Jonathan Alter: Five myths about Barack Obama

[One of the 99]

Five myths about Barack Obama
By Jonathan Alter

Barack Obama’s rise in politics was so rapid, and his background so unusual, that he was immediately subjected to malicious myths — from the bogus story that he was raised Muslim to the lie that he wasn’t born in the United States. Of course, some of the raps on Obama are valid interpretations of his performance. It’s not a myth that he was long distracted from job creation, that his foreclosure policies have failed or that he was outfoxed by Republicans for much of 2011. But as Obama prepares to defend his record Tuesday in the State of the Union address, let’s dispense with some genuine misconceptions about his presidency.

1. Obama is a socialist.

2. Obama is a tool of Wall Street.

3. Obama is an effective public speaker.

4. Obama’s stimulus failed.

5. Obama is a weak leader.

[russspeakeasy]

1. Sometimes I strongly disagree with Mr. Alter.

On this one, I totally agree.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Obama is an effective public speaker?

[spanone]

3. that one makes no sense at all.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I agree....I guess Alter thinks Obama is not effective because

he doesn't speak in soundbites and his speeches don't move public opinion much. I think Alter should have used a better myth for his story.

[edhopper]

4. Obama does believe in

some socialist ideas, and he likes corporate socialism. (GM)
He is not a voice against Wall Street. (Geitner, Sumner)
He can give a great speech
The stimulus worked some what, but was way too inadequite.
He sometimes chooses compromise when a srtong hand would be better (the Bush Tax Cuts, The Public Option)

Not myths at all.

[MrScorpio]

6. Oh, yeah. That Consumer Protection Agency that he started is definitely a Wall St tool. nt

[joshcryer]

7. A positive Obama piece!

Wow!

[DevonRex]

9. I had to grab my inhaler!

It's such a rare occurrence.

[joshcryer]

10. Wait, no outrage over "Obama is not an effective public speaker"?

I thought "Obots," as I've heard them called, were supposed to be shills of the highest regard and to jump up and down hysterically over any sort of criticism!

[banned from Kos]

8. DU falls for that "tool of Wall St" bullshit myth.

"Geithner worked for Goldman! That proves it!"

so fucking annoyingly wrong...

[One of the 99]

11. He never worked for Goldman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Geithner#Early_career