The Roots of Obama's Rage, by Dinesh D'Souza

I've read and enjoyed Dinesh D'Souza's books in the past, but this latest book seems to be much different in character than, for instance, his compelling The Virtue of Prosperity.  D'Souza claims to have found the key to all of Obama's domestic and foreign policy: anti-colonialism.  In The Roots of Obama's Rage, D'Souza analyzes Obama's books, primarily Dreams from My Father, looking for what those dreams are.  Barack Obama, Sr., who deserted Barack, Jr., and his mother when Barack was a toddler, returned to his native Kenya with dreams of Kenyan independence and a socialist Kenyan utopia.

Even though Barack, Sr., the man, had very little presence in young Barack's life, Barack, Sr., the myth and legend created by young Barack's mother, loomed large.  You can't fault a single mom for talking up her son's dad, but she left Barack, Jr., with a fantasy.  Rather than remembering his father as a "polygamist who abandoned his wives, drank himself into stupors," lost both legs from a car accident in which he was driving drunk and ultimately died in another drunk driving incident, Obama remembers him as a heroic crusader against British colonialism in Kenya, fighting for Kenyan independence.

Using Obama's own words and arguments, primarily from his books, but also from his speeches, D'Souza demonstrates Obama's anti-colonialist leanings.  It's an interesting case, but I fear D'Souza has taken a myopic approach.  Convinced that Obama embraces his father's anti-colonialism, D'Souza runs everything Obama says and does through that filter.  Not content simply to report on the effective anti-colonialism of Obama's policies, D'Souza frequently attributes a deep anti-colonial motivation to Obama.  I'm not saying he's wrong, I'm just saying he may be overreaching by delving into the realm of "Here's what Obama's really thinking. . . ."

So what is D'Souza's concern?  Simple.  In the Obama, Sr., anti-colonial view, America is that last, greatest colonial power.  To the extent that President Obama shares that view, his anti-colonial mission has a devastating impact on the United States.  Given his anti-colonialism, it's no wonder that Obama's policies serve to weaken the power of the U.S. overseas, while increasing the power of the state in domestic affairs.  As an explanation for Obama's actions and policies, D'Souza's anti-colonialism thesis is quite strong.  The weakness is D'Souza's claim on Obama's motivation.  I agree, Obama is doing all he can to wreck the U.S. economy and weaken our military.  He is a scourge on our nation, and I wish he and his ilk would be removed from office immediately.  But I think his bad policies are a product of bad, but sincere, ideas.  I give him the benefit of the doubt; I assume he thinks he's doing what's best for America.  D'Souza thinks Obama wakes up every morning thinking, "What can I do to bring down the American Empire today?"  As a result, despite the compelling anaysis in D'Souza's insigtful book, he won't likely be heard by any but the most hard-core conservatives and Obama haters.


Down with colonialism!  Down with the Western oppressors!