Mitt Romney’s comment on Monday that Israelis are richer than Palestinians because of their superior culture seems to be sticking to GOP’s main man. And for good reason—beyond just being a crazy thing to say, Romney first tried to deny the comment saying on Fox, “I actually didn’t address that” and then flipping back again by writing a piece for the National Review called “Culture Does Matter” in which he doubles down, saying rich demographics come from superior cultures.

Since the whole thing isn’t seeming to die, the author of one of the books Romney referenced in backing up his argument is weighing in on the debate.

Talking Points Memo reports that Jared Diamond, author of “Guns, Germs and Steel” says Romney’s interpretation of his work is “so different from what my book actually says that I have to doubt whether Mr. Romney read it.”

Score! This is like the real life version of “Annie Hall” Woody Allen shuts up a guy “pontificating” about Marshall McLuhan Mr. McLuhan himself:

Ah, the sweet satisfaction of life actually being like this for once!

Even sweeter vindication, Diamond makes a fully un-racist argument palatable that a nation’s wealth is way more complicated than just superior culture. “Just as a happy marriage depends on many different factors, so do national wealth and power,” he says.

This might help explain how countries like Saudi Arabia got extremely rich without having the superior culture of freedom Mr. Romney so loves to celebrate.

Read the rest at Talking Points Memo.