Long-lost article by Obama's dad surfaces

[Tab]

Source: Politico

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 about 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.com is now, for the first time, reproducing the entire piece in its original form.

The scholarly eight-page paper, credited to “Barak H. Obama,” is never mentioned in “Dreams From My Father,” nor has the candidate discussed it in any of his many public speeches. (Politico brought the article to his campaign’s attention late last week, but aides did not respond to a request for comment from Obama.)

EDITED TO COMPLY WITH DU'S COPYRIGHT POLICY

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080415/pl_politico/9610

[Jane Austin]

1. Fascinating!

The way it just turned up like that.

:sarcasm:

[yellowcanine]

2. This is so NOT LBN. It was up yesterday and it isn't exactly news anyway.

[panader0]

3. Cool. This is good for Barack.

His father was a scholar, an intelligent man interested in society ("Gently mocking Kenyatta"). He sounds like a good man to me.

[aquart]

6. Who deserted his kid, ruined his career, and became an alcoholic.

A prince.

[Frustratedlady]

4. Well, I can expect copies of this from the RW group.

Let's see. What else will be dug up? Which generations have they missed? Have his siblings been in jail or charged with fraud...surely their dogs have dumped someone's garbage can? We must search out anyone who shares his lineage, as well as their neighbors or schoolmates, before we can consider Obama for prez.

After all, we are accustomed to honest, upstanding and compassionate leaders, aren't we?

[Cresent City Kid]

5. Trigger word

The word "socialism" in the title will likely be overblown in the general election campaign.

[peacetalksforall]

7. In addition, they can't get the calendar and geography straight in their heads.

1960's will come out as 2000 and Kenya will come out as Hawaii. Or something close. Twist and turn - more bending by the right wing coming up. I say Robertson will be the first to twist it and it will take off as fire. All those who pass it on at the diner will omit date place generation.

[bemildred]

8. Surfaces my ass. Somebody worked long and hard to find it.

Next we will be hearing about how his grandfathers dog bit somebody.