Patrick Murphy changes tune on book profits

HALF OF NOTHING IS STILL NOTHING - Under increased scrutiny over a questionable book deal, U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy now promises to share a portion of proceeds from the book's sale with charity.  It's unlikely the book will earn more than the $100K Murphy has already received.

Facing increased public scrutiny over a controversial book deal that netted him an unusual $100,000 advance, U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA, now says he will donate a portion of proceeds from the book’s sale to charity. The announcement came nearly ten months after Murphy reportedly inked a publishing deal.

But unless Murphy is willing to share the lucrative advance he received in December, it’s unlikely any of these groups will receive a penny, Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) research has found.

On September 19, 2007, the Bucks County Times printed a majorityap.com story analyzing sales performance of past Congressional memoirs. The article noted that even U.S. Senator John Kerry earned only $89,200 from Penguin books for his Presidential-campaign year biography, A Call to Service.

Murphy garnered $100,000 for his yet-to-be published memoir, Taking the Hill, just days before House ethics rules would have barred him from receiving the advance. Murphy’s book deal was brokered by a longtime Democrat activist, and aided by a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

In response to the majorityap.com story, Murphy penned his own Op-Ed for the Bucks County Times, claiming for the first time "a portion of the proceeds will be given to veterans organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project."

Murphy’s announcement came only after majorityap.com research and reporting raised questions in the Pennsylvania media - including the Times and Philadelphia Inquirer - over the timing and size of his six-figure advance. Murphy received his $100,000 advance in December, and first spoke of the book in May, the same month Publishers Weekly announced that Henry Holt and Company would publish Murphy’s memoir.

House ethics rules bar members of Congress from receiving advance royalty payments. Murphy could, however, have entered into a standard royalty contract – earning payment on actual book sales.

While Murphy’s new plan to share proceeds may sound charitable, it’s unlikely Murphy’s book will earn enough to garner those charities any financial support.

Because Murphy accepted a six-figure advance, the publisher will first recoup that amount before any additional proceeds from the book’s sale are released. As already noted, Kerry earned only $89,200 for his biography, and he is one of Congress’ more successful authors.

The New York Times reported recently that Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott's "Herding Cats," sold only 11,000 copies, and Roll Call said former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the longest serving Republican Speaker in U.S. history "made an inconsequential sum in royalties" for his 2004 autobiography. Other recent authors, such as U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) haven't earned a penny, according to their personal financial statements.

Murphy’s Pennsylvania colleague, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, earned less than $25,000 for his 2001 memoir, "Passion for Truth: From Finding JFK's Single Bullet to Questioning Anita Hill to Impeaching Clinton."

Kerry is not the only Presidential candidate who earned less than Murphy for his memoir. The Pennsylvania freshman has earned more without publishing a single page than New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earned for their books, according to a study by the Associated Press (AP).

One politician who did earn more than Murphy is former North Carolina Senator and Democrat Presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards received a $500,000 for his book, but according to a spokesman donated all of it to charity.

Murphy has not promised to donate any of his $100,000 advance.

Tomorrow...another media study points to excessive payment to Murphy.