First published 2008
David Freddoso argues that Barack Obama presents himself as a reformer while acting like a conventional liberal politician. The National Review reporter examines Obama's record in Chicago politics, where the senator accommodated the political machine rather than challenging it. Freddoso contends that Obama listens to radical advisors and supports standard liberal positions on issues from teachers unions to abortion rights. The author dismisses viral smears and celebrity comparisons as distractions from substantive policy critiques. Instead, Freddoso builds a fact based case that Obama resembles every other Washington politician despite his reform rhetoric. The book traces Obama's political evolution from Hyde Park reformist circles to his smooth integration with Chicago's established power structure. Freddoso argues that conservatives should focus on Obama's actual voting record and political alliances rather than pursuing character attacks or questioning his patriotism. The author positions his criticism as a serious policy examination during a campaign dominated by superficial attacks and viral conspiracy theories.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: fact-based-criticism, political-expos
Setting: Chicago, Washington
Period: 21st Century
290 pages · Hardcover · Regnery Publishing