Apr 2, 2008 11:08 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Ventura's New Book: Fact Or Fiction
(WCCO)
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Jesse Ventura came to Austin to campaign for Kinky Friedman
As always Minnesota's former governor Jesse Ventura has a lot of intriguing things to say. His new book called "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me" went on sale in stores on Wednesday. But does it belong in the fact or fiction section?
Among the many misstatements, exaggerations and revisions in Jesse Ventura's new book, Ventura reveals a new reason he quit the governor's office after just one term.
"I didn't run for a second term because of the health of my wife," Ventura said on CNN Larry King's show. "And I will pick my wife over any political office in the land."
That's what he said NOW.
However, in 2002 Ventura said he was tired of it, quitting after media reports about drinking and all-night parties at the governor's mansion where his adult son lived alone.
"I have to want to do this job," Ventura said back then. "And I don't want to do it anymore."
His new book also distorts a historic Minnesota visit by the Dalai Lama, who met privately with Ventura to discuss human rights in China.
Ventura claims he joked with the Dalai Lama about the popular movie "Caddyshack," then snuck the Dalai Lama out of the Capitol to avoid the media.
IN FACT...
It's Ventura who "snuck" out of the Capitol. The Dalai Lama greeted visitors afterwards, and urged WCCO-TV's Pat Kessler to keep an eye on Ventura and human rights.
"Please, you keep watch," the Dalai Lama said to Kessler. "Me as well as the governor."
There's MORE...
Among the oddest claims in the book is that Ventura was "ordered" to meet secretly at the Capitol with the CIA and was interrogated about his election.
It's far from the truth. What really happened was a publicly scheduled summer conference in St. Paul for CIA employees. They requested a meeting with Minnesota's famously flamboyant celebrity governor.
However, organizers forgot to turn off the microphones at the private meeting, and what they said was broadcast on a sound system throughout the Capitol. It was far from an interrogation; it was cordial, warm and funny.
Even with QUESTIONABLE and MISLEADING claims, the book is vintage Ventura. Part fiction, part fact and part fantasy.
That's Reality Check. 
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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