Dave Snope said:
The news of Barack Obama's close relationship with Frank Marshall Davis has been around before, but it's important. Via Accuracy in Media:
[T]hrough Frank Marshall Davis, Obama had an admitted relationship with someone who was publicly identified as a member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). The record shows that Obama was in Hawaii from 1971-1979, where, at some point in time, he developed a close relationship, almost like a son, with Davis, listening to his "poetry" and getting advice on his career path. But Obama, in his book, Dreams From My Father, refers to him repeatedly as just "Frank."
The reason is apparent: Davis was a known communist who belonged to a party subservient to the Soviet Union. In fact, the 1951 report of the Commission on Subversive Activities to the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii identified him as a CPUSA member.
Aren't we seeing a pattern here? One interaction with one old communist isn't particularly troubling. A handful of sporadic interactions with a handful of radical left-wingers may not be particularly troubling. But a lifelong pattern of extended associations and alliances with scores of fringe, America-hating radicals is very, very troubling indeed.
Just to be clear:
It's not just that Barack Obama's father was a Marxist economist or that his mother Stanley came from radical far-left roots.
It's not just that Obama's childhood mentor Frank Marshall Davis was a famous communist poet.
It's not just that Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor, counselor and spiritual mentor of 20 years is a racist, America-hating radical.
It's not just that Michael Phleger, Obama's other spiritual mentor is every bit as extreme as Wright.
It's not just that his wife Michelle has never been really that proud of America, or that she thinks this country is "mean".
It's not just that Obama refused to wear a flag, or that he refused to salute it during the national anthem.
It's not just that Obama's political and financial benefactor William Ayers is an unrepentant radical socialist terrorist.
It's not just that Bernadine Dohrn regrets that she didn't kill more people back in the 1960s.
It's not just that Alice Palmer, Obama's political mentor in Chicago, was a communist propagandist.
It's not just that Obama was a member of the radical socialist New Party or that he ran as a candidate for public office under their far-left platform.
It's not just that Obama was an agitator, trainer and attorney for the corrupt and radical-left ACORN.
None of these facts, by itself, tells you that much about Barack Obama. A reasonable person should, however, be able to look at this motley crew of left-wing communists and America-haters, realize that Barack Obama's rolodex is a veritable Who's Who of American Socialism, be very, very disturbed by that fact and ask some very probing questions about WHO Barack Obama is, WHAT he believes, and WHY this gang of radical America-haters considers Barack Obama such a good friend.
By Ragnar Danneskjold
I'd thought I'd take a stab at verfiying some of these guilt by association claims:
1, Regarding Barack Obama Sr: I see he was educated at the University of Hawaii and at Harvard. I do not see any evidence that he was a "Marxist economist":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama,_Sr.
Even if he was, Barack Jr was raised by his mother after his parents divorced at age two and his father visted him only once before dying in an automobile accident.
In regards to his mother, having "radical far left roots", I could find no evidence to substantiate it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madelyn_and_Stanley_Dunham
3. Jeremiah Wright: The opinion of the reverend is an opinion and the refutation of the viewpoints of Jeremiah Wright by Barack Obama is a matter of public record. Of course, refutations of some of the viewpoints expressed by ministers sympathetic to John McCain are a matter of public record as well.
4. Frank Marshall Davis: A poet and supposed communist advisor of young Barack obama:
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?062db736-1dae-47f4-b864-faad7af6cff7
5. Michael Phleger can hardly be described as Barack Obama's other "spiritual mentor"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pfleger
6. Michelle Obama: Note the comments by Laura Bush on her and her statement desribed Dave Snope's rant a thon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama
7. William Ayers: More of the same:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/he_lied_about_bill_ayers.html
8. Bernadine Dohrn: Try as I may, I can't find the connection:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernardine_Dohrn
9. Alice Palmer was a Democratic state senator that decided to support Hillary Clinton:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/once-obamas-men.html
10. The "new party" and Obama: apparently the coveted source for this information is aptly named the "right wing nuthouse":
http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2008/05/30/obamas-radical-political-alliances/
11. Various inferences to Obama being unpatriotic, etc. See source above, item 10.
