Barack Obama is a socialist.

We were pretty sure this was the case after he made his remarks about how bitter people in small towns cling to religion. As Bill Kristol points out, this is very similar to Karl Marx’ line about religion being the opiate of the masses, if not as eloquent as the original German “Die Religion … ist das Opium des Volkes.” Senator Joe Lieberman reinforced this, observing, “I’d hesitate to say he’s a Marxist, but he’s got some positions that are far to the left of me and I think mainstream America.”

Now, we learn that in 1965, when Obama was 4 years old, his dad, writing as “Barak H. Obama” (the Communist-preferred spelling) wrote an essay on “African Socialism and its Applicability to Planning in Kenya” that wasn’t particularly critical of socialism.

Q.E.D.

Now, it’s true that Obama has been quiet about his plans to nationalize all industry, removing it from the hands of the capitalists and moving it under the control of the proletariat. Also, if elected president, he’ll probably not be too eager to see the state wither away, at least for the next eight years. On the other hand, he does have a cult of personality, just like many famous Communists like Mao, Lenin, and Stalin. And some staffers in one of his Texas offices had Che Guevara flags hanging on their walls. It pretty much balances out.

In all seriousness, I think Lieberman’s on the right track, if rather disingenuous in his soft dismissal of the “Marxism” label. Obama’s a liberal Democrat who wants more government regulation of the economy, more redistribution of wealth, more deference to international institutions, more nationalization of medicine, and so forth and so on. Some of his policies — although probably none of his goals — are indeed “far to the left … of mainstream America.” He’s as close to a socialist as it gets in serious contenders for the presidency; but that’s not very close.

He’s part of a long movement that has adopted some of the tools of socialism in an effort to make society better, with decidedly mixed results. The state hasn’t taken over the means of production, but it has created layers of bureaucracy to oversee them. The tax code has more than a smattering of “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” And we’ve instituted speech codes and a thought police in our schools and institutions, ostracizing those who dare to speak other than the orthodox Truth.

Again, this is mostly, if not all, well-intentioned. These were all reactions against real injustices, if often over-reactions, that had negative unintended consequences. But Obama’s not talking about cleaning up these messes but rather moving further in that direction.

Ideally, we’d be discussing the policy preferences of the candidates and their likely consequences rather than bandying about silly labels. But that’s not how the game is played.

Thanks for the good laugh.

he wouldnt have the blind following if history was still taught.and not by liberal teachers.obama is scarry!i dont know how long america can last if kids arnt taught true history.they are taught america is the bad guy. and thats what obama preaches when we were not looking.

Piss on Obama! NO-BAMA08

History is not taught in school anymore?! And by liberal teachers? Obama preaches America is bad when people aren't looking?

I have a kid in school. Yep, there's alot of history homework.

OMG!!

Winx...I like the cut of your jib...lol

Yeah, sure ya do.

but I do....I really dooooo....lol

Now THERE'S a post I can disagree with without getting pissed off. It was well thought out, not generalized, provided some basis for the arguments, and left me with something to think about. I can deal with that, even if I don't agree.

Hmmm...I thought it was a cut and paste.

He didn't quote it and I haven't seen it. I assumed it was his.

a new drama unfolds.....

I don't know for sure either. I assumed it was.

I am curious if it is cut and paste or not. Just am.

Well, I think we've given him enough time to clarify. I had begun to lean toward 'cut and paste' since he has been posting but didn't come back here to set the record straight.

Here's the link to the article.

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/barack_obama_the_socialist/

James Joyner, April 15th, 2008


None of it was his.

Thanks. Good research on your part, btw.

I don't care if it's cut and paste or not. But...I would like to know if it is original.

Problem - the site source is extremely biased.

I never claimed to have written it...although I wish I had...actually...I thought it was too well written for the average poster...me included...remember...just because my head comes to a point...doesn't mean I'm sharp !!...I didn't write that either...but...I wish I had...lol

Hang around then. There ARE some "un-average" posters on here.

People do like to see the source, though. It does help us to know if it's original or not.

Cut and paste isn't so bad, as long as you can acually come back behind it and post some original thought on the issue.
I use the cut and paste to present topics, to spawn discourse, I think it works, but I also have plenty that my brain spits out in regard to these topics!