Diagnosis Barack Obama

by Dan Proft

Maybe his friend Oprah can hook him up with Dr. Phil?

After watching Sen. Barack Obama's major speech on race in America yesterday (read: Rev. Jeremiah Wright), I am convinced he is dissociative.

Webster's dictionary defines the psychological condition of dissociation as "the separation of whole segments of the personality or of discrete mental processes from the mainstream of consciousness or of behavior."

Obama's speech was thoughtful, history-rich, deftly composed, and, in parts, refreshingly candid about racial divides in America and the sources of those divides.

However, he spoke as if he was an innocent bystander to the history he recounted.

Obama's discussed our nation's failings as though he was powerless to act previously or presently.

Obama lamented, "Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still haven't fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today's black and white students."

That is true.

Although I would offer another notion that may help explain those achievement gaps. What ab out the cowardly politicians in the pockets of the teachers unions who pay lip service to education while they let generations of low income kids be forced into schools that they know will fail them?

That is what Obama did as a state senator representing Chicago's south side. And that helps explain why, when he left his state senate seat, there were more than 12,000 kids in failing schools in his district (according to the No Child Left Behind standards).

Obama had seven years in the Illinois General Assembly to do something about perhaps the worst urban public school system in America. He did nothing except propagate the status quo. It is Sen. Obama who has countenanced the pernicious philosophy of "separate but equal" for the children of low income families during his time in public life.

Obama called for white and black middle class Americans to focus on the "real culprits of the middle class squeeze" decrying a Washington that is "dominated by lobbyists and special interests."

Yet, as Illinois annually contends for the title of most politically corrupt state in America, what was Obama's record here?

Well, last week Obama appeared before the editorial boards of both Chicago daily newspapers to answer questions about his association with Tony Rezko, an influence-peddling, fundraising impresario who is under federal indictment for a variety of alleged pay-to-play schemes that involved shaking down companies that did business with the state of Illinois. In other words, illegal special interest politics.

Late last year Obama pegged the total amount of campaign contributions he had received from Rezko in the $50K range. Upon further review, Obama disclosed last week that the number is more like $250K.

Moreover, while Rezko was widely reported to be the subject of an ongoing federal probe in 2005, Obama transacted a hinky land deal with him that ultimately resulted in Obama purchasing a parcel of land from Rezko for about $300,000 less than the original asking price.

Obama now calls the land deal with Rezko a mistake.

Obama has also refused to take money from lobbyists and PACs--in his presidential campaign. That is a luxury he can now afford.

When it was not such a luxury regarding the financing of his campaigns in Illinois, Obama was not so doctrinaire, choosing instead the path of least resistance relative to "special interest" campaign cash. This is typical of how Obama cleverly dissociates himself from such previous unpleasantries, as if it was a failure of the system he wants to fix and not his personal choice.

Following the Obama editorial sit-down with the Chicago Tribune, columnist John Kass quoted Obama as saying, "I know that there are those, like John Kass, who would like me to decry Chicago politics more frequently. I'll leave that to his commentary..."

The implication of Obama's glib remark is that it is not his job to rail against rampant political corruption in Chicago and Illinois. That is a job for op-ed writers. When, in fact, that is precisely part the job, particularly in Illinois, of someone who seeks to be a leader in public life.

The operative word being "leader".

When Obama fails to venture into the fray, we are told that he is transcending politics as we know it. What it may instead be is a willingness to do the right thing amidst controversy or political danger only as a last resort.

And that brings us to good ole Uncle Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor and spiritual advisor.

Obama's answers to even the most basic, staple questions from the media about his relationship with Wright and his knowledge of Wright's views have clearly "evolved" over the last several days as the controversy went from percolating to boiling over.

I will leave the parsing of words to Obama and rather note the more general observation that, here again, for two decades Obama had the opportunity to go on the record, publicly or even privately (of which he has made no mention to date), and rebuke Jeremiah Wright's hate-filled spewage.

For two decades, Obama had the opportunity to open up the frank and rational discussion on race that he was forced to endeavor to facilitate yesterday in order to create space in the public's consciousness between Wright and him.

For two decades, Obama chose to instead go along to get along--with a radical, anti-American, bile-discharging "man of God", just as he did with the Chicago political machine bosses and their financiers.

Do I think Obama subscribes to the kooky conspiracy theories and overheated rhetoric of Jeremiah Wright? No, I do not. That is only my sense from those who know him well, however, because Obama certainly has not earned the benefit of the doubt on this score.

Going along to get along, not standing up when he knew better, has finally caught up with Barack Obama.

The consequence is that Obama will not be able to dissociate from this political reality: his 35-minute treatise on race relations in America will quickly evaporate into the ether whereas the videos of Rev. Jeremiah "God Damn America" Wright's fire-breathing denunciations of the "U.S. of KKK A" are hermetically sealed to his candidacy.

Comments

Wow, this is the guy who is responsible for the following losses:

2002: Pat O'Malley
2004: Jack Ryan/Alan Keyes
2006: Steve Rauschenberger/Ron Gidwitz/Tony Peraica
2008: I won't say Oberweis, but his business partners were heavily involved.

Do you want to hear political analysis from this guy? I don't!

[1988]

To the commenter above, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[Pat Hickey Chicago, IL]

I am just glad that Barack has come clean about that racist, cringe inducing, white haired old Granny of his - now there truly is a bridge spanning the racial divide in this country!

For a Truly Just Dish - there is can be no Peas!

[Jim]

Barack does not get it. This issue is not about race relations. It is about a hateful man who Barack looks up to and is a father figure for Barack. Funny how Barack cringed when his white Grandmother spoke but not when Rev. spoke about hate and sex in church.

[Christian Prophet]

The purpose of Barack Obama's speech on race was to distract attention. He would be in serious trouble if a spotlight was shined on the non-racial aspects of his THEOLOGY. See:
http://christianprophecy.blogspot.com/

[Pat Hickey]

Like this from the core beliefs of his Church ( Black Liberation Theology of Pastor Cone - Jeremiah Wright's Teacher):

'Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.'

Lovely.

[Mark Kulp]

Thank you for this Dan. I am tied of the love fest with Obama. He has done little but show up and vote present.

[Stevan]

"Wow, this is the guy who is responsible for the following losses..."

If you, as you say, are not interested in reading his political analysis - then don't. Exactly how many state races have Republicans won since 1998? How many Cook County races have Republicans won since 1990? Dan Proft is not serving time in a federal prison. Dan Proft is not a potential witness at the Rezko trial. Dan Proft didn't make Alan Keyes insane. Dan Proft didn't tell Jack Ryan to ask his wife to go to a sex club.

How many elections have you won?

[Jerry]

Exactly, Stevan. Dan, I loved your post, and your analysis. Obama-in-a-Vacuum.

[Dirty Bath Water]

This article is a great example of how Britney Milorad Obama operates. Uses pretty words to obfuscate his screw ups and divert attention from the real issue. He uses Blago style answers, or none at all, until the real truth comes out. Then he explains the mistake with some B.S. excuse or says "that was bone headed of me". It's the "Oops, did it again" Barack in action spinning away. What amazes me is that most Americans are so taken by his oratory, they think he can be and is the real deal. There was a great orator in the 1930's most people thought was harmless, even a great hope for the future of their country. How wrong they were. Its good the press has taken off the kid gloves and is looking deeper and bringing up Barack's past. I don't believe he is as squeaky clean as he presents himself. But no matter what comes out no one will believe it. Americans are stupid. They do what Oprah tells them to do, don't they?

[Mark Kulp]

"Wow, this is the guy who is responsible for the following losses...2004: Jack Ryan..."
It really upset me when the Republican party bailed on Jack Ryan. They should of backed him to the end instead of bringing in an out-of-towner. Mr. Ryan should have insisted that his divorce was a private matter. Most/all divorces are messy. The lawyers depend on it and some even stir the pot. Then they can bill until the money is dried up...
Some in the Republican party seem to be ready to bail on Oberweis as well. The problem is NOT Jim Oberweis, it is the lovefest with Obama. Obama brought a lot of voters to the polls and that worked in favor of Oberweis' opponent. Come November, if Obama is their candidate, there should be enough negative information for an Oberweis victory. If it is Hillary, many Dems may just stay home.

[yonason]

Thanks for the information on his South Side "leadership."

I wasn't aware of that. It's a real pity that when people are asked what he's done they can't think of anything, when they could easily be ticking off all the things he could have, but hasn't, done.

[YNM]

A couple here already hit the nail on the head, partly. Dan Proft might not be my first choice for political analysis.

There might be a bigger issue here though ... I definitely wouldn't turn to Dan Proft as an expert on integrity. Period.