First it was Barack Obama's encounter with Joe the Plumber. Then there was his 2001 interview at Chicago radio station. Today, Ed Morrissey at Hot Air highlights yet another in what is turning out to be a long line of links and other items proving that Democratic candidate Barack Obama is a longtime dedicated, doctrinnaire soc-, soc-, (yes, we're still allowed to say it) socialist.
It comes from the March-April 1996 edition of New Ground, a publication of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America (CDSA).
I'll cite the relevant verbiage after the jump. But what's more important, I will show just how easy it would have been for a journalist searching Google to find this item. The fact that either no one found this, or that those who might have found it obviously ignored it, shows just how lazy and/or negligent Old Media has been in vetting the Illinois senator's fitness to be president.
Here's what Obama had to say at "A Town Meeting on Economic Insecurity: Employment and Survival in Urban America" on February 25, 1996 in Chicago (bullets added by me for clarity, bold is mine):
One of the themes that has emerged in Barack Obama's campaign is "what does it take to create productive communities", not just consumptive communities. It is an issue that joins some of the best instincts of the conservatives with the better instincts of the left. He felt the state government has three constructive roles to play.
- The first is "human capital development". By this he meant public education, welfare reform, and a "workforce preparation strategy". Public education requires equality in funding. It's not that money is the only solution to public education's problems but it's a start toward a solution. The current proposals for welfare reform are intended to eliminate welfare but it's also true that the status quo is not tenable. A true welfare system would provide for medical care, child care and job training. While Barack Obama did not use this term, it sounded very much like the "social wage" approach used by many social democratic labor parties. By "workforce preparation strategy", Barack Obama simply meant a coordinated, purposeful program of job training instead of the ad hoc, fragmented approach used by the State of Illinois today.
- The state government can also play a role in redistribution, the allocation of wages and jobs. As Barack Obama noted, when someone gets paid $10 million to eliminate 4,000 jobs, the voters in his district know this is an issue of power not economics. The government can use as tools labor law reform, public works and contracts.
- Finally, Illinois needs an industrial strategy. How do we create more jobs for everyone? Illinois has no strategy for encouraging high wage, high productivity jobs.
How easy would it have been to find the CDSA event? As easy as typing "Obama 1996 socialist meeting" (without quotes) in Google:
Note that all items above the CDSA link I just referenced are from October. This means that as little as three weeks ago, and for the nearly two preceding years, that CDSA link would more than likely have appeared at the very top.
The search string would have been a logical one to try. 1996 was the first year Obama ran for public office. Anyone curious about his possible socialist tendencies (especially in Chicago, where he was a known "community organizer") would have wondered if he had attended any meetings
They say curiosity killed the cat. Perhaps, but in this case lack of curiously is killing Old Media.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
What did the 5 fingers say
October 28, 2008 - 14:45 ET by AeroSpearWhat did the 5 fingers say to the face? SMACK
Big Surprise--NOT
October 28, 2008 - 14:48 ET by MNotaroOf course the media can't find anything that is negative on Obama or his campaign....The MSM is full of liberal left wing illuminati and they have so much power and influence over the public, McCain is doomed...the MSM refuses to report on the news if it doesn't benefit Obama's camp, therefore keeping this election from being fair to busy Americans who turn on the tv at night to "catch up" and aren't getting a realistic account of the news!
But he's not a
October 28, 2008 - 15:03 ET by NewsbusterbrownBut he's not a socialist!
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
is it too late
October 28, 2008 - 15:06 ET by JIMMY1660all these indicators are in the face-isn't anyone listening?what happens if and when they come for your savings,401K/IRA, and give to some dead beat.\
i need someone to, in person, take my money. cold day in hell my friends.
would make the Boston Tea Party look like a cake walk!!
allow me to Love America
"Finally, Illinois needs an
October 28, 2008 - 15:14 ET by Chris Norman"Finally, Illinois needs an industrial strategy."
Yeah, they needed a "Five Year Plan" and a "Great Leap Forward". The age old dream of socialists and liberals (socialist lites) - the planned economy.
McNotObama '08
Well, if someone's planning
October 28, 2008 - 19:32 ET by IndigoChillWell, if someone's planning our economy that just means we don't have to worry about it. You could say it follows a vetted business model. Why don't you want a planned economy?
MSM / War in Iraq
October 28, 2008 - 15:16 ET by BluegillAll we have heard the last few years is the MSM kicking itself for NOT asking tough questions about the war. How soon they forget, will they kick themselves if BHO ruins our country? The MSM must have other motives since they have lost half the viewers, I think something is up their sleeves. Gov't subsidies?
Close
October 28, 2008 - 16:08 ET by retroconFairness doctrine applied to everyone, with the middle starting at the far left.
You rebaseline what is considered to be unbiased and moderate so that it starts about Obama's politics.
Then you say, screw it, since fed dollars fund a lot of the intranet and public institutions make up a lot of the infrastructure, since cable is under public land, since satellite is on "publicly leased" airwaves... everything becomes subject to the Fairness Doctrine.
With a left leaning (falling) standard for what is unbiased, they own all propoganda under the new regime.
That's what's in it for them. Olbermaniac - Minister of News, Williams - Minister of Electionnering, Matthews - Minister of leg shaking.
" Obama Promoted
October 28, 2008 - 15:23 ET by Chris Norman" Obama Promoted Redistribution at a Socialist Group's Meeting in 1996; Media Could Easily Have Found"
They were busy burying this stuff rather than digging for it.
McNotObama '08
Obama Already Vetted....
October 28, 2008 - 15:30 ET by deerjerkydaveSo when Harry Smith at CBS news says that Obama has already been vetted, it must be code words for, "we in the liberal media are done looking for critical evidence against Obama."
Teat-Seeking Obamabots
October 28, 2008 - 16:06 ET by right_is_rightIt's easy to see why McCain's "Country First" slogan doesn't appeal to these teat-seakers. At 1:38 this obamabot abandons JFK's "Ask not..." mantra and lets his socialist "What's in it for me?" flag fly.
http://www.wpxi.com/video/17816924/index.html
"...and lets his socialist
October 28, 2008 - 16:29 ET by Chris Norman"...and lets his socialist "What's in it for me?" flag fly."
And you can check "what's in it" for you by going to his web site and using the handy-dandy "tax cut" calculator he provides to show how much he'll pay you to vote for him.
McNotObama '08
Chicago DSA
October 28, 2008 - 16:13 ET by yidwithlidThank you
I have been covering this since last may and am happy other people are picking it up. The March/April Meeting gives you insight into Obama's tax Plan
Sammy Benoit
Yidwithlid
Http://yidwithlid.bl...
The search doesn't have to be that specific.
October 28, 2008 - 17:01 ET by dammitI did a search using obama 1996 meetings. It came up right at the top.
There is no excuse for any so called "journalist", other than being in the tank.
As my wife said to me "I guess you wont be voting for Obama." this was after she read my web site www.paulwilson.com
If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me
Try using Googles 2001 search
October 29, 2008 - 11:10 ET by kufir77www.google.com/search2001.html
This gives you the results you would get if you searched in the year 2001. You can find this page pretty easy just by searching for "obama socialist".
Heck, searching for "obama" only gives you 4400 results, as opposed to millions today. Kind of fun to play around with.
Thanks for that ...
October 29, 2008 - 14:23 ET by Tom Blumer..... will remember for the future.
The problem isnt that the
October 28, 2008 - 18:42 ET by play21cwThe problem isnt that the MSM didnt find it.. the problem is that they didnt LOOK
Obama a socialist?
October 28, 2008 - 22:20 ET by weirdone“To avoid being mistaken for a sell out, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students, The foreign students, The Chicanos, The Marxist Professors and the structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets.” Barak Obama from “Dreams of My Father.
His father, the focus of his book, was a card carrying member of the Communist Party in Kenya. His mentor growing up was Frank Marshall Davis, the poet he mentions above, a Communist Party member, his mentor in collage, Saul Alinski, a Marxist. His pastor the reverend Wright also a Marxist as are his friends Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorn Ayers and Mike Kolnsky, all Marxists. An early “Official Blogger” on his own web site, Sam Graham Felsen a Marxist. He has been endorsed by Carl Davison a Marxist who serves as a national steering committee member of United for Peace and Justice a Marxist organization. He supports, and has campaigned for Kenya’s Raila Odinga, his cousin, a Marxist terrorist. He trained organizers for and served as a lawyer for, ACORN, a Marxist organization. He advocates redistribution the wealth an idea right out of Karl Marx’s writings: In order for a government to redistribute wealth they must first confiscate it from those who have produced it as government only consumes wealth they do not produce it. Guilt by association; or birds of a feather perhaps? Why should anyone be supprised?
The government can use as
October 28, 2008 - 23:34 ET by HermanoThis statement made me think of something very bad. I heard that in Italy, there is a law that basically allows people to work for a company until they retire. If they are laid off, they still get paid by the company, until they find a new job. Now while this may have changed in the last decade or so, it brought to mind that the government could enact a similar law. Of course, the major fallout for that would be many companies would leave the US. I would.
http://theobamafile.com/
Where is the McCain campaign?
October 29, 2008 - 10:40 ET by Anchor89The criticism of the Media for not doing any investigative journalism on Obama is certainly valid. However, my question is where has the McCain Campaign or the Republican party been? When Sarah Palin was selected as McCain's VP, within days, Alaska was invaded by Democrat investigators who looked under every rock to find dirt. Why has this not been done by anyone in the McCain campaign or the Republican party on Obama or his group of American-hating friends from Chicago?
That ....
October 29, 2008 - 14:25 ET by Tom Blumer.... is a more than fair question.
If they're attempting to outsource it to the center-right blogs, I wish they'd at least tell us.
If Obama is a socialist...
October 29, 2008 - 14:37 ET by Ubercon...what is Sarah Palin?
From her many speeches...
"See, under a big government, more tax agenda, what you thought was
yours would really start belonging to somebody else, to everybody else.
If you thought your income, your property, your inventory, your
investments were, were yours, they would really collectively belong to
everybody. Higher taxes, more government, misusing the power to tax
leads to government moving into the role of some believing that
government then has to take care of us. And government kind of moving
into the role as the other half of our family, making decisions for us.
Now, they do this in other countries where the people are not free."
"And Alaska - we're set up, unlike other states in the union, where
it's collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth
when the development of these resources occurs."
Seems to me Sarah has embraced the concept of Socialism and actually implemented the concept in her own State of Alaska.
Übercon
...astutely keeping a Schadenfreude. Your reaction is Übercon's Schadenfreude!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
uber-dope
October 29, 2008 - 14:45 ET by LionKingWow! Revenue sharing versus taking from the rich to give to the lazy.
BIG DIFFERENCE!!!
not so much lion
October 29, 2008 - 14:53 ET by candanceShe imposed a revenue tax on oil companies and used government checks to spread it around like welfare.
Same concept.
Change is what you're left with when you've spent all your dollars.
candance?
October 29, 2008 - 14:55 ET by LionKingDid everyone get money? Did everyone get the same amount?
who cares??
October 29, 2008 - 14:57 ET by candanceIt's not the government's business to do that regardless of how "equally" the government checks are dispersed.
Change is what you're left with when you've spent all your dollars.
Bullcrap
October 29, 2008 - 15:11 ET by Tom BlumerYou prefer that she hoarded it for the state or ramped up state spending?
The revenue glut was a pleasant surprise. She reacted appropriately.
Your line of argument is desperately dishonest.
oh come on
October 29, 2008 - 16:03 ET by candanceThe revenue glut was not a "surprise" when Palin specifically pushed to raise taxes on the oil companies. And no, they didn't have to pad government coffers or boost state spending - they could have let the oil companies keep more of their own profits to invest in refineries and exploration.
Whatever happened to laissez faire???
Change is what you're left with when you've spent all your dollars.
Huhhh?
October 29, 2008 - 16:25 ET by UberconÜbercon
The revenue glut was a pleasant surprise. She reacted appropriately.
Try this on for size...She distributed money to every Alaskan whether they deserved or not. The money she received from the oil companies could have been used on more drilling rigs and development of the resources for a better energy independence policy for the whole nation. How's that?
Ubercon
...astutely keeping a Schadenfreude. Your reaction is Übercon's Schadenfreude!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
Socialism...
October 29, 2008 - 15:00 ET by UberconLK,
All you have to do is be a resident of Alaska to receive a check, correct? Hmmm...what if every resident of the United States were to follow the same model as Alaska? Would you want a test of productivity for each resident?
Übercon
...astutely keeping a Schadenfreude. Your reaction is Übercon's Schadenfreude!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
Ubercon: Seems to me your
October 29, 2008 - 15:13 ET by bassndudeUbercon: Seems to me your very lacking in the history here. Alaska is mostly owned by "Alaskans". It is mostly public lands. Not private property, as in your native state. Alaska is unique in this reguard. Always has been. In Alaska, you can still homestead land. Just go out into the wilderness, pick you out a spot, drive in your stake, and register your claim at the claims office. Unlike the rest of the states, where the owner of the land gets the royalities from the oil, in Alaska, all citizens get the royalties, because it comes from public land. That is not socialism. It is citizens reaping the benefits from state owned lands. Now, if you find gold in your back yard, who would get the gold? You? Or the goverment? Or the one that owns the mineral rights? Alaska has distributed the oil royalties among the citizens long before Sarah took office.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
well ubercon
October 29, 2008 - 14:52 ET by candanceI would like to hear more about why Palin signed on with the tax hike in Alaska and the welfare check she sent to her constituents to help with heating costs. The GOP has never addressed that.
But that said, just because you have some fishy quote from Palin doesn't mean it's okay for Obama to institute socialism, and I grew quite weary of the left's constant habit of saying "Republicans do it too" when they are challenged on an issue.
Change is what you're left with when you've spent all your dollars.
Agreed...
October 29, 2008 - 16:17 ET by Uberconcandance,
This continued attack on socialism is plain stupid for all intents and purposes. Any type of tax, earmark, appropriation...etc., is a redistribution of wealth. The parasitic nature of government is itself a form of socialism. We pay into our society. You can try to say it's something other than socialism, it's still socialism only redefined as something more palatable. The inequality between the highest and lowest earners has increased over the years due in part to ineptitude on both sides of the aisle and the lack of oversight of the abusers of the system.
Übercon
...astutely keeping a Schadenfreude. Your reaction is Übercon's Schadenfreude!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
no uber
October 29, 2008 - 16:30 ET by candanceWe don't agree on that. Apparently you missed the part where I said I hate socialism and wish to continue the "attack" on it.
Taxes are supposed to pay for military, police, and other essential government functions. That's not the same as seizing wealth for the express purpose of passing out welfare.
Not all government spending is created equal.
The inequality between the highest and lowest earners has increased over the years
Oh yeah, I love those good old days when you stayed in the social class you were born in and could not go to college without a family fortune to pay for it. I love when you had to save up for a decade to get a mortgage. Like when every family did well to own one car and stock options were only for managers.
The middle class in America is better off than any other middle class on earth. If I don't get up early every morning to oversee Donald Trump's business affairs then it is not "unequal" for me to have a smaller paycheck.
Equal opportunity. NOT equal results.
Holy smokes, can!
October 29, 2008 - 16:40 ET by BlondeThat post earns you my boots.
Best post I've seen in weeks!
In his own words (19 seconds): This man is qualified to be VP?
Welcome to the good ol'days...
October 29, 2008 - 16:56 ET by Uberconcandance,
Oh yeah, I love those good old days when you stayed in the social class
you were born in and could not go to college without a family fortune
to pay for it. I love when you had to save up for a decade to get a
mortgage. Like when every family did well to own one car and stock
options were only for managers.
Ummm...candance, that's actually happening as we speak. It's been happening for quite a while now. Going to college costs a small fortune, mortgages are hard to come by, one car families are increasing as they opt out of having two cars, stock options aren't worth anything as the "managers" have sold off their shares.
I agreed with you, by the way, I wasn't expecting you to agree with my statements.
candance, as Christian do you have a problem with this photo?
Übercon,
...astutely keeping a Schadenfreude. Your reaction is Übercon's Schadenfreude!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
stop the spinning
October 29, 2008 - 17:04 ET by candanceGoing to college costs a small fortune, mortgages are hard to come by, one car families are increasing as they opt out of having two cars, stock options aren't worth anything as the "managers" have sold off their shares.
The cost of college is directly related to the degree you attain and the facility you attend. I can go to UNCG and get the exact same degree for half the price of getting it at Wake Forest. I can get a BS in Comp Sci for cheaper than a Doctorate in medicine because I'm not using as many of the school's resources for as long a time. I can keep my grades up in high school, perhaps excell at some sport, and compete for scholarships to help absorb the cost.
Bargain hunters find ways to make college cheaper all the time. And anyway, the cost of your degree is usually related to the salary you end up with, as doctors earn more than business analysts, meaning the path to get there should be more competitive.
It's a myth that college is too expensive in America.
As for your other point, mortgages have become "hard to come by" within the last six months now that we have discovered government meddling in subprime mortgages was a bad idea.
If you think giving a 70K mortgage to a factory worker with almost no down payment is a good thing then it's no wonder you're a lib.
Hm so let's not celebrate more people owning stock, let's just cry because those stock aren't making them rich enough? Oh, and by the way. when Obama imposes massive taxes on business and investors, wait for those stocks to be worth even less.
Edit: as to that photo, I had not seen that but am very disappointed by it. I would never lay hands on a statue of a bull to pray for something. That's just creepy.
Okay...
October 29, 2008 - 17:41 ET by Uberconcandance,
The environment you describe has dramatically changed. The future, for all intents and purposes, will require more money to go to a College/University. Competition for limited space, financial assistance, etc, will require a larger commitment from families to "foot" the bill for their kids. A degree from UNCG, Wake Forest, Duke is the same? Ummm...you get what you pay for. Welcome to the good ol' days. College costs continue to rise and could it possibly be caused by trying to make it more affordable by the Gov't?
As for a $70k mortgage for a factory worker...? Huhhh...? Average median home cost in the US is $203k...What kind of factory worker are you referring? Auto, Aircraft, Electronic...?
Hmmm.. so let's not celebrate more people owning stock, let's just cry
because those stock aren't making them rich enough?
Have you spoken to the thousands of Senior Citizens who were relying on their "nesteggs" to keep them out of poverty? Gone...
Oh, and by the way.
when Obama imposes massive taxes on business and investors, wait for
those stocks to be worth even less.
Ummm...if you've noticed the past year, the DOW went from 14,000 point to 9,000 points...stocks are worth a lot less without Obama in the White House.
Übercon
ps...as for the picture, right out of "The Ten Commandments"!
"The voice of dissent must be heard."-Henry Ford
wow uber
October 29, 2008 - 18:57 ET by candanceDegrees from UNCG and dook have different costs for different school reputations. Surprise surprise! I know that! That's why state schools were built to be cheap alternatives to private universities. It's called bargain hunting. Learn to get my point when I post things.
As for a $70k mortgage for a factory worker...? Huhhh...? Average median home cost in the US is $203k...What kind of factory worker are you referring? Auto, Aircraft, Electronic...?
This was taken from several experiences I have personally observed.
Have you spoken to the thousands of Senior Citizens who were relying on their "nesteggs" to keep them out of poverty? Gone...
I've also spoken to people who are sick of paying into Social Security when that entire program will be "gone" when they're old enough to retire.
Welcome to the good ol' days.
You're absolutely right. Government meddling in our affairs always causes this to happen. The Reagan Revolution had us back on the right track, but alas Dems and rinos are undoing everything that got accomplished then.
Good old days here we come indeed. Only I'm thinking more like USSR good times.