Barack Obama: The opacity of hope

[Beacool]

In "The Bridge," a biracial dreamer in post-Reagan America becomes the first black president. Then things get tough

By Joan Walsh

Reading David Remnick's "The Bridge," it's astonishing all over again that we elected as president not just an African-American by the name of Barack Hussein Obama Jr., but a relative political newcomer we knew comparatively little about.

Throughout the book I found myself marveling at the blanks and partial stories about the president that Remnick fills in: about his parents, and whether "Kenya and Kansas" factored into the person he became. How was he shaped by Indonesia and Hawaii, Occidental College and Harvard Law School, idealism, left-wing theory and it-ain't-beanbag Chicago politics? When did Barry become Barack? Maybe most compelling: When did he become the Barack Obama, charismatic, charming, über-calm and confident; first among men; an inevitable future president?

Remnick ably answers all of those questions, though he qualifies the scope of his work by calling it "biographical journalism." (He also chases away all the insane conspiracy theories, not by confronting them directly, but with facts.) If you care about American politics, you have to read "The Bridge." One of its contributions is defining Obama as part of a demographic I hadn't thought much about: the post-civil rights movement do-gooder, leaving college and entering the workforce in the 1980s, under a depressing cloud of Reaganism (it happens to be my demographic as well). Watching the future president move through the dusty halls of well-intended but often ineffectual nonprofits, before (and even after) he finds his way to Harvard Law School, I had a new understanding of the way coming of political age in the '80s, caring about social justice but struggling to find a way to make change, shaped this particular historic change agent. Almost as much as being biracial, the pragmatic, incremental approach of post-movement left-liberal politics helps explain the cautious, conciliating president he's become.

http://www.salon.com/books/nonfiction/index.html?story=/opinion/walsh/politics/2010/04/05/david_remnick_the_bridge

Interesting column and the book appears to be a good read.

:-)

[Richardo]

1. Heard part of an interview with Remnick on NPR this morning...

...liked what I heard - very interesting material.

[Beacool]

3. Yeah, reading the article it made me interested in reading the book.

:-)

[mr715]

12. Love your dog.

I've had 3 beagles.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Remnick was on with Charlie Rose last night.

"The Bridge" does look like a fascinating read. I may have to snatch it up.

http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/269

[Beacool]

4. Thanks for the link.

It seems that it will be a good read. BTW, going by Walsh's column, Obama's father appears to have been a lousy husband and father to all his wives and children.

:-(

[ClarkUSA]

14. Remnick is on Hardball right now. He's giving a good interview and is praising Obama to the hilt.

Remnick said Obama's cool persona is similar to JFK and that in neither case did it mean they didn't care about the working-class. As an example, he said the passage of HCR helped tens of millions of working-class Americans.

Chris Matthews said he enjoyed the book. They go over false memes that were propagated by certain folks during the Democratic primary (Remnick disputed the charge that Obama only appeals to black voters and wasn't able to attract white voters) as well as talked about teabaggers. Watch the video or take a look at the transcript on MNSBC.

[ClarkUSA]

5. Passing historic HCR isn't "incremental". Telling Republicans to "Go for it!" isn't "concilating".

Walsh tends to go for broad-stroke caricature in her columns and her TV appearances, which is always a mistake. Nevertheless, Remnick's book is on hold at my local library, ready to be picked up. At the moment, I'm reading David Plouffe's "The Audacity To Win" right now, which is a fantastic must-read.

[depakid]

9. The only thing historic in the health bill was the amount of pandering and fail

Though you're right- it isn't incremental- it's a monumental step in the wrong direction that historians will look back on and scratch their heads.

The common theme will likely be aversion to conflict and the inability to stand up and say enough's enough- and hold those egregiously responsible for the problems to account.

[ClarkUSA]

10. I'm not surprised by your opinion, given you seem to "fail" anything President Obama does.

<<it's a monumental step in the wrong direction that historians will look back on and scratch their heads>>

Do let us know when they do that. I won't hold my breath.

Meanwhile, every single noted presidential historian agrees with me. :)

[depakid]

15. That's simply a dishonest statement

which typifies a Manichean mindset of for Obama or agin' him.

Much like Bush supporters had during the 2000's, which made them unable to look objectively at the policies being raised.

My analysis of the health care debacle hasn't changed since December (actually- it really hasn't changed since May). I's a bad idea to further entrench, enrich and empower a wasteful and abusive industry that's obviously one of the major root causes of the problem.

[ClarkUSA]

16. That's the truth, as many here will attest to. A check of the DU archives would back me up. n/t

[digidigido]

11. PASSING INCREMENTAL HEALTH CARE IS INCREMENTAL AS WELL AS HISTORIC

[ClarkUSA]

13. I don't agree with Remnick's conclusion that Pres. Obama had a "wasted" first year, either. n/t

[Robeson]

6. Thanks. Just downloaded it, and am looking forward to it.

[Beacool]

8. You're welcome!!

:hi:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[akbacchus_BC]

17. Locking! Why do you bring negative news about President Obama on here?

And have a nice night!

[Egnever]

18. Is this negative?

Despite the title of the OP I dont think you can qualify this as negative based on the excerpt posted.

Sounds interesting actually.

[Beacool]

19. What's the problem?

It's an even handed article about the book. This is a political discussion forum, not a fan club board.

Geez.........

:eyes: