Jesse Ventura decries US politicians, media in new book

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) -- Ordinary citizens gave Jesse Ventura the strength to battle "political pawns and media jackals" nipping at his heels, the maverick governor of Minnesota writes in his new book.

The former professional wrestler nicknamed "The Body" has penned his second book with a ghost writer, the first chapter of which was published on the Internet Thursday.

"My strength out there is in that silent majority. They don't necessarily speak, but they're listening. The media, the legislature, and the behind-the-scenes power brokers give me a lot of grief," he wrote in the book "Do I Stand Alone?"

Ventura was elected Minnesota governor in 1998. His previous book, a best-selling autobiography entitled "I Ain't Got Time to Bleed," described his life prior to being elected governor.

The new book is scheduled to be released next month by Simon & Schuster.

In a typically rambling account of his first two years in office, Ventura complained of incessant attacks on him by the media hungry for "sordid headlines" and by fellow politicians, while gushing about the attention paid him by such political heavyweights as Vice President Al Gore and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Since the beginning of his campaign for governor, the political establishment has been against him, Ventura wrote.

"I truly believe I've gotten more harassment than any other governor because I'm independent, I'm powerful. I'm a threat. And they have to take me down," he said.

But it was voter apathy that seemed to rile Ventura most.

"The greatest threat to our political freedom is not the career politicians, the partisan gang wars, or the power-hungry lobbyists. It's the apathetic public that allows them to flourish," he said.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more US news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about US

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.