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The new bombshell book “Game Change” paints harsh portraits and reveals titillating tidbits from the 2008 election cycle.  Nothing is off limits—including a Hillary Clinton meltdown, an edgy Elizabeth Edwards, a cheating Bill Clinton and much more. 

We’re looking at whether the book is useful—and appropriate—with perspectives from MSNBC, Politico, Fox News, and The Washington Post.

On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Eugene Robinson say campaign staffers probably now regret things they said in the heat of the moment.

WOODWARD: “Behind the scenes there might be some things that you said or she said that really are blowing off steam, that are not reflections of your real attitude."

ROBINSON: “The people in that campaign had pains that were as raw (SCARBOROUGH: Oh, sure. Brutal) and people who were involved in the campaign said various things to me that I’m sure don’t actually reflect their fundamental views or values.”

Politico’s Ben Smith looks at the complete lack of denial from Hillary Clinton who’s notoriously distrustful of the media.  That’s because she finds herself in the situation as many other politicians- not knowing who in their inner circle revealed their secrets.

“The lack of public outrage seems to mark the sputtering end of what was once known as the Clinton political machine and underlines a fact that onetime Clinton loyalists acknowledge: The book’s primary sources about the former candidate and current secretary of state are her own former staffers and intimates.”

One former Clinton staffer did come to her defense, saying on Fox and Friends that the book’s authors unfairly target women, calling the book’s revelations gossip.

JEHMU GREENE: “I think that we are doing the American public a disservice by focusing so much on gossip. Look at the words that they describe women—bitter, befuddled, freaky, abusive, condescending, crazy woman.  This is how they refer to most of the women in this book.  That’s really troublesome.  I think we have a responsibility in the media to call this out.”

But in a Q&A session, Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz argues that the authors’ sometimes unflattering storytelling helps readers get to know the characters.  

“That goes to character, not gossip. It would certainly be nice if journalists could penetrate the bubble surrounding these candidates in real time, but that is difficult, given the way that aides and strategists protect them during the heat of a campaign.”

So do you think "Game Change" is hard hitting journalism—or glorified gossip?

Writer: Chance Seales

Producer: Nathan Giannini