Much has been written about the influence the book, “Rules for Radicals” by Saul Alinsky (1971), has had on President Barack Obama, so I ordered the book and decided to compare his behavior, comments, actions and demeanor during his first 100 days in office to see for myself how closely the White House is following the Alinsky playbook.  Unfortunately, Obama is frighteningly close to the Neo-Marxist author’s teachings.

It is known that Obama spent years teaching workshops on the Alinsky method in Chicago.

“True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism,” Alinsky taught.  “They cut their hair, put on suits and infiltrate the system from within.”  Alinsky viewed revolution as a slow, patient process. The trick was to penetrate existing institutions such as churches, unions and political parties.”

Another Alinsky diciple is Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State who in 1969 wrote in a previously suppressed Wellesley Thesis, (Alinsky) “provides the organizer with a tactical style for community organization that assumes an adversarial relationship between groups of people in which one either dominates or is dominated . .  Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.  It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule.  Also, it infuriates the opposition who then react to your advantage.  Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”

During the DNC Convention speech, White House occupant Michelle Obama said: Barack stood up that day,” talking about a visit to Chicago neighborhoods, “and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since.  He talked about “The world as it is” and “The world as it should be . . “

An excerpt from Alinsky’s book:  “The means-and-ends moralists, constantly obsessed with the ethics of the means used by the Have-Nots against the Haves, should search themselves as to their real political position.  In fact, they are passive — but real — allies of the Haves . . . The most unethical of all means is the non-use of any means . . . The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.”

During an NPR interview in 2001 Obama clearly stated his philosophy of “redistribution of wealth.”  He said with respect to the Civil Rights movement that the Warren Court wasn’t radical enough.

“The Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society.  And to that extent as radical as I think people tried to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical.  It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution, as least as it’s been interpreted, and Warren court interpreted in the same way that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties, says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf.  And that hasn’t shifted.”

Obama in his first 100 days wants to do a lot for the people.  He wants big government and wants to take the people from a captalistic democracy to one of socialism.  Case in point, the government has taken over financial institutions, banks and corporations.  Has fired one Corporate CEO and more heads are expected on the block next week.  Obama and his staff attack his critics as Alinsky suggests, “Pick the target, freeze it, Personalize it, and Polarize it.”  Next, socialized health care, not quality health care — for all.  And on the road, small green-electric cars to protect the environment, not the people, who will be crushed in accidents by older larger trucks and SUV’s.

From the G-20 meetings in Europe to the power meetings in Latin America, the US was denigrated by world leaders with nary a defense by our freshman President, while he bowed to the Islamic King of Saudi Arabia.

Although Obama says in passing, Chavez’s rhetoric is “inflammatory”  but shaking his hand “doesn’t damage the interests of the United States.”

At a press conference today Obama said, “The test for all of us is not in words, but deeds.”  He said, “When the US is at its best it represents universal ideals.”  But went on to say, “Occasional we stray from our ideals and to confess this makes us better.”

Obama has learned his lesson well.  He puts on his suit, cuts his hair and has infiltrated the system from within.

Alinsky would be proud of him.  The real question is: Will the people?