Sunday’s New York Times has a lengthy piece on Barack Obama’s rise in Chicago’s political milieu, filled with hits and misses. For example, even the caption of the lead photo shows Obama “campaigning for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, a race he easily won,” yet the piece never mentions that he won because he used legal challenges to disqualify all four of his Democratic primary rivals. The NYT also makes no mention of the fact that Obama won his US Senate race largely because Democrat Blair Hull and Jack Ryan turned out to have scandal in divorce records unsealed due in no small part to the efforts of the Chicago Tribune, where — coincidentally enough — top Obama adviser David Axelrod used to work. The Tribune itself reported that Obama’s campaign worked aggressively behind the scenes to fuel controversy about Hull’s filings.
The NYT discloses that after graduating from Harvard Law School, Obama was not recruited by the law firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland so much as he recruited the firm. This is not the portrait of a man who chooses his associates casually. (Indeed, Obama has written that he chose his friends carefully in college also, choosing many alienated Leftists.)
He used to the firm cultivate a network of influential supporters. We already know a bit about his now-indicted political benefactor Tony Rezko. But the NYT adds Marilyn Katz — a former leader of Students for a Democratic Society – who introduced Obama to the foot soldiers of the white student and black power movements that helped define Chicago in the 1960s.ÂÂ
Given that the Weather Underground traces its roots to the SDS, this tidbit again begs the question of how far back Obama’s relationship with Weathercouple William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn really goes. Not only does the NYT not explore that topic, the piece relays from Obama’s aides that he “was introduced to the couple in 1995 at a meet-and-greet they held for him at their home,” when it was actually Obama’s political coming out party to Hyde Park. Moreover, the NYT never asks how Obama ended up as the director of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (a school reform organization co-founded by Ayers in late 1994 or early 1995), if the two had just met. The paper does not ask because the paper reports that connection in terms so oblique that it is impossible to know whether the paper knows its full extent.ÂÂ
Indeed, the NYT reports that Obama joined the board of the Woods Fund without mentioning that Ayers was also on the board, let alone that Ken Rolling, first Executive Director of the Annenberg Challenge, had been a program officer of the Woods Fund, let alone that Obama and Ayers funneled Woods grants to people like former PLO flack Rashid Khalidi.  That last is notable, given that the NYT does report on Obama’s social and relationship with Khalidi:
For years, the Obamas had been regular dinner guests at the Hyde Park home of Rashid Khalidi, a Middle East scholar at the University of Chicago and an adviser to the Palestinian delegation to the 1990s peace talks. Mr. Khalidi said the talk would often turn to the Middle East, and he talked with Mr. Obama about issues like living conditions in the occupied territories. In 2000, the Khalidis held a fund-raiser for Mr. Obama during his Congressional campaign. Both Mr. Khalidi and Mr. Abunimah, of the Electronic Intifada, said Mr. Obama had spoken at the fund-raiser and had called for the United States to adopt a more “evenhanded approach†to the Palestinian-Israel conflict.
Still, Mr. Khalidi said ascertaining Mr. Obama’s precise position was often difficult. “You may come away thinking, ‘Wow, he agrees with me,’ †he said. “But later, when you get home and think about it, you are not sure.â€Â
A.J. Wolf, a Hyde Park rabbi who is a friend of Mr. Obama’s and has often invited Mr. Khalidi to speak at his synagogue, said Mr. Obama had disappointed him by not being more assertive about the need for both Israel and the Palestinians to move toward peace. “He’s played all those notes right for the Israel lobby,†said Mr. Wolf, who is sometimes critical of Israel.
The paper softpedals that Khalidi was a director of the official PLO press agency when the US State Department considered the PLO a terrorist organization and the PLO was involved with terrorist attacks. The NYT also reports that the American Israel Political Action Committee helped Obama out of a jam in 2004, without asking anyone there whether they knew of Obama’s longstanding relationship with Khalidi at the time.
The NYT also gets into some selective reporting with regard to the recent dust-up between Obama and John McCain over Hamas:
Though Mr. Obama has condemned Hamas, a militant Palestinian group, as a terrorist organization, just last week Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, suggested that the group wanted to see Mr. Obama in the White House. Mr. Obama denounced that suggestion as a “smear.â€Â
Apparently, the NYT thinks its readers do not need to know that Hamas political adviser Ahmed Yousef publicly said the terrorist group supports Obama’s foreign policy vision.
The NYT notes that while on the Woods board, Obama helped funnel money to groups with ties to organized labor “like Chicago Acorn, whose endorsement Mr. Obama sought and won in his State Senate race.” The paper misses that Acorn was also a former client of Obama and that Obama helped train Acorn staffers. And while the paper identifies Acorn as an “antipoverty” group, it is also frequently involved in scandal-ridden voter registration drives. Both Obama and Acorn joined briefs urging the Supreme Court to overturn Indiana’s voter ID law. Acorn’s national political arm has endorsed Obama, even as its “non-partisan” wing gears up for another round of regstration drives.
The final segment of the NYT piece focuses on Obama’s embrace of Chicago’s machine politics — a move antithetical to his roots in the “reform” movement and his current pledge to change the Old Politics of Washington. Then again, his longstanding relationship with Acorn suggests that his interest in strict election law enforcement ended shortly after he got his opponents kicked off the ballot in 1996.
The article, for all of its flaws, reveals Obama as someone who purposefully sought to associate himself with with Leftists and radicals. The paper allows Obama to obscure the depth of those relationships, while suggesting that Obama has been willing to ditch his Leftist allies as he relentlessly climbs the political ladder. Whether Obama would leave his Leftist buddies in the lurch if he became President cannot be known. But the NYT profile gives little reason for anyone to believe he would be a great unifier or reformer in that office.
There have been many a Leftist accusation against Bush and Reagan that they are/were simple buffoons manipulated by their associates and, controlled, particularly in Reagan’s case, by their wives. In a SNL sketch the accusation was twisted such that Reagan merely played the buffoon and was, in fact, in complete control.
The more I hear about Obama, the more it sounds like he is either one of those accusations personified. Including the controlling, bitter wife. Man, what a curious campaign.
Good work, Karl.
I think it’s been over a year since I’ve gone to the NYT through the home page and read it like it was a real newspaper.
One of the reasons I am still reading the Chicago Tribune is to keep track of who is under indictment. The idea that Obama is a product of the Chicago/Illinois Democrat Machine and is also some sort of squeaky clean reformer is just laughable. Nobody gets any kind of political job or office for free…
I’m remembering that as Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, but the point stands.
And a happy crypto-Marxist Mother’s Day to all the bitterly clinging Moms in PW land.
Barack Obama is arguably the most talented politician in America. Unlike KK, some deftly recognized his talent early in the election cycle and thus, unlike KK, have proven themselves not to be a completely deluded fools.
Within the electorate Barack Obama brings out repressed self-clarifications of declarations, not to mention, for me, an odd desire to rhyme my words. For lack of a bigger fool, let’s take Karl. In response to being called out as a racially motivated Hillary Clinton camper, Karl posted a list of Hillary-centric threads. What KK doesn’t also doesn’t understand is that he’s dealing with last of the big time penetrators, pitchfork wielding undertakers, the man, the me, other eccentric men, rock throwing sisters and various demonic money changers from the time of the gold posada. I wipe my ass with Architectural Digest because the beatification of edifices through contrived exposition deserves more than a splash of piss. Cockroaches shit in all those constructs, I say, so why shouldn’t I. Back to Karl’s so-there monkey clap to himself, his list of his Hillary mating calls. For the sake of a words count, would your care to comparatively list your Obama threads and your campy Hillary threads, Karl? Let’s see where the weight of your wasted words landed. Let’s spit from that bridge just to see how far down it really is.
Up, now, on your hands and knees, there’s just one more thing you really need. It’s a hot spur. There’s a new Renaissance en route and it’s all up on ya, bro.
Barack Obama is arguably the most talented politician in America.
Argue all you want, but he’s actually elected President, twice, Bill Clinton was better, Reagan was better, heck, Dubya’s better.
Barack Obama is arguably the most talented politician cause he’s never actually done anything or made things better in any way or invested his political capital stuff into any kind of legislative initiative that can be evaluated in terms of results. But he swears for real he understands the theory. That’s something I guess.
-> until
Ooh, hf, well put.
Bitterly cling, boyos, but he’s coming. Barack Obama will kick the door of the Whitehouse open and gracefully allow Michelle to enter first.
Bill Clinton is a finger-wagging punk and Ronald Reagan is a bench warmer compared to Barack Obama.
This one here, this Obama fellow, he’s special. The best in modern American political history, bar none. Stand up when the man walks by, that’s all.
Isn’t a little early on a Sunday to be that far into the bottle, thor? Unless you haven’t stopped from Saturday afternoon.
But to be fair – why is he the best politician in America? And isn’t that like saying he’s the best hooker on the docks?
“The paper misses that Acorn was also a former client of Obama and that Obama helped train Acorn staffers.”
Is that how they leaned where to commit voting fraud?
“Ronald Reagan is a bench warmer compared to Barack Obama.”
I’ve been reading the interwebby thing for a long time now, and that ranks right up there as one of the stupidest statements, evah.
It’s a message so stupid that the ip packets carrying it are retarded.
So thor’s still slurping on Obama’s cock. Can’t tolerate the idea of him even being criticized, can you, thor? Grow up, swallow, and go bother some other people.
Ever since the so-called “Reagan Revolution’ the conservatives have been promising a new Atlantis based upon the fiscal and foreign policy wisdom of the same. Nearly three decades later we see the crypto-fascists in their naked glory despite protestations of their fashion awareness.
It’s time for a sea-change. Unfortunately, there may not be much for Obama to work with, now that the Hegemons have stolen everything through manipulated markets and the fruits of War.
and each night I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin, so bleak is it all
I guess that explains his record. sad how the Rethuglicans have crushed their opponents.
“It’s a message so stupid that the ip packets carrying it are retarded.”
“But to be fair – why is he the best politician in America? And isn’t that like saying he’s the best hooker on the docks?”
Now that’s funny stuff. Thanks for the laugh guys…
Those that laugh last laugh loudest. Hear me roar.
1) Karl – I think you said “misses” when you meant “lied their asses off.”
2) You though thor was in the bottle, and then cleo showed you what that REALLY looks like!
What I’ve seen is that Baracky is a lot the red corvette and the brief affair with some wench at the office and the I started playing racquetball again for white guys out here anyway. It’s a “piss and vinegar” thing except like if James Dean had been a geeky big-eared wimpy dude and a way bad oedipal complex.
I’m not voting for my dad I’m my own man.
No for reals.
It’s time for a sea-change. Unfortunately, there may not be much for Obama to work with, now that the Hegemons have stolen everything through manipulated markets and the fruits of War.
I’m sure Obama and the VP/Apostle to be named later will assure that there is nothing so stolen that it cannot be taxed back. At least, they’re not going to give up trying.
Nearly three decades later we see the crypto-fascists in their naked glory despite protestations of their fashion awareness.
No, I’m serious – does this brwonshirt make me look fat? And which armband should I accessorize with?
– Watching the De4mbulb talking heads on FOX today, they’re showing they have nothing in the quiver. Three times some boozed up Santimonious bitch-shill went with the “100 years of war in Iraq” bullshit screed. They got nothing.
– They know they’re backing a horse thats just as inexperienced and wet behind the ears as they are, against a man of impecable credebtioals, and more real experience in his earlobe than Obamamassiah has in his entire family.
– So thor goes forth with the “brave new world” changiness screech. Not to be outdone, Sanctimonious Cleofuck chimes in with more feckless words. They all really believe, the Loonbat gaggle, that Marxism will finally win out over Democracy.
– I will relish they’re crushing dissapointment, for the umpteenth time.
Oh. Really the best you can do is put a sweater over it I think. Those shirts are a lot unforgiving.
– Did you wish your mom happy mothers day Feets?
Hey. Well she called yesterday cause she got the plant and we did the Mother’s Day thing then. It feels a bit off but there’s family drama afoot and I think another call would just be taxing. She went to Saturday evening services yesterday which is kind of a sign that she wants a break on Sunday. We had a good talk yesterday.
– Good, because My better half wanted to make sure I asked, and now I can have a nice Sunday also.
– As far as the “hopiness, truthiness, changiness” march of the morons, I think this time around I’ll go ahead and do some post outlines disscussing the Democrat.Left loons complaint that the 2008 election was “stolen” from them. Might as well get a leg up on the usual caterwalling, hair pulling, and clothes rending episodes we’ll all be forced to endure one more time.
So, are you saying brownshirts aren’t the new black?
thor:
For your sake, dude, I can’t wait for November. Once BHO goes down in flames, you can move on.
You’re stuck on Obama-stupid and I can feel your pain.
But really, lay off Karl, or I’ll break out my red ink pen on your comments. As my kids say, “oooh, burn!!”
#25 Big Bang Hunter
Watching the De4mbulb talking heads on FOX today, they’re showing they have nothing in the quiver. Three times some boozed up Santimonious bitch-shill went with the “100 years of war in Iraq†bullshit screed. They got nothing.
Hence, the laughably desperate-sounding hyperbole from thor and Cleo.
Nearly three decades later we see the crypto-fascists in their naked glory despite protestations of their fashion awareness.
Looks like someone finally noticed what today’s Progressives have become!
Hey Hammer Boy. If the mighty Karl has written more about your boy Obamasama than Hillary, it’s probably because it’s been clear to all but the most obtuse that her candidacy has been DOA for a while now. On the other hand, it’s been equally clear that Hussein is going to be the Dim candidate, “superdelegates” notwithstanding. Why waste bandwidth on an also-ran?
And another thing I find hugely amusing is that none of you Obama Kool-Aid drinkers can come up with squat to counter the fact that your guy is a flaming Marxist, with a strong admixture of the black “let’s get Whitey” mindset thrown in for good measure, who has not one accomplishment to his name other than being another hack machine pol from Illinois, the most politically corrupt state in the country.
As for Semanticleo; “crypto-fascist”? Geez, boy. Is that the best you can do? That term went out with Gore Vidal about forty years ago (and nearly got Vidal’s pansy ass kicked by William F. Buckley when he used it on him).
Desperation, thy name is Dimocrat…:)
– On the flip side, the NYT is so openly in the tank for his cultiness, they might as well openly declare themselves as the officialObama press organ, rename themselves the NY Obama times, and be done with it. The only thing keeping that piece of shit propaganda toilet rag afloat is Soros money, and pandering to the Left-loons. When the Marx-o-crats crash and burn this fall, hopefully soon after, this partisan clusterfuck that poses as a newspaper will be just a bad memory too.
Wouldn’t it be great if thor eloped with nishis? Maybe we should all promise to chip in for sterilization[s] (thinking of the future) so they can “get together”?
Put that emesis basin down this instant! It was only a suggestion…
#36: The NYT has been called ‘Pravda on the Hudson’ before.
I think thor is yanking our collective chain. I agree with everything he says about Obama, and I can’t stand Obama.
I think thor is playing agent provacateur–his tongue is planted firmly in his cheek and not up Obama’s ass as you may mistakenly think….
This one here, this Obama fellow, he’s special. The best in modern American political history, bar none. Stand up when the man walks by, that’s all.
See, like that right there–that’s damned funny, and reminds us that Obama is a complete fucking nobody who is slick enough to be all things to all people.
People have attached this superstructure of goodness and honesty onto Obama ‘cuz that’s the candidated they want (after the media assasinated Bush’s character successfully).
What people see in Obama has nothing to do with what he actually is. He is special; he is the first Post-Modern Candidate and you can attribute no original intent to what he says or does, ‘cuz he only says and does it ‘cuz of you you.
That’s why thor’s comments always make me larf–they point out the void with a toilet-ring of race-hatred that is the Obama Hope n Change.
Gray – Nishi may be from the same mold. That’s why they would make such a lovely couple. Whether either is true or false makes no difference. [Thus endeth my lack of contribution to intentionalism]
But think of the children, Mr. Ballard, the children!! What if they procreate???
thorizonobama.
Uh-O!
Barack Obama is arguably the most talented politician in America.
Anybody else remember when a talented politician was someone who could get things done after he got elected, rather than someone who could just get elected?
So he picked these associates, very carefully, leaning to the anti-American
anti-white, and anti-Israeli side eaxh time.
Gray, (BTW, how are things on Zeta Reticuli these days?) I must admit that thought did cross my mind; that thor’s Obama ejaculate was done with tongue firmly inserted in cheek. However, if true, methinks he’s carried the “joke” way too far…
EMc2!
(Elect McCain)
See, Gray, that’s toungue in cheek.
“Stand up when the man walks by, that’s all.”
Nah, that honor’s gotta be earned from me. Veterans get it automatically, as does the flag. So do most firemen and cops. Since I’m a silly old fashioned Southerner, women get it also, as do folks alot older than me.
Obama? I’ve seen nothing that convinces me yet he even knows what honor is. That might change. But he’s the one that needs to do the convincing.
I’ll always stand for a woman or an older person (who are getting more and more scarce!) when they walk into a room. But standing when someone walks by is a different story. I have done so maybe ten times in my life–usually for someone who I know to be a hero–both in war and in peacetime.
You better put your goddamn lapel pins on and place your hands on your hearts when President Barack Obama, the man of the American people, walks by.
Some of you bitter clingers need to move your American-hating asses to Canada so you can burn American flags and insult our great country without risk of getting your butts whupped.
And remember, when you’re in Canada hating on America, Obama will be happy to talk to you. He’s cool like that.
Of course Obama is cool like that, but it’s Michelle that’s going to whup up on their asses.
– But don’t move to the “Map;e Leaf for Loonbats” yet thor. You’ll miss all the action.
– Meet the new Rev Moss. Same as the old Rev boss Wright.
– Gonna be some more get whitey Sermonizing for Obamarama coming up at a cable outlet near you soon. Bon Appitite’
Gray’s got it.
Gray’s got it
If it’s true (and the last thor comment would seem to indicate such), I think it’s noteworthy that someone who cleverly parodies an Obamaniac is almost nearly indistinguishable from a real one.
Like nishi. Or all the other ones who’ve shown up to do battle with this den of Hillarites or McCainiacs and/or other non-believers.
I’ve got thor as the Daniel Day-Lewis of character-parodiers.
[…] at Newsweek’s coverage of recent dust-up between Obama and John McCain over Hamas, but the New York Times gave even more distorted coverage of the dispute yesterday, in a story which included this […]
So, I guess we have grown bored with Jeremiah Wright and now we are back to Secret Jihadi Boy. Oh Karl.
Interesting post though. You always do a fine job, even when you are (in my opinion) coming to the wrong conclusion.
#57 alpuccino:
I suspect you’re right, al–and I pity him the role. Standing up for that buffoon, even in jest, has got to take a toll.
WTF?
Obama associates with people who are clearly NOT friends of the United States. Why aren’t those associations worthy of consideration?
So, I guess we have grown bored with Jeremiah Wright and now we are back to Secret Jihadi Boy.
Don’t forget Rezko and Ayers.
Obama has more skeletons in the closet than a gay ossuary.
Obama has more skeletons in the closet than a gay ossuary.
LMAO! W.T.F. That tickles the hell out of me (Sesso Anale Capele dos Ossos?). I hope that is not true, but that was a classic anyway.
Comment by jdm on 5/12 @ 5:37 am #
Gray’s got it
If it’s true (and the last thor comment would seem to indicate such), I think it’s noteworthy that someone who cleverly parodies an Obamaniac is almost nearly indistinguishable from a real one.
Like nishi. Or all the other ones who’ve shown up to do battle with this den of Hillarites or McCainiacs and/or other non-believers.
I’m not given to dopey Liberalism nor Right-wing retardation. I like John McCain. When he speaks, no matter how wrong I believe his opinion is, I listen. John McCain is, I believe, worthy of my respect. The same I say of Barack Obama. He’s a class act, and no, I don’t always agree with politically.
Most of you people need to find something better to do than sit there and project your prejudices toward either man. This is going to be a very cool election between two very good Americans. I like forward to the debates.
Peace.
like = look
I’m not given to dopey Liberalism nor Right-wing retardation. I like John McCain. When he speaks, no matter how wrong I believe his opinion is, I listen. John McCain is, I believe, worthy of my respect. The same I say of Barack Obama. He’s a class act, and no, I don’t always agree with politically.
Most of you people need to find something better to do than sit there and project your prejudices toward either man. This is going to be a very cool election between two very good Americans. I like forward to the debates.
Excellent, Thor. You said it. But there are some personality types that cannot just disagree or not like a politician/public figure. They must make them an enemy of the state and somehow divorce that person from the rest of humanity. The person they dislike must be less than an American and even a little less than a human. They are uncomfortable with any nuance – you will never hear them say “He’s a liberal, but I kinda like the guy or agree with them on this point”. Because ALL libruls are Teh Evil and Hate America, Israel, Freedom, Puppies and Love the Terrierists.
Protein Wisdom doesn’t have many people people posting or commenting who think that way. But it is unique. Because most of the popular blogs on both sides are popular because they are shrill echo chambers that believe that the other side’s is inherently evil and less than human. So prepare to see McCain – who is a very good guy by any standard – get tarred as some Evil Neocon Overlord who will push the nuke button on January 21st if elected (after unleashing floods, fires, and pestilence upon the poor). And be prepared to see Obama (who is also a good man by any standard) attacked as an Evil Communist working for the Jihadis, Communists, Secret Black Whitey-Killers, Marcus Garvey’s Rotting Corpse, and the Devil.
Fun times.
You know what the flip side of that is? The Cult of Personality. The notion that one’s favorite Messianic politico is above the criticism and questioning that is traditionally a part of shopping for an official to elect.
Not to single out anyone whose initials may or may not be thor.
Yes, elements from both sides use the same Four Horseman of the Apocalypse meme. We must vote out of fear of that unspeakable candidate from all the way there on the other side of the isle.
Ridiculousness is infinite. This Obama is too unbelievable. It makes me proud whenever I see him on TV. “Only in America,” and nobody has more faith in that most-American euphemism more than Barack Obama. Barack Obama is a believer in the American dream, fer-sure-fer-sure. Few have sacrificed more than McCain for the Stars and Stripes.
Both of ’em, I salute ’em.
“Only in Americaâ€Â
Why?
I believe Obama is a quality man as far as men go, Pablo. If you disagree, then it’s you, not me, who plays the part of the hysteric.
Obama is a stud. Get over it.
I’m looking for a President, thor, not a husband.
Separate the man from his politics, MayBee.
Self-made. American-made. With nothing more than the power and fury of his own making, his words. That one there, named Obama, he’s special.
So you don’t think in any other country a man from a middle-class background that got a scholarship to an exclusive High School and then went on to the best universities could go on to lead the country?
You have two excellent candidates with differing political perspectives to choose from, Pablo.
That’s how we do it in America.
Yeah Thor, I was was actually FLOORED when Prince Snippy secured the nomination over McCain in 2000. We were entirely too fat and happy due to the excess goodies of the 90s, I guess. He was clearly, ridiculously superior to Bush. I will never understand that one.
I agree, Lisa.
Yes, thor, and both of them are subject to a detailed inspection. That’s the way we do it in America.
Self-made. American-made. With nothing more than the power and fury of his own making, his words. That one there, named Obama, he’s special.
Why is he more special in his making than say, Bill Clinton or John Edwards or Ronald Reagan?
Maybee: He did some kind of funky chicken dance with Ellen Degeneres. That is quite special. Show me any candidate with the courage to do the funky chicken before God and Everyone and I will show you candidate with true courage and specialness.
[…] to avoid mentioning Barack Obama longstanding ties to ACORN, to which I would add that it is not the first time the paper has glossed over those ties: The paper misses that Acorn was also a former client of […]
Stupid Brack Obama he is looks like evil eared monkey. That’s disgusting his hair, gross
I can’t, don’t see his monkey shaped face, vomitable topside of head! CNN! less see his head especially back topside!. GROSS!!!
If america elected that monkey then america no hope no future. America will be kicked out.
America no more influence to the world. America can’t lead any more
I personally never emigarte to america and also remove CNN channel from my TV. African monkey become american president that is american great shame, great tragedy.