2012 Tuesday: ‘2016′ says we don’t know the president we elected in 2008
At a friend’s request, I went to the theater Sunday to see “2016: Obama’s America” (it’s true, I’m not the most political person I know). The movie, if you haven’t heard, is the work of Dinesh D’Souza, the Indian-born conservative commentator and college president whose 2010 book, “The Roots of Obama’s Rage,” argued the president’s world view was shaped heavily by his anti-colonialist Kenyan father.
I’m no movie critic, so I’ll spare you my thoughts on the cinematography (I’ll only note that D’Souza worked on the film with Hollywood veteran Gerald R. Molen, and it shows in the film’s production quality). The movie’s about our president’s past and what that means for our future, and I’ll focus on that.
D’Souza dispenses early on with any notions of birtherism, noting briefly, but pointedly, that Obama was born in Hawaii. Instead, he makes the far more interesting argument that what’s foreign is Obama’s ideology, shaped in absentia by a father he barely knew. His evidence for his claim is two-fold: Excerpts from Obama’s own autobiography, “Dreams From My Father” (the film liberally quotes from the audio version of the book, narrated by Obama himself), and footage from D’Souza’s travels to the places of Obama’s youth, Hawaii and Indonesia, as well as to Kenya. There are also phone conversations, videotaped on both ends, with sociologists such as Shelby Steele who try to explain what makes Obama tick.
What D’Souza turns up on his trips is often less than compelling: Brief doesn’t begin to describe what he gets from an interview with a retired Hawaii professor who knew Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham; a lengthier exchange with Obama’s half-brother, George, in Nairobi ultimately fails to land a blow on the president. But that’s not to say there’s no substance to the story.
Briefly, D’Souza’s narrative goes like this: The elder Obama was an anti-colonialist (this much is confirmed in interviews with a pair of his contemporaries; Obama Sr. of course died in a car wreck in 1982) whose antipathy toward Kenya’s British rulers was distinct from America’s earlier rebellion from the British in that it was also a rejection of the West and capitalism. Dunham (who died in 1995) fervently transferred these beliefs to a young Barack — and even sent him home to Hawaii from Indonesia when her second husband, Lolo Soetoro, took a job with a U.S. oil company and got a little too friendly with actual breathing capitalists. Back in Hawaii, her father arranged for young Barack to have a mentor named Frank Marshall Davis, a writer and card-carrying Communist who was on the FBI’s radar. From there, we hear of Obama’s adult associations with which we’re more familiar, including Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
This is a vetting of Obama’s background that, D’Souza plausibly argues, was given short shrift in the 2008 campaign. For instance, D’Souza notes that Obama’s famous speech about race relations, to address the steady stream of Wright’s controversial statements (uncovered, let’s remember, while he was still contesting the Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton), was a deflection from the collectivist black liberation theology that laced Wright’s incendiary sermons. That, D’Souza claims, allowed Obama to keep his dealings with Marxists mostly out of the public eye on his way to the White House.
It is a vetting that is worthwhile for anyone interested in current U.S. politics, if only because it is so reliant on Obama’s own words. (Here, I must acknowledge I haven’t read “Dreams” and can’t say whether D’Souza is cherry-picking Obama’s quotes or taking them out of context; if he did, however, he has given his critics a huge tool to use in discrediting him.) As an immigrant from another former British colony who is the same age as Obama, D’Souza presents an intriguing figure with alternating sympathy for and critique of anti-colonialism.
That’s the first half of the movie. From there, D’Souza delves into purely political commentary and prognostication that most likely will resonate with you, or not, in close correlation with your own political leanings. I won’t spoil his conclusions, but I will say they err toward the most pessimistic, even conspiratorial end of the right side of the spectrum.
If there’s a tragic aspect of the film, it’s that the only people likely to see it are those who have already made up their minds against Barack Obama. It deserves as well an airing among his supporters and those precious few who are unsure about him, to point out where they think D’Souza is wrong and consider the ways he might be right.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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912 comments Add your comment
md
August 14th, 2012
8:20 pm
“The holiday, instead, turned into a massive tax break for shareholders —”
The other half of that equation……you do know who those shareholders are don’t you?
They are you and me and everyone else with a 401k. pension plan, etc……so yeh again, let’s keep the stupid hats on and not pay ourselves……
mike
August 14th, 2012
8:22 pm
md: if I didn’t know better, I’d say that sounds like “trickle down” to me.
If we tax it at the regular corporate rate what to we get from it?
A lot less deficit?
Let’s see: $2 trillion x .35 tax rate = $700,000,000,000?
That would pay back TARP and then some including the GM bailout.
md
August 14th, 2012
8:31 pm
Also, how many retirees had to find part time work or postpone their retirments because their investments took a nose dive?
And Mike and like thinkers think it is a good idea to leave that 2 trillion offshore……I’d hazard a guess those retirees would welcome that money and spend it in OUR economy.
md
August 14th, 2012
8:32 pm
“If we tax it at the regular corporate rate what to we get from it?”
Absolutely nothing…..that is why it is sitting offshore in the first place. What part of that is so hard to understand?
md
August 14th, 2012
8:34 pm
Mike….you ever hear the saying “one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush”?
You need to apply it to this scenario, except we aren’t even getting the 1 in the hand…..
md
August 14th, 2012
8:36 pm
“md: if I didn’t know better, I’d say that sounds like “trickle down” to me.”
Money to shareholders is now trickle down?
Shame on all those dastardly teacher unions, and firefighter unions, and police unions……how dare they expect their investments to actually pay a dividend…….
mike
August 14th, 2012
8:43 pm
“Shame on all those dastardly teacher unions, and firefighter unions, and police unions……how dare they expect their investments to actually pay a dividend…….”
What teacher unions, firefighter unions, police unions? Scott Walker did away with them.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
8:50 pm
From Yahoo: “On Tuesday, speaking at a rally in Danville, Va., Vice President Joe Biden told a group of supporters that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney would “put you all back in chains” if elected.”
Really? THIS is the level of discourse we should expect from the Vice-President of the United States?
Predictably, Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter defend Biden’s remarks. Of course, she’s also the one who called Romney a felon, so I guess we shouldn’t expect anything less from that harpy.
What’s next? Speeches telling black people their churches are going to burn down if Romney is elected?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
8:52 pm
“What teacher unions, firefighter unions, police unions? Scott Walker did away with them.”
You know, mike, if you’re just going to come on here and post nonsense, why don’t you go next door to that other columnist?
If you don’t know that all those unions still exist in WI, albeit with less power to hold up taxpayers for expensive deals they cannot afford, then you really have no business being here.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
9:00 pm
You know, about 9 hours ago I asked liberals on this blog to write a well thought-out, reasoned argument as to why the Romney / Ryan ticket shouldn’t be elected, and doing so without the use of DNC talking points (hence, the well thought-out part).
I got crickets chirping.
This simply proves that the leftists on this blog (and their administration as well) don’t have the desire nor the ability to wage a campaign based on the issues.
Really, really sad.
mike
August 14th, 2012
9:01 pm
You mean they still have the power of collective bargaining is Wisconsin, Tiberius?
I didn’t know that.
mike
August 14th, 2012
9:06 pm
Tiberius: how about if you were to write out a well thought out, reasoned argument as to why Romney, Ryan should be elected.
Do you think that the plant will reopen here if they are elected?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:12 pm
Mike, shouldn’t you be applying for jobs and updating your resume?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
9:12 pm
“You mean they still have the power of collective bargaining is Wisconsin, Tiberius?
I didn’t know that.”
There is a LOT you don’t know, mike. Collective bargaining is alive and well in Wisconsin for public employees, but ONLY for wages – NOT for benefits. From the City-Journal:
“The collective-bargaining component of Walker’s plan has yielded especially large financial dividends for school districts. Before the reform, many districts’ annual union contracts required them to buy health insurance from WEA Trust, a nonprofit affiliated with the state’s largest teachers’ union. Once the reform limited collective bargaining to wage negotiations, districts could eliminate that requirement from their contracts and start bidding for health care on the open market. When the Appleton School District put its health-insurance contract up for bid, for instance, WEA Trust suddenly lowered its rates and promised to match any competitor’s price. Appleton will save $3 million during the current school year.
Appleton isn’t alone. According to a report by the MacIver Institute, as of September 1, “at least 25 school districts in the Badger State had reported switching health care providers/plans or opening insurance bidding to outside companies.” The institute calculates that these steps will save the districts $211.45 per student. If the state’s other 250 districts currently served by WEA Trust follow suit, the savings statewide could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.”
You can read more about how well Walker’s reforms (hint: they actually SAVED union jobs) are doing at:
http://www.city-journal.org/2012/22_1_scott-walker.html
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
There were more jobs in the U.S. on the day Obozo took office than there are today.
Heckuva job, Barry!
Fail.
Karen
August 14th, 2012
9:19 pm
Dang, I bet he wasnt even born in the USA. Let’s see that birth certificate! You sunk real low on this one Kyle.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:26 pm
“You sunk real low on this one Kyle.”
——————
As compared to, say, Biden telling blacks that President Romney would put them back in chains?
mike
August 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
“Under this law, called Wisconsin Act 10, state and local government workers are required to increase contributions to their health insurance and pensions. As a result, many union workers, such as teachers, have faced pay cuts.”
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
Boo freaking hoo.
mike
August 14th, 2012
9:30 pm
Lil’ Bar: how many manufacturing jobs did Bush lose during his presidency?
mike
August 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
Everything I’ve read says that Romney is going to lose in November. Any thoughts on that?
Just saying..
August 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
-12 million new American jobs
-North American oil independence from the Middle East within 8 years
Mitt’s promises so far. Man, I can’t wait til the Real campaigning begins…
Hillbilly D
August 14th, 2012
9:34 pm
Everything I’ve read says that Romney is going to lose in November. Any thoughts on that?
Personally, I think it’s a toss-up, right now. Still a ways to go.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
9:42 pm
“Everything I’ve read says that Romney is going to lose in November. Any thoughts on that?”
Well, given the fact that we’ve already proven your reading list is rather one-sided and limited, my first suggestion is to read something other than what you already do read, mike.
md
August 14th, 2012
9:42 pm
” As a result, many union workers, such as teachers, have faced pay cuts.”
And if they don’t reduce costs, then some of those teachers end up losing their jobs vs having to pay a bit more toward their benefits.
Something else those wearing the stupid hats have a hard time with…..is it best to layoff 20% of a workforce or let the company go under??
I can tell you from experience I would have preferred the pay cut vs what we ended up with…..which was everybody getting nothing.
It’s a whole lot easier trying to find another job while taking a 50% pay cut than it is when one takes a 100% pay cut……
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
“Under this law, called Wisconsin Act 10, state and local government workers are required to increase contributions to their health insurance and pensions. As a result, many union workers, such as teachers, have faced pay cuts.”
And the mere fact that these worker still HAVE jobs, instead of being laid off, should be a comfort to you, mike.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
how many manufacturing jobs did Bush lose during his presidency
———————–
None. He increased them.
Lower tax rates for all tax payers.
4-6% unemployment for eight years.
Measly $300 billion deficits.
Our President Bush: Superior to Obozo.
splavistic
August 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
Since when has it been un-American to root for the underdog (the poor), cheer for the downfall of the tyrant (rich bankers and their ilk), and have civic pride (care for our environment)?!! Seriously?! This is the same America I always read about in Superman comics, but it’s the right wing (thank you very much Newt) that has gone un-American and is pro-rich, anti- social, and want to screw up the health of our communities. Obama 2012!
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Obozo has been in office nearly four years.
Why don’t you have a job?
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
9:47 pm
@md
August 14th, 2012
8:04 pm
Sports Authority and Staples have overseas operations IN ADDITION TO their stateside operations……big difference.
Now, if the dems would take off their stupid hats and allow that 2 trillion in offshore profits to come home at a much lower tax, then these corps could use that capital in their stateside operations. Instead, we will continue to see corps buy/build/joint venture that money offshore in order to maximize their capital………
____________________________________________
Blah blah blah
It’s always the dem’s fault.
Yada yada yada…..
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
splavistic: Since when has it been un-American to….cheer for the downfall of…the rich?
———————–
Why do you hate Americans?
You are the problem.
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
9:50 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Obozo has been in office nearly four years.
Why don’t you have a job?
__________________________________________________
In the words of the CONS……………..
“If YOU ain’t rich,,,,,,,,,IT’S YOUR FAULT.
heeheeeheeheeheeheeheehee
md
August 14th, 2012
9:51 pm
“It’s always the dem’s fault.”
Not always, but in this instance you are correct, the dems are the ones that will not allow that 2 trillion into the country without it being taxed…..again, as it was already taxed by the country of origin.
And in the Fannie/Freddie fiasco you are also correct. All one has to do is google it.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
splavistic: care for our environment
———————-
How much jet fuel has Obozo burned traveling to campaign events?
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
9:55 pm
@splavistic
August 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
Since when has it been un-American to root for the underdog (the poor), cheer for the downfall of the tyrant (rich bankers and their ilk), and have civic pride (care for our environment)?!! Seriously?! This is the same America I always read about in Superman comics, but it’s the right wing (thank you very much Newt) that has gone un-American and is pro-rich, anti- social, and want to screw up the health of our communities. Obama 2012!
_____________________________________________________________________________
CONS CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH.
In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large
and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.
Here we go
August 14th, 2012
9:55 pm
“You know, mike, if you’re just going to come on here and post nonsense, why don’t you go next door to that other columnist?”
As much as you might think you do, you do not run this blog nor have been assigned by the AJC or Kyle to run the blog.
Mike: within the rules, post what you want.
Tiberius is not the caretaker here.
Have a great night
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
splavistic: care for our environment
———————-
How many jets did the Obozo family fly to Martha’s VIneyard for their recent vacation?
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
9:58 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
splavistic: care for our environment
———————-
How much jet fuel has Obozo burned traveling to campaign events?
____________________________________________________________________
The same amount of energy that Myth Robme uses FOR HIS CAR ELEVATOR,
his jet skies and all of his cadillacs..
heeheeheeheehee
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
““If YOU ain’t rich,,,,,,,,,IT’S YOUR FAULT.”
Your point being, Trashman . . . . ?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:03 pm
I see my leg-humper under a different blog name (again) is back.
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
10:06 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
splavistic: care for our environment
———————-
How many jets did the Obozo family fly to Martha’s VIneyard for their recent vacation?
_____________________________________________
How many jets did MYTH ROBME fly to INSULT the British, to outrage Palestinians
and sick up at a Jerusalem fundraiser?
YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THANG.
heeheeheeheeheeheehee
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 14th, 2012
10:07 pm
Don’t step in anything stinky, Tib.
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
10:08 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 14th, 2012
9:57 pm
splavistic: care for our environment
———————-
How many jets did the Obozo family fly to Martha’s VIneyard for their recent vacation?
_____________________________________________
CORRECTION
How many jets did MYTH ROBME fly to INSULT the British, to outrage Palestinians
and BROWN NOSE at a Jerusalem fundraiser?
YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THANG.
heeheeheeheeheeheehee
Here we go
August 14th, 2012
10:10 pm
I see you acting as if you run this blog………………. “again”
You don’t. Get over it. Move on.
You were thumped off one for acting like a behind.
Within the AJC and Kyle’s rules people are free to post what they wish.
No one said your rules. So thump your little bird chest and huff and puff all you like. That will not change.
Here we go
August 14th, 2012
10:11 pm
Good night all
And don’t bruise your bird chest thumping it so much, but on the other hand………… If it gives you some self worth, thump it int he mirror a few times
hahahahaha
What Makes Myth Robme Tick? Mormonism? Money? Or Both?
August 14th, 2012
10:13 pm
#1@Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
““If YOU ain’t rich,,,,,,,,,IT’S YOUR FAULT.”
Your point being, Trashman . . . . ?
#2@Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:03 pm
I see my leg-humper under a different blog name (again) is back.
_____________________________________________________________
#1…….YOUR CONS SAY ITS YOUR FAULT.
#2…….THIS IS NOT YOUR LEG HUMPING MOTHER.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:15 pm
“I see you acting as if you run this blog………………. “again”
You grasp of the English language is faulty, leg-humper.
I merely make suggestions. I feel it is far easier for the uninformed to post over there, rather than over here. It is a much more nurturing environment over there for the terminally stupid, rather than having to face the humiliation of being outed as one who doesn’t know squat over here.
I’d say the same for you, but since you never post anything on topic or of substance, I have no idea how misinformed you are. The only thing I know is that you only show up when I post, which is kinda creepy.
Here we go
August 14th, 2012
10:18 pm
“It is a much more nurturing environment over there for the terminally stupid”
Actually the IQ level went up 10 fold at Bookman’s, when you were thumped for what? stupidity
Again, you do not make the rules. GET OVER IT, little man
Here we go
August 14th, 2012
10:20 pm
Don’t sue me
hahahahaha
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
10:22 pm
I rest my case.