder case, The Chiafalo v. Washington case, Heller, and Dobbs v. Jackson already decided, Gerrymandering became the cherry atop the sundae. Afterword has been revised and an appendix added which includes: A Timeline, An example of a Literacy Test, and a copy of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America with cited changes from the U.S. Constitution. Examples of the media gaslighting its reading audience for ratings and the profits they generate are included as well. Emphasis are placed on the future of the GOP after the Trump led fiasco of January 6th. There is also a great deal of attention placed on the lead-up to the 2024 General Election under the pending dispositions of the various Trump indictments. Conservatives’ immigration woes and their fear of the United States becoming a “Colored” country are discussed, and gun violence and the policing of the Black man in America is given added attention, and the Biographical section was expanded.

About the Author

Val Atkinson hails from Princeton, North Carolina; attended K-12 and college in the Tidewater area of Virginia (Portsmouth and Norfolk). He retired after serving 20 years in the United States Army, he also retired from North Carolina State Government. Val began his literary and teaching career in 1984 as an Adjunct Professor at Webster University in Saint Louis, Missouri. He taught courses at Durham Technical Community College in Durham, NC, and Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. He concluded his teaching career as an Adjunct Political Science Professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. Val began his writing career as an OP-ED columnist with several black weekly newspapers in North Carolina. He authored his first book, “SOUTHERN RACIAL POLITICS” in 2007. His first book was followed by three other books — “DISTRACTIONS”, “THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE”, and this book, “THE 2ND EDITION OF DISTRACTIONS”. Val began his radio talk show career in 1990 and retired after 33 years in 2022. Val was the host of “Connections”. Connections is a weekly radio talk show and airs on WFXC / WFXK, Foxy 107.1 – 104.3 FM. He also hosted a talk show on WNCU (90.7 FM) entitled “Jones Street”. Val is currently the co-host of the podcast “The Deal with Ed Clark”. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s