Bob Woodward: 'State of Denial' Timed to Influence Election

Bob Woodward appeared with Matt Lauer on the NBC Today show on Monday morning to promote his new book 'State of Denial.'  Woodward's new release alleges President Bush is hiding the truth on the war in Iraq.

Bob Woodward: 'State of Denial' Timed to Influence Election

And even though that is the premise for the book and Woodward revealed that he believes that President Bush had lied to the American public - when asked that question point blank by Lauer, Woodward refused to directly say that Bush misled or lied.

Woodward stumbled at times during the relatively easy interview, but one admission he made when pushed by Lauer is that he admitted that 'State of Denial' was timed to influence the November elections.

***

After being chastised by Lauer for holding his accusations that the White House was lying to the American people about the war while "people are dying" and asking him why he didn't go the mountaintop and scream that the Bush Administration is lying to help change the course of the war, Woodward stumbled.

He first said he didn't have all the information until "this year" and then when pushed further by Lauer finally admitted that the tome is timed for the election.

***

But Woodward blamed the Post and the publisher.

"Simon and Schuster and my bosses at the Washington Post said the only - the real obligation is to get up on the top of the mountain and tell the full story before the election.  That's what we're doing and people can judge for themselves."

--Jackson Simpson