The roots of Obama's rage

By Kevin Price

I have written several articles on what I call Obama's Domestic Doctrine. The fundamental ideas behind it, as seen in statements by those in the administration or supporters in Congress, include:

• A belief that big government is the best government.
  
  
• An understanding that "bigger government" is achieved by expanding its role into virtually every area of the economy and society.
  
  
• Recognizing this can only be achieved if the economic circumstances are bad enough. In order words, if the economy is fine, there is no need for an expansive government.
  
  
• Because of this, the government needs things to get worse in order for it to achieve maximum power.
  
  

We have seen this conveyed by former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (when he discussed the need of taking full advantage of a crisis), by Attorney General Eric Holder (who argued that the great achievements in history happen during crisis), and by Sen. Christopher Dodd (who boasted about the great lengths government has been able to achieve because of our current economic crisis).

Now, author Dinesh D'Souza writes about the "Roots of Obama's Rage" and attempts to explain the President's long term objectives. According to D'Souza, Obama has a deep seated hate for the West and its tendency towards colonialism. Furthermore, the United States should not set itself up as an arrogant lord over weaker economies (the view of Obama and his allies has of the US), but be as mediocre as them in order to achieve some level of international harmony.

Paul Kengor reviewed the book in the America Spectator, noting that D'Souza "advanced an intriguing thesis regarding the roots of Barack Obama, arguing, in short, that to understand Obama, we must understand the anti-colonialism of his African father."

The author himself notes that the "President's actions are so bizarre that they mystify his critics and supporters alike. Consider this headline from the Aug. 18, 2009 issue of the Wall Street Journal: "Obama Underwrites Offshore Drilling." Did you read that correctly? You did. The Administration supports offshore drilling — but drilling off the shores of Brazil. With Obama's backing, the U.S. Export-Import Bank offered $2 billion in loans and guarantees to Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras to finance exploration in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro — not so the oil ends up in the U.S. He is funding Brazilian exploration so that the oil can stay in Brazil." This odd policy costs taxpayers plenty in many different ways, but does not help the United States in any way at all. It is a policy designed to benefit developing nations at the expense of the US and D'Souza argues that the President believes it is long overdue.

D'Souza believes that this disdain goes back to Obama's obsession with his father — a man he barely knew at all. The title of the President's own book, Dreams from my Father has an eerie connotation when viewed through the eyes of D'Souza, stating "According to Obama, his dream is his father's dream. Notice that his title is not Dreams of My Father but rather Dreams from My Father. Obama isn't writing about his father's dreams; he is writing about the dreams he received from his father." D'Souza argues that Obama, Sr. was a staunch anti-colonialist and was driven by the idea of cutting the US down to size. As President of the world's greatest super power, the younger Obama can help achieve that objective.

D'Souza has undertaken a fascinating work that is worth consideration. It not only lends credibility to the likelihood of Obama's Domestic Doctrine, but helps one understand its deeper roots. D'Souza's book is must reading for anyone who has tried to understand what drives Barack Obama and his administration.

© Kevin Price