The thanks you get for helping out left-wing journalists
The Politico is touting an article about an academic paper written by Barack Obama’s father (currently featured on the front page of the website with a big photo–no need to link, I’ll let you look it up yourselves), but the Politico article is more interesting for what it omits than what it includes. The intro:
Barack Obama’s dad was such an important but absent figure in his life that he devoted his first book, Dreams From My Father, to the search for details about his father’s life and how the quest helped forge a son’s identity.
Now, a long-forgotten essay written 43 years ago by Obama’s father has surfaced, and its contents reveal much not only about the senior Obama’s grasp of economic theory but also the iconoclastic politics that, his son would later write, sent him into the spiral of career disappointment that concluded with his death in 1982 in his native Kenya.
Parts of the article, titled “Problems Facing Our Socialism,” have been making the rounds on several small blogs over the past week, but Politico is now reproducing the entire piece in its original form online for the first time.
Where did they get the essay? From blogger Greg Ransom at PrestoPundit, who dug it up at the UCLA library and published portions of it with his analysis last week here. The Politico writers e-mailed Ransom for a full copy of the paper, which Ransom helpfully provided them. Ransom also took the time to speak with Ressner.
The thanks he got for helping them out? Look:
Last week I sent Jeffrey Ressner and Ben Smith a copy of Barak Obama, Sr.’s paper “Problems for our Socialism” from the 1965 issue of East Africa Journal….I had a nice conversation with Ressner, but his article is a typical left of center MSM embarrassment. The article attacks my headline unfairly, completely misrepresents what I said, and deals with none of the rest of the content of my article. Mugged by the bastards in the MSM, I guess. It turns out Ressner is an Hollywood entertainment reporter. None of what I said to Ressner is quoted in the article. Smith and Ressner go to a professor for pull quotes to attack me. It’s very clear that the good professor did not read my article.
You’ll note that Ransom gets a scant two sentences’ mention in the Politico piece, while the professor gets nearly 600 words to refute him.
Fair and balanced!
Lesson learned for bloggers who dig up documents that MSM journalists want so they can publish it on their own site while trashing the bloggers who handed it to them:
Tell the professional journalists to go to the library and get the docs themselves.
***
Reminds me of my little interlude with The New Yorker.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » Those Dreams From His Father May Become Obama’s Nightmare
- Target Rich Environment » Blog Archive » 2nd Bad Idea of The Day: Who Said It?
- Obama’s Dad, A Marxist? « The American Nationalist News Service
- BizzyBlog » Couldn’t Help But Comment (041608)
- Michelle Malkin » Who says conservative bloggers don’t do reporting?
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Barack Obama
Mudville Gazette
» The five-year plan
Pundit & Pundette
» Hiding the decline: Deniers made them do itPower Line
» More From the East Anglia ArchivesFounding Bloggers
» Did The New York Times Just Tell Glenn Reynolds To “STFU”?Doug Ross @ Journal
» 'Hope is fading fast' --- the T-ShirtDoug Ross @ Journal
» BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Boston Globe Climate Beclownment SpectacularRadio Equalizer
» Media Matters Admits Rush Didn't Make Key Racist Remarks
The only thing that surprises me from this episode is that Ransom agreed to help them out in the first place.
Everything that followed was as predictable as the sun rising in the east.
That’s just so wrong on so many levels.
We live and we learn…well some of us do anyway.
Greg, they simply can’t help themselves and they wonder why people get their news from blogs.
Wow. The nut didn’t fall far from the nutbush.
Ack. Double post. Curse you FireFox!
Wouldn’t write a puff piece so you dodged them?
Those aren’t – gasp – Christmas trees in the airport behind them are they?
Do they teach this stuff in “journalism” school?
Did Politico not provide a link to Ransom’s full piece? And which piece, Politco or Ransom, provided the full text of Obama senior’s article rather than hand-picked selections?
Looks like the libs version of the Fairness Doctrine!
that’s what they teach in journalism schools these days.
I think it’s hilarious how Dr. Raymond Omwami (the professor cited in the Politico article) has the temerity to claim the views expressed in the elder Obama’s paper aren’t at the very least socialist. He describes the man as a liberal. If that’s his definition of a liberal, the idea of one running this country sends a chill down my spine.
You are all interpreting this from the wrong perspective! Bloggers don’t count as legitimate journalists, so there’s not need to credit them for their work!
*rolls eyes*
Er. *no need. (Sorry… I previewed the comment and everything, too!)
Texas Tiger, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
Exactly. Every now and then I’ll scan the archeology and science pages and email the more interesting ones to Michelle and Hot Air but otherwise, I’m here to read “the news”.
Puff piece? No, Michelle doesn’t need one. Accurate, truthful, yes.
Greg Ransom: Doing the journalistic digging the MSM won’t do..
terrig:
Thank you. Here, have a t-shirt.
“Theoretically, there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100 per cent of income so long as the people benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed.”
Oh my.
Jeffrey Ressner and Ben Smith, two more Geraldos in the MSM. Just so I am clear Jeffery and Ben; that was not a compliment.
Iconocloastic politics? Reads more like the 34th sub-delegate from Omsk.
Texas Tiger-I love it!
I just went and read the piece by Obama Sr. If it hadn’t said Africa and Kenya so many times you would swear it was something written by Karl Marx or Hillary Clinton. Just let the Asians and Europeans build it, then we will nationalize it and take it away from them and give it to unskilled laborers. It isn’t any wonder why Africa is Americas largest welfare beneficiary.
In Kenya while he was a Senator, Obama stumped for his cousin, opposition leader Raila Odinga, the son of Senior’s sister, a direct first cousin and nephew of Obama’s father.
On August 29, 2007, Raila Odinga and Shiekh Abdullah Abdi, chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which it pledges the support of Kenyan Moslems for Raila’s election. In return, as President of Kenya, Raila agrees … within 6 months re-write the Constitution of Kenya to recognize Shariah as the only true law sanctioned by the Holy Quran for Muslim declared regions [and] within one year to facilitate the establishment of a Shariah court in every Kenyan divisional headquarters — everywhere in Kenya, not just in “Muslim declared regions” — and to popularize Islam, the only true religion … by ordering every primary school in Kenya in the regions to conduct daily Madrassa classes.
Let’s take a look shall we?
-Cue sunshine and uplifting music-
Those eeeeevil, knee-jerk conservatives.
I don’t know why Ransom didn’t provide the full copy, but doing so is not proof of Smith & Ressner being fair or balanced.
The worst part of all of this is that Obama Jr can actually see the results of private land-grabs in Zimbabwe, but still seems inclined toward seeing out the “Dreams” of his father in the US.
The “Dinosaur Media” keeps stepping back into the tar pits despite the help of the new media. For the lazy MSM fact checking and sound research principles just don’t cut it and they wonder why the public no longer trusts them. You just can’t make this stuff up!
I guess what they say about staying away from wild animals that foam at the mouth, also goes for the MSM lefties.
#23 On April 15th, 2008 at 3:04 pm, Reg.conservative said:
“In Kenya while he was a Senator, Obama stumped for his cousin, opposition leader Raila Odinga, the son of Senior’s sister, a direct first cousin and nephew of Obama’s father.
On August 29, 2007, Raila Odinga and Shiekh Abdullah Abdi, chairman of the National Muslim Leaders Forum of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which it pledges the support of Kenyan Moslems for Raila’s election. In return, as President of Kenya, Raila agrees … within 6 months re-write the Constitution of Kenya to recognize Shariah as the only true law sanctioned by the Holy Quran for Muslim declared regions [and] within one year to facilitate the establishment of a Shariah court in every Kenyan divisional headquarters — everywhere in Kenya, not just in “Muslim declared regions” — and to popularize Islam, the only true religion … by ordering every primary school in Kenya in the regions to conduct daily Madrassa classes.”
Wow!
You’ve got guts to post that, Reg.conservative.
Real guts.
Speaking from personal experience at other threads at this blog; by citing and pointing out (i.e., drawing readers’ attention to) such unsettling aspects of Obama’s life, or family, or contacts, I believe you run a very great risk of incurring the ferocious, dismissive, scornful…but ultimately empty wrath of certain posters at Michelle’s blog.
You’ll be called a demagogue (and I forget what else).
You’ll be said, to your surprise (as I was said, to my surprise) to be citing credible evidence that Obama is a terrorist plant!
When all you’re doing is citing/listing unsettling item(s) about Obama.
But, I’ll bet you, like me, have rhinoceros hide, and that you will simply wave the gnats away.
Kaos,
The “loaded term in the title” comment was directed at Obama Sr’s original article not the Ransom article. Not sure if you were implying otherwise.
In so far as the Politico article was going to just discuss the content of the original Obama article, I think just some grateful attribution of source is necessary. To the extent that the Politico article starts critiquing the the Ransom article’s critique of Obama’s article (yeesh….my head hurts), they definitely should have given Ransom more time.
However, I do think that Ransom’s comment:
is disingenuous. I mean, that is the name of the article, right? Why should it be off limits to use it in full? Or could context possibly matter in the offensiveness or non-offensiveness of citing someone, I mean something’s, full name? hmmmm……
I am truly sorry granite. I don’t know how I could have misinterpreted your laundry list of foxworthy-like “you might be a muslim if…” comments coupled with this:
as possibly meaning you think there is credible evidence that Obama is a Muslim plant.
Yep, the MSM are doing the dishonest hit pieces that hard-working, fact-finding bloggers avoid like the plague.
Surprise, if you lie down with dogs you get fleas. The MSM has it’s agenda & facts be dammed if they get in the way.
Michelle offers:
I suggest telling them where to go but not to the library.
I learned a long time ago when I was the ‘token conservative’ talk show host on the local Pacifica radio station KPFT-FM, that when you deal with lefty media types, no good deed goes unpunished.
Oh, and, like father like son. That old turn of phrase really does apply in this circumstance.
Ah, Old Reliable again!
Then I guess you believe Daniel Pipes, the author of those words, also thinks that.
You will never, ever see…do not want to see,…or are too scared to see (denial can be so tough to overcome) that there just might be some risk in what I’m talking about.
You may not mind taking that risk.
You may not mind subjecting your family, friends, and neighbors to that risk.
You may think you’re so much smarter and more perceptive, so much more sophisticated,…just so much nicer than folks who connect the dots and see a pattern (yes, I know you will come up with some smart-ass remark about that).
Well, rejoice in your thinking; and dismiss and ridicule away.
When disaster strikes, you will be among the so-surprised (as another poster wrote at another thread), as sharia is inexorably, and bloodily, enforced: “But, but, but, we never fell for that scandalous, irresponsible demagogic silliness! We were far too smart to be suspicious of you! We were so nice to you!”
Hope that works out OK for ya.
Well, enough time wasted.
granite,
I accept that you believe what you believe re: Obama, and since any evidence to the contrary is in your mind simply to be dismissed as “taqiyya” I am sure that nothing anyone says will change your mind.
But don’t lie and say that you were “suprised” someone would accuse you of making this argument when you just admitted you made this argument.
This is what happens when you give into liberals. They take every chance to cut your throat. They play nice, just to get an angle for the kill shot. I hope people wake up, and learn their lesson here. Senator McCain should of learned this lesson long ago.
This coming from someone who willingly suspends their disbelief over the decisions/actions of liberals. You also seem to mischaracterize a lot of what many Conservatives say and do.
Granite never said he had proof. My question to you is: are you willing to accept a person who talks down to people, socialize our health care structure, and give terrorists a win?
That’s what I want to know. Yet I don’t see you defending your assertions half as much as does granite. Why is that, Chaps?
While neither admitting nor denying that Obama “talks down to people”, my opinion is that I am much less concerned that my candidate is considered “elitist” or a “snob” and more so with actual policy positions. I don’t think anyone could accuse GWB of being elitist or snobbish, and I am pretty sure that Washington, Jefferson and many other of our great presidents would be considered so. Seems to have little bearing on their actual performance in office.
Yes. I understand that I am in the minority here on this.
I suspect that you and I would have rather incompatible definitions of what “giving terrorists a win” means.
I’ve learned a couple of things in this thread: (i) Politico is part of the MSM; and (ii) Politico is a liberal blog (but a MSM blog).
emjem, well done and you make the point. You’re criticizing Obama’s policy positions…good for you. Granite is making a bizarre assertion which no credible journalist or political commentator anywhere would even remotely consider, and he expects folks to give him a pass and take him seriously. He’s not far off from the lovely young woman in this video in terms of his disconnected and loony tunes logic:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
I believe cousin Odinga lost the election. Then he, and his orange democratic party created death, chaos and anarchy until the president elect agreed to share power with cousin Odinga in an effort to stop the violence started by Barracks cousin.
One of Barrack’s cousins demands was what you have said about sharia law.
Rev Wright was reported over a year ago before the msm had to report.
When is cousin Odinga going to be reported on the lame stream media, and or FOX?
I recall that one definition of insanity is to repeat something over and over yet expect a different outcome each time. Given this latest revelation that the basis for Obama’s adoration for the vision of his father is because those are maybe just this side of Lennin’s, if the dems actually nominate B. Hussein Obama, let me be the first to predict a spread 10 points higher than the one we all enjoyed in 1972. Democrat deja vu – all over again. Hey, let’s take another look at that ERA again too while we’re at it…
On April 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, AlohaGuy said:
Those aren’t – gasp –
ChristmasHoliday trees in the airport behind them are they?Must Be P.C. now, LOL.
#42 rooster:
Don’t waste your time, rooster.
You just posted a bizarre item.
What’s the matter with you!
‘Course, in all the smug, derisive, scornful dismissals, we are never told how listing unsettling items about Obama becomes the same as making an assertion;
nor are we told what is so bizarre about listing these unsettling items in the first place.
As I’ve said before, I think a nerve – nay, a major nerve – has been touched; and smug know-it-all types are frustrated, spluttering, and blustering, and can come up with nothing better than elementary school-type name-calling:
“bizarre”, “disconnected”, “loony
tunes”, etc.
Their responses are not unlike the responses that frustrated, indignant judges, for example, give when asked the reason(s) for their stupid decisions by Jesse Waters on Fox News.
Priceless!
I feel honored that such posters here are, in their minds, transforming my listing of unsettling items into a full-fledged assertion (which assertion, if one were to ever be made by me, would, I guarantee, have actual, unassailable proof that would drive these posters even further up a wall);
and, I feel even further honored that the nerve(s) that have undoubtedly been touched are apparently connected to the posters’ shorts, which are now doubtless knotted so tight, that they are unwearable.
Granite, any idiot knows what you’re doing. You’re absolutely making an assertion, and a ridiculous one at that. End the passive/aggressive nonsense and just own your Obama theory. BTW, I have no dog in this fight. I disagree with Obama on most issues and am voting for McCain.
Folks if you’re going to discuss Kenyan politics, using some Kenyan sources and/or trusted sources of history would add credibility to your conclusions about Obama, now-Prime Minister Odinga and what went on during the height of the ethnic cleansing in Kenya-and is still going on. Otherwise you make yourself look like a crank.
Signed, a fellow American of Kenyan Luo ancestry
The only surprise for me here is that any conservative would still trust the msm. What were you thinking, Greg?
Granite #45 Huh? Not sure which side of the plate your coming from on that one.
Back to my point; the president elect agreed to share power with cousin Odinga because they believe Barry is going to win. With B Hussein in the WH it would behoove them to make cousin Odinga co-president guaranteeing special favors for Kenya.
Wasn’t it strange that Kenya was mad at Hillary for releasing the photo of Barrack dressed like a terrorist?
They threatened the Hildabeast with a fine for insulting an elder and Barry. Her fine was going to be in sheep, and or cattle.
#49 On April 15th, 2008 at 6:28 pm, rooster said:
“Granite #45 Huh? Not sure which side of the plate your coming from on that one.”
I think I’m agreeing with you, rooster, based on your comments in #42:
“I believe cousin Odinga lost the election. Then he, and his orange democratic party created death, chaos and anarchy until the president elect agreed to share power with cousin Odinga in an effort to stop the violence started by Barracks cousin.
One of Barrack’s cousins demands was what you have said about sharia law.
Rev Wright was reported over a year ago before the msm had to report.
When is cousin Odinga going to be reported on the lame stream media, and or FOX?”
Yep, I believe I am on your side.
So my brother or sister from another mother, when and why was Mr. Odinga installed as Prime Minister.
Speaking of kranks, did you miss the story about Kenya upset with Hillary for releasing the photo of Barry dressed like Osama?
#51 On April 15th, 2008 at 6:35 pm, rooster said:
“…when and why was Mr. Odinga installed as Prime Minister.”
I believe it was Sunday, March 13th.
I believe it was done because of worry that the country was slipping back into violence that had recently killed 1,000, and because of mounting international pressure.
A power-sharing deal that had been reached in February (not sure, but my guess is that that deal is THE one that is referred to when Obama’s trip to Kenya, and Obama’s cousin [the new prime minister] are discussed) was implemented.
Here’s one of a few links I found (Washington Post):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/13/AR2008041300512.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Interesting that no details are given about the violence.
As far as I am aware, there had been charges of election cheating or tampering, or rigging.
Wonder who initiated the violence…or is it a case of the usual, convenient (admittedly sometimes true, but so often lame and dishonest) “both sides are to blame”?
granite, sorry they’re jumping on you for my post. I was trying to point out that anyone that was a Christian would not be supporting someone was was going to institute Sharia law. At least any Christians I know.
#53 Reg.conservative:
No sweat, Reg.
I’m sure they’re “jumping” on my posts, too…they appear to be in incredibly, frighteningly high denial.
And, I agree with you completely.
Sister.
It’s a long story involving Kofi Annan and a power-sharing agreement. This happen at roughly the beginning of March.
No. But apparently there are quite a few stories about the Kenya crisis and its origins that you missed. Don’t feel bad; you’re not alone in that.
I feel this creepy “Animal Farm” flashback hitting me from my childhood. Poor little Barrack (Barry) trying to live up to the old man’s legacy.
BTW, Kenya didn’t get angry with Mrs. Clinton. Some Kenyans did.
Just so we know who missed the story and who didn’t.
Thanx granite, great link. You had me worried with your rambling post.
That story had other links to cousin Odinga and confirmed what I heard on Rusty Humphries radio show. I just never could find the connection with Barry until now.
Many articles pretty much confirm cousin Odinga was a sore loser and instigated much of the anarchy and murder.
Amazing that none of this is ever brought up in any media format concerning Barry’s long relationship with Islam and his cousin Odinga.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7176683.stm
Thanks baldilocks, you were right that Odinga is of Luo tribe, but you forgot to mention B Hussein Obama is from this same tribe. But because Barry and Odinga are cousins, you wouldn’t have to clarify the obvious…..right?
OMG, I hope someone from team-clinton is reading this thread
#58 rooster:
You’re quite welcome.
Sorry you found the post rambling.
Just warning you by trying to illustrate that I have taken shots because of my concerns.
And statements like the following:
“Amazing that none of this is ever brought up in any media format concerning Barry’s long relationship with Islam and his cousin Odinga.”
may bring you as well into their line of fire.
But, like I’ve said, it’s an honor to have posters such as them disagree with me (and, I wouldn’t be surprised, with you).
Keep on keeping on.
I didn’t forget to mention of that. As a matter of fact I mentioned it over and over and over again in the two months that I posted on the topic of the Kenya crisis almost daily (did you even look at the other link?)–and also mentioned that I am of the Luo tribe as well. Additionally, a look at my URL might also reveal the same information. Try again.
I didn’t forget to mention of that should read
I didn’t forget to mention any of that.
baldilocks,
There is nothing wrong with B Hussein Obama having family in Kenya.
The problem is the secrecy surrounding who his family is in Kenya.
More of a problem is his cousin getting a Kofi the criminal Annan brokered style prime ministership, presumably because Kenya thinks Obama is going to the White House. That last thought is my analogy.
Michelle Obama’s (the OTHER Michelle) college thesis is being out-ed. She’s and off the deep end racist.
This just keeps getting better and better. Could the Dhimmicrats have picked a worse candidate?
You mean that’s your analysis.
Yes baldilocks, my analysis.
Just checked out your URL, impressive.
If Barrack were a rino or republican he would be eaten alive by the msm for his ties to Odinga.
Would have to concede to your expertise on Kenya, unless you turn into a flaming troll.
Michelle would kill me if I trolled her site.
Maybe, even probably. That said, conservatives believe in certain principles. One of them is individualism. If a conservative abandons core conservative principles in the face of adversity–like the fact that we have to deal with entities like the MSM–then we don’t really have principles.
We might as well start changing with the wind like the Leftists do.
This is a lesson Bush could never learn on trusting the left.
I’m kinda slow. Is this the sort of trust shown between MSM journalists when one is, say, a Columbia School of Journalism grad while the other is more of a Berkeley School grad? I’m sure MSM hacks aren’t actually allowed to diss each other, are they?
I’m afraid that I have to side with Politico. Ransom’s piece was pure garbage. It was kind of Ransom to share, and Politico acknowledged that. It would have been unprofessional of Politico not to refute Ransom’s asinine analysis of the piece.
More of the same… except this time involving photographs. I suppose if you’re in the MSM, anything is fair game, including Andrew’s hard work.
Hate to burst your bubble, but there is no liberal media bias. Just ask yourself who owns the media? It is large corporations whose bottom line is the only bias. If it seems liberal, it is only because this is where the money is.
Michelle,
One year later this guy targeted and hit Imus in the Morning and now it looks like he has another target in his sights. I don’t think it is an accident that Imus supports McCain. The Names change but the faces are the same.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-vadum/2008/04/15/soros-s-political-hit-man-brock-takes-aim-mccain