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Obama's Early Writing on Chicago was Eerily Prophetic
The Chicago Reader ^ | January 9, 2017 | Ben Joravsky

Posted on 01/16/2017 8:59:47 PM PST by PBRCat

I re-read Barack Obama's autobiography. I revisited the book to help me think through Obama's relationship with Chicago, and what his departure means for our since he's not coming back here. I found a lot of reminders that as much as Chicago loves to claim Obama as its own, he was never really ours.

Obama settled in Chicago by happenstance. He wanted to be a community organizer and he couldn't find a job anywhere else. He arrived in 1985 at the age of 24. He'd already lived in New York, California, Hawaii, and Indonesia. The son of a man from Kenya and a mother from Kansas was very much trying to figure out who he was, where he belonged, and what he wanted to do.

And so he turned himself into a decent replica of a real Chicagoan for the decade or so he was here. He settled in Hyde Park. Joined Jeremiah Wright's church. Made the right liberal connections. Successfully ran for the Illinois state senate. He professed a loyalty to our sports teams. He even became one of those insufferable Sox fans who dislike the Cubs, though he probably cared for one team about as much as the other—which is not very much at all.

Politically speaking, he was the quintessential Chicago liberal. He pushed hard for the right causes, like more school funding, but he knew enough to avoid direct confrontations with Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Was Obama's Chicago conversion genuine? By my read, it was a little calculated. It seems to me Obama was just passing through, looking to get out almost as he got in. In 2000, he unsuccessfully ran against Bobby Rush for congress. In 2004, he got out for good, getting elected to the U.S. Senate.

Did he use us? A little.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagoreader.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: chicago; elections; obama; opportunism
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All of the fools in Chicago think that Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Truth be told, the opportunist in chief never gave a damn for anyone, but himself.
1 posted on 01/16/2017 8:59:47 PM PST by PBRCat
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To: PBRCat

He sure managed to piss off roughly $110 million, IIRC, of Chicago Annenburg Challenge loot and achieve nothing for education in Chicago.


2 posted on 01/16/2017 9:01:59 PM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: PBRCat

For all his other faults, Bill Ayers was a fine writer.


3 posted on 01/16/2017 9:06:35 PM PST by PGR88
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To: PBRCat

Bookmark


4 posted on 01/16/2017 9:11:04 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.)
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To: PBRCat

“He wanted to be a community organizer and he couldn’t find a job anywhere else.”

LOL


5 posted on 01/16/2017 9:18:32 PM PST by Eleutheria5 (“If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.)
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To: PBRCat

6 posted on 01/16/2017 9:21:39 PM PST by Beave Meister (Leave the gun. Take the cannoli....)
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To: PBRCat

The schadenfreude, it’s delicious.


7 posted on 01/16/2017 9:27:49 PM PST by Albion Wilde ("Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo."--Donald Trump)
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To: Beave Meister

I would also add, Sold More Guns than any Gun salesperson.


8 posted on 01/16/2017 9:28:16 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: PBRCat

C’mon Windy Citians ...
Your boy was every bit as sincere as Hillary wearing a Chicago cap on one head and a Yankees cap on her other head.
Suckers!


9 posted on 01/16/2017 9:28:50 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers, all armed conservatives)
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To: PBRCat

The author of this lovefest with Obama is pretty ignorant abut who aided Obama’s rise and how his political coup in 1994 happened re his keeping leftist Alice Palmer from running for a third term in the Illinois State Senate.

Mayor Harold Washington’s successful mayoral campaign in the 1980’s was planned and aided in part, possibly a great part by one David Simon Canter. Canter was a “power broker and major player” in the Democrat machine, but he was an even more important “guiding hand” for the Communist Party of Illinois and most likely the KGB.

His grandfather was an early Soviet supporter, taking his family to the “new” Soviet Union in the late 20’s or early 30’s, and worked for Stalin’s organizations. He shows up in FBI “insider” reports on the CP of Illinois/Chicago meetings of the late 30’s thru either 1940 or 41 when the reports stopped (at least those in the National Archives collection).

Harry’s son David became very active in CPUSA fronts and causes, including the UE (Electrical Workers) union, among other organizations. He was identified as a covert member of the CPUSA in the House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings “Communist Outlets for the Distribution of Soviet Propaganda in the United States, Part 1”, May 9, 10, 17; July 12, 1962, including his testimony.

David became one of the brains behind the rise of Mayor Washington and other leftists. His son Marc confirmed that his father “knew” Barack Obama but refused to provide any details.

Canter’s political buddy is admitted old Marxist Don Rose, with whom they had joint ventures in publishing, etc.

And in the meeting that gave Obama the Illinois State Senate nomination instead of Alice Palmer retaining it, Canter’s fellow CPUSA member Milton Cohen was there along with id. CP member Dr. Quentin Young, Obama’s private physician and “universal health insurance” advisor.

The room was full of commies of all types from Bill Ayers to Young/Cohen, etc.

That is how Obama got out of Chicago, to the State Senate and upwards to become the first Marxist president of the United States.
His son, David


10 posted on 01/16/2017 9:31:06 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: PBRCat

I have no idea what this article is trying to say


11 posted on 01/16/2017 9:43:23 PM PST by nikos1121 (I would love to see Rudy in charge of the FBI)
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To: PBRCat

Article needs a Barf alert.


12 posted on 01/16/2017 9:46:52 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

Thanks for the history. Makes sense. Failure is huge in so many areas that can be and will be fixed by eight years of patriotic Americans in DC. The first failure? Jack Ryan’s sin of adultery was used by the media to open the door for Obama in 2004.

Trump is bringing back jobs and building a wall: two things that will increase America and decrease evil communism.


13 posted on 01/16/2017 9:50:43 PM PST by Falconspeed ("Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94))
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To: nikos1121

Having lived in the Chicago area previously I came across the Reader from time to time. Your reaction is the same I had to EVERY article I read. Useless liberal rag.


14 posted on 01/16/2017 9:51:29 PM PST by The Truth Will Make You Free
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To: PBRCat

Obama didn’t settle into Chicago by “happenstance”. Chicago was the home of his communist mentor (and possibly real father ) Frank Marshall Davis. Obama wanted to connect up with Frank’s old crew.


15 posted on 01/16/2017 9:57:27 PM PST by SauronOfMordor (Socialists want YOUR wealth redistributed, never THEIRS!)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

Sinclair had a lasting effect it seems. It sounds like his narrative lasted longer than he did.


16 posted on 01/16/2017 10:11:02 PM PST by Snowybear
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To: PBRCat
Obama settled in Chicago by happenstance.

Wow it just so happenstanced the Subud cult that he, his momma, and Loretta Fuddy are members of have HQ's in Chicago and Hawaii.

17 posted on 01/16/2017 10:14:18 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed,)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
All very true.

OTOH, THE READER is free paper ( BIRDCAGE LINER ), which is extremely lefty in ALL things.

And the reasons that Washington was a FAILED mayor, is the complete opposite of what the stupid author quotes wee barry as claiming and he claiming as well.

WHEN, IN A BLIZZARD, YOU SEND THE SALT TRUCKS AND PLOWS TO THE SOUTH SIDE AND IGNORE THE NORTH SIDE, TO THE EXTENT THAT ALL OF THE MARKETS CAN'T OPEN ON TIME, BECAUSE THE ROADS HAVEN'T BEEN CLEARED BEFORE "THE BELL", ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE !

18 posted on 01/16/2017 10:41:57 PM PST by nopardons
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To: PBRCat

Gee. Is this writer actually surprised?


19 posted on 01/16/2017 11:52:00 PM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper; SJackson

Interesting, very interesting.


20 posted on 01/16/2017 11:53:31 PM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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