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
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
1:24 pm
a bank that had been disclosed to be stronger than many of its rivals. The sale was not illegal at the time.
Wealth preservation, the horrors! Should have been a good boy and bought Solyndra, so we would all benefit. Or not!
iggy
August 14th, 2012
1:25 pm
“the Cons only support government services which they use.”
I think the cons, as you refer to them, are not so much concerned with the services used or unused but more so the fraud/abuse inherent in the system for which the Dems refused to acknowlege.
BS Aplenty
August 14th, 2012
1:26 pm
H2OMG-girl -
I cant’ believe it (drum roll, please). I agree with you reasoning. Thinking Republicans believe in LIMITED government – not EXPANSIVE government.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:29 pm
iggy
You mean the fraud like the 50 million or so payout the current governor of FL’s old company had to pay.
like that?
just saying
iggy
August 14th, 2012
1:31 pm
Uh no…thats not what I mean.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:32 pm
Why do you not mean that?
It was a fine paid to the government for ripping them off, right?
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
1:33 pm
Quit demeaning the men and women who put their life on the line for you.
Was that intended for me or Obama? I think they should be allowed to vote, anytime and anywhere as long as it is before polls close. President Obama doesn’t think they should be given any special provisions for voting.
I do not include military people when I speak of the 47% that do not contribute, they should pay no taxes at all, they have already paid once with the devotion of their time to the country. Time is money.
Rodert Rudis
August 14th, 2012
1:34 pm
So Obama’s an anti-colonialist? Nonsense. He is every bit the Empire’s dutiful soldier. D’Souza has his own issues with colonialism. And communism. After four years of labeling Pres Obama a muslim, a foreigner, a communist, a socialist, the right is still trying to make at least one of the labels stick. Pathetic.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:35 pm
Rafe
It was you when you demeaned them for their income levels.
But nice try. And here I thought, you were smarter than your character name.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:37 pm
Rafe
As for the other issue. Do yourself a favor and stop allowing talk radio or whatever source to brainwash you. Sad thing is that you willingly do it.
http://factcheck.org/2012/08/obama-not-trying-to-curb-military-early-voting/
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
1:39 pm
Ain’t
I would exempt the military from taxes for two years after they complete their service, as a small thank you for what they do for the country, as I would reduce the capital gains rate to zero, to thank those who risk their money and their families future, to grow jobs and feed the economy.
Rush
August 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Looks like the same bunch of Bookmanites hanging out telling us how terrible the repubs are…..
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
Rafe
Sounds good and I’m with you, however that is not what you said in your earlier swipe that I replied too.
iggy
August 14th, 2012
1:40 pm
50 million is a drop in the bucket when compared to the billions wasted on welfare, WIC, food stamps, Dept of education, govt trips all over the world ie Kaseem Reed and entourage cruising thru Europe, the lastest beltline discovery, Federal employees traveling to HI for conferences, Federal employees wasting time making stupid videos, construction of schools that resemble the Taj Mahal, DFACS workers failing to do their jobs, etc.
The list goes on and on. Yes 50 million is excessive but nothing compared to the above list and the fraud as yet detected.
The point being were the fraud, employee pilferages to be sniffed out, amongst the public sector then a tax increase would be unnecessary.
But you already knew all that.
JamVet
August 14th, 2012
1:41 pm
…but I will say they err toward the most pessimistic, even conspiratorial end of the right side of the spectrum.
Color me shocked!
Nutjobs films for the nutjobs.
Huge yawn.
This bizarre VP pick just gave Florida to BHO.
And the election.
Get used to losing, cons. You wear it well…
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
1:42 pm
Ain’t that is pure spin, he is having Holder sue the state of Ohio to prevent them from extending the voting time for the military. He can claim whatever motive he wants, the action they request provides more hardship for the military voter. And, you fall for it, because the MSM picks up the Obamaspin echo and broadcasts it.
Skip
August 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
The Beck is strong here.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:43 pm
iggy
Did you cry when Purdue went all over the world?
Be honest.
Aquagirl
August 14th, 2012
1:44 pm
That all that risk, sweat, and effort produces a profit, that is shared by the 47% that sit in the A/C, contribute little, and complain, that he is keeping too much of the money he earned.
Ah, now we cut to the chase….Mr. Pecan Grower is angry at other people. Because Mr. Pecan Grower subscribes to the talkie radio idea that we have a binary system of “producers” and “parasites.” Mr. Pecan Grower is one of the heroic producers, and there are hordes of parasites out there who don’t pay gas taxes for roads, don’t collect food stamps to supplement military rations, all they do is lay on the couch. They’ve never worked a day in their lives. Therefore he begrudges the sliver of his taxes that go to those parasites in a manner beyond all proportion to the actual amount spent.
Mr. Pecan Grower sounds like some of my relatives, I avoid those bitter dried-up folks. They like being angry.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:45 pm
Rafe
No what you said is spin. You can look up the lawsuit yourself. Your interpretation that you willingly allowed yourself to be brainwashed with is not in that paperwork.
But again, keep trying.
getalife
August 14th, 2012
1:47 pm
cons,
What happened to the referendum on our President?
Slinging poo to see if something sticks is a horrible way to run a campaign and a sure loser.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
1:53 pm
Ain’t and Aquagirl
I believe that the Koolaid must come with a little extra kick these days! It is “not the sliver” of his taxes, it is the entitlement mentality of the recipients that some of his money is theirs. They refuse to risk theirs, but want higher taxes to embellish their entitlements.
They want him to sacrifice, so they do not have to.
SlickRick
August 14th, 2012
1:55 pm
The sky is falling!!!!!!!!! The communists are in power!!!!!!! The communists will retain power for at least 4.5 more years. The sky is falling!!!!!!
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
1:55 pm
Rafe
Based on your blather, it seems you not only drink it, but also bathe in it.
But do carry on if it makes you feel good to willingly allow yourself to be brainwashed with the talking points you out forth on a regular basis.
iggy
August 14th, 2012
1:56 pm
A Gov vs a stupid, yellow crayon eating buffoon ie Andrew Youngs puppet, are two different issues. The Gov and previous Govs have traveled to bring business to the State. Yellow teeth travels to being business to the city of Atlanta.
The Atlanta govt needs to understand this is the State of GA not the State of Atlanta and this latest TSplost vote shoved it right back down their throats.
However, waste and fraud should be rooted out albeit Dem or Rep.
SlickRick
August 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
JamVet – I disagree wholeheartedly. The cons are absolutely horrible losers. And likely to get much, much worse in the coming days, months and years. No honor or integrity of any kind.
Scooter
August 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
“…allowed Obama to keep his dealings with Marxists mostly out of the public eye on his way to the White House.”
NO. vetting potential Presidents is the “media’s” job and they failed miserably with The Obama.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
2:01 pm
iggy
Deal is a Democrat?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 14th, 2012
2:02 pm
My guess is the libs should check and see who lost the last election and, not only lost it, but did so in a historical landslide.
And it looks so cute on them.
SlickRick
August 14th, 2012
2:05 pm
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin… — think: pendulum.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
2:06 pm
I report
You didn’t learn from 1994 and 1996, but I digress.
You are going to be one crying dude.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
2:07 pm
Ain’t
If he was suing all 57 states to expand early voting for all, I would accept this spin from Obama. When he picks out the one state that wants to extend a weekend just for the military to vote, to sue, then I say that is an effort to depress the military vote.
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
2:07 pm
I report
I apologize. Let me take that back. You seem to do a lot of crying on a regular basis. It wouldn’t be honest to say that “you are going to be”……………
have an awesome day
JamVet
August 14th, 2012
2:07 pm
Hell, the cons barely made up the ground after those back to back, historic annihilations of 2006 and 2008.
But to read the faithful, they are unstoppable.
With their winning streak of…………………………………………………..one.
Must be Chicago baseball fans, keeping score!
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
2:08 pm
Rafe
Keep spinning. OH changed their law.
Did you know that? What other states did the same thing?
Aint that a sham
August 14th, 2012
2:09 pm
Rafe
You do get an A for effort.
The day facts are on your side, you will be something to reckon with, but until that time the blather will just continue
Keep up the fight
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 14th, 2012
2:13 pm
I do not include military people when I speak of the 47% that do not contribute
Or my grandma…or my…
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 14th, 2012
2:15 pm
kyle must be pulling a W today — phoning it in.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 14th, 2012
2:16 pm
Ain’t
As long as you allow Obama to tell you what facts to believe, we will be on the other side.
I’m out for now.
Hillbilly D
August 14th, 2012
2:25 pm
One thing I’ve learned from blogs is the difference between fact and opinion. If one agrees with it, it’s a fact; if one disagrees with it, it’s an opinion.
Aquagirl
August 14th, 2012
2:26 pm
It is “not the sliver” of his taxes, it is the entitlement mentality of the recipients that some of his money is theirs.
Aside from youtube clips of the occasional a-hole, just how many of these people are out there? Is Mr. Pecan Grower angry because the government doesn’t assemble death squads to hunt these people down and kill them?
I’ve pointed out Mr. Pecan Grower bitches about the gub’mint only showing up at tax time. When confronted that the gub’mint is there every day suddenly the new goalpost is “entitlement jerks—wahhhhhh!” Your relative demands other people’s money for his benefit…nice big roads, ports, trees that don’t die from every little bug.
Now, this is a foreign concept for you Rafe, but those legions of people demanding your relatives’ money? MOST OF THEM HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOO. They’ve worked, paid taxes, and contributed to the infrastructure that means Mr. Pecan Grower can make lots of money. How selfish of them to demand a cut. The nerve!
Get away from angry, bitter people who don’t acknowledge their own entitlements, Rafe. They aren’t worth it. If you and he want to hold a Bitterball, it’s your party.
md
August 14th, 2012
2:30 pm
“Aside from youtube clips of the occasional a-hole, just how many of these people are out there?”
Good question…….what we do know is 1/3 of folks are currently dropping out of the taxpayer opportunity program called “education”, putting themselves in position to be one of “these people”. Are we responsible for them because they made that choice??
Shine
August 14th, 2012
2:33 pm
All that matters is Obama will get a second term and that freakshow the GOP has running will be obliterated.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
2:37 pm
“Slinging poo to see if something sticks is a horrible way to run a campaign and a sure loser.”
You mean like Romney killing a woman?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 14th, 2012
2:40 pm
“Hell, the cons barely made up the ground after those back to back, historic annihilations of 2006 and 2008. ”
Yeah, an historic swing in the House sure equates to “barely making up ground”.
southpaw
August 14th, 2012
2:45 pm
Aquagirl @2:26
How many is too many? Mr. Pecan Grower isn’t concerned about the lack of death squads. They run the risk of mistaken identity, with non-freeloaders getting killed as a result. He’ll settle for recipients changing their mindset to “I’ll use the infrastructure that’s available to everybody, but I’m not entitled to payments directly from the government to me. Payments are different from infrastructure–they’re not available to everyone.”
ND
August 14th, 2012
2:48 pm
Dinesh D’Souza’s ancestors were weak enough to convert to Christianity at the tip of the sword of the Portuguese, so it’s not surprising that he is pro-colonialism. I wish the other Indians of his ilk would make India better by following his lead and leaving.
Doc
August 14th, 2012
2:49 pm
I realize that the going trend for these blogs is to pick a political side and bash the other by name calling and all the predictable garble, but I actually have some serious questions? Romney has come out with a 5 point plan for job creation. Like it or hate it, he has at least put a plan out there. Has Obama proposed any new plans to stimulate job growth? This is not intended as a shot against Obama. I would actually like a real answer? I am sure that there are things that I am not aware of.
Thulsa Doom
August 14th, 2012
2:53 pm
“Aside from youtube clips of the occasional a-hole, just how many of these people are out there?”
Aquagirl,
Apparently there’s quite a few of them. All you have to do is read today’s AJC article. It talks about loads of workers during the school year- cafeteria workers, bus drivers, private school teachers, etc. who when the school year is over they simply go on unemployment for 3-4 months until the new school year starts again. And they do this as a matter of routine and apparently don’t even bother to look for part time summer work. This is different than when I was in college. When I was in college we had people like teachers who worked other jobs during the summer. Nowadays that’s not true. Nowadays we are paying people to not work for 3-4 months and given the comments from the people in this article they feel they are entitled to this and that they shouldn’t have to look for work. Look at the comments for yourself and you’ll see that there is a mentality that these people automatically don’t even look for work but rather look for a government check.
http://www.ajc.com/business/state-ordered-to-reverse-1498878.html
Publius
August 14th, 2012
2:56 pm
2016 is meant to inspire discussion – the merits and demerits of a 2008 presidential candidate who by almost all accounts was never fully vetted in a traditional and historical sense by the media or election process. The film has done its job – we are now discussing the history of, and influences on, the current President of the United States. Kyle rightly points out that the film deserves airing among Obama supporters and those who haven’t made up their minds – there’s plenty to foster discussion, whether you agree or disagree with D’Souza’s assessments.