NoaIzumiCan Someone Tell Me…?
April 1st 2009 20:06
What is Thomas Sowell’s beef with President Barack Obama? I know that Thomas Sowell, author and one of America’s leading conservative intellectuals, disagrees with the president on the issues, fair enough. But Dr. Sowell’s criticism seems to go way beyond policy differences, sometimes it’s almost personal. I ran across an example of this just yesterday.
Rookie Errors Mar Obama’s Efforts, by Thomas Sowell
“He has never had any position of major executive responsibility in any kind of organization where he was personally responsible for the outcome.”
Really? Just looking at the president’s Wikipedia article, I was able to find at least two examples (two that I could confirm with minimal effort). In Barry Obama’s second year in law school, he was the president of the Harvard Law Review (which is fairly well known to the public), and he later became the head of Project Vote in Chicago in 1992. I’m sure it was just an honest mistake on Sowell’s part. Sure.
As for Obama’s pre-inauguration political experience, it was comparatively lacking, but I notice that Dr. Sowell mentions nothing about his almost eight years in the Illinois Senate. Between that and his years in the US Senate, Barack Obama had almost as much time in the political arena as John F Kennedy did before he became President.
Wikipedia article
“This year, President Obama's attempt to make a back-door deal with the Russians, behind the backs of the NATO countries, was not only rejected but made public by the Russians”
OK, a story broke around the beginning of March about a letter sent from President Obama to President Medvedev of Russia regarding the removal of the planned missile defense complex from Poland and the Czech Republic if Iran can be convinced to stop its nuclear program. (Which makes a certain sense, doesn’t it; isn’t the complex supposed to defend against missiles from Iran?) But calling it a “deal” is a bit of a stretch, since by all accounts, the letter contained no specific proposals. As for “back-door”, it was a secret letter, but secret to whom? Secret to our allies, or just secret to the general public? Besides, the administration had been up-front about its general intentions. According to the New York Times and the Telegraph, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had made a statement in late February at a NATO summit that reflected the letter’s intent.
Obama Offered Deal to Russia in Secret Letter (Registration may be required)
Barack Obama offers to scrap US missile defence system in secret letter to Russia
In addition, at least some NATO leaders agree with the idea.
Nicolas Sarkozy calls for rethink over US missile defence system in Europe
And “rejected”? I’d be curious as where Dr. Sowell heard that, since all the reports I could find say that the proposal hasn’t been accepted or rejected. The Financial Times ran a rather sensationalist headline, but the small print tells a somewhat different story.
Medvedev rejects Obama missile defence deal
Indeed, the Guardian article said that the Russians were well-disposed to the idea.
Obama offers to drop missile project if Russian helps deal with Iran
And speaking of sensationalism, who else read Sowell’s previous paragraph in which he brings out the spectre of a Munich-type deal that sacrifices Poland and the Czech Republic to the tender mercies of the Russian empire? Apparently, he forgot that Poland and the Czech Republic have been full members of NATO since 1999, which obliges their defense by far and away the most powerful military alliance on Earth. Don’t think we have to worry about a Russian anschluss anytime soon.
“However much Barack Obama has proclaimed his support for Israel, his first phone call as president of the United States was to Hamas, to whom he has given hundreds of millions of dollars, which can buy a lot of rockets to fire into Israel.”
Again, really? According to The Times, his first call was to President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ political rival. He also made calls to the heads of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. The only player who’d be involved in a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians who wasn’t called was … Hamas.
President Obama's first call 'was to President Abbas'
As for the aid, plans are in the works for aid to Gaza, which is under the political control of Hama, but according to the New York Times, the money is mainly going through non-governmental organizations. Hamas likely won’t see much of it at all, certainly not “hundreds of millions”.
U.S. to Give $900 Million in Gaza Aid, Officials Say
This kind of falsehood-based sniping isn’t atypical of Dr. Sowell either. So I’ll ask again, who put the bug up this guy’s you-know-where?
Rookie Errors Mar Obama’s Efforts, by Thomas Sowell
“He has never had any position of major executive responsibility in any kind of organization where he was personally responsible for the outcome.”
Really? Just looking at the president’s Wikipedia article, I was able to find at least two examples (two that I could confirm with minimal effort). In Barry Obama’s second year in law school, he was the president of the Harvard Law Review (which is fairly well known to the public), and he later became the head of Project Vote in Chicago in 1992. I’m sure it was just an honest mistake on Sowell’s part. Sure.
As for Obama’s pre-inauguration political experience, it was comparatively lacking, but I notice that Dr. Sowell mentions nothing about his almost eight years in the Illinois Senate. Between that and his years in the US Senate, Barack Obama had almost as much time in the political arena as John F Kennedy did before he became President.
Wikipedia article
“This year, President Obama's attempt to make a back-door deal with the Russians, behind the backs of the NATO countries, was not only rejected but made public by the Russians”
OK, a story broke around the beginning of March about a letter sent from President Obama to President Medvedev of Russia regarding the removal of the planned missile defense complex from Poland and the Czech Republic if Iran can be convinced to stop its nuclear program. (Which makes a certain sense, doesn’t it; isn’t the complex supposed to defend against missiles from Iran?) But calling it a “deal” is a bit of a stretch, since by all accounts, the letter contained no specific proposals. As for “back-door”, it was a secret letter, but secret to whom? Secret to our allies, or just secret to the general public? Besides, the administration had been up-front about its general intentions. According to the New York Times and the Telegraph, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had made a statement in late February at a NATO summit that reflected the letter’s intent.
Obama Offered Deal to Russia in Secret Letter (Registration may be required)
Barack Obama offers to scrap US missile defence system in secret letter to Russia
In addition, at least some NATO leaders agree with the idea.
Nicolas Sarkozy calls for rethink over US missile defence system in Europe
And “rejected”? I’d be curious as where Dr. Sowell heard that, since all the reports I could find say that the proposal hasn’t been accepted or rejected. The Financial Times ran a rather sensationalist headline, but the small print tells a somewhat different story.
Medvedev rejects Obama missile defence deal
Indeed, the Guardian article said that the Russians were well-disposed to the idea.
Obama offers to drop missile project if Russian helps deal with Iran
And speaking of sensationalism, who else read Sowell’s previous paragraph in which he brings out the spectre of a Munich-type deal that sacrifices Poland and the Czech Republic to the tender mercies of the Russian empire? Apparently, he forgot that Poland and the Czech Republic have been full members of NATO since 1999, which obliges their defense by far and away the most powerful military alliance on Earth. Don’t think we have to worry about a Russian anschluss anytime soon.
“However much Barack Obama has proclaimed his support for Israel, his first phone call as president of the United States was to Hamas, to whom he has given hundreds of millions of dollars, which can buy a lot of rockets to fire into Israel.”
Again, really? According to The Times, his first call was to President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ political rival. He also made calls to the heads of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. The only player who’d be involved in a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians who wasn’t called was … Hamas.
President Obama's first call 'was to President Abbas'
As for the aid, plans are in the works for aid to Gaza, which is under the political control of Hama, but according to the New York Times, the money is mainly going through non-governmental organizations. Hamas likely won’t see much of it at all, certainly not “hundreds of millions”.
U.S. to Give $900 Million in Gaza Aid, Officials Say
This kind of falsehood-based sniping isn’t atypical of Dr. Sowell either. So I’ll ask again, who put the bug up this guy’s you-know-where?
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