Obama's Redistribution: What Did Frank Marshall Davis Say?

Obama's Redistribution: What Did Frank Marshall Davis Say?

By Paul Kengor


Given my book on Barack Obama's communist mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, I'm regularly asked whether the latest Obama statement -- on economics, on wealth, on business, on the middle class, etc. -- rings of Davis. Invariably, yes, it does. Not surprisingly, I'm being asked just that in regard to the new Obama statement on "redistribution," which has just emerged in a tape recording from 1998. Does that statement likewise smack of Frank Marshall Davis? Yes, no question.
For starters, Davis, a literal card-carrying member of Communist Party USA, believed in wealth redistribution. That's a central tenet of the communist faith. Generally, Davis, like Obama, favored wealth redistribution from so-called greedy "corporations" to fund "health insurance" and "public works projects" (Davis's words). Davis advocated government stimulus to rescue America from (allegedly) another Great Depression. Like Obama, he supported large-scale government wealth redistribution to keep America's economy (and unemployment) from getting worse.
Beyond that, Davis blasted big business, Wall Street, banks, big oil, "excess profits," "corporate profits" and "fat contracts," "millionaires," and the "wealthy." He attacked "GOP" tax cuts that "spare the rich" and only "benefit millionaires." He called out the "corporation executive" for not paying his "fair" share. He wanted to rid America of "huge funds" finding their way into the "pockets" of "Wall Street." "Instead," he declared, "money should be spent for the benefit of the people instead of the corporations." He favored nationalization and singled out General Motors for government action. Broadly speaking, Frank Marshall Davis hailed the public sector over the private sector.
But in light of Barack Obama's comment on redistribution, there's one particular Davis column that stands out to me. It was published in the January 26, 1950 edition of the Honolulu Record (the CPUSA publication for Hawaii) and titled "Free Enterprise or Socialism."
In this article, Frank Marshall Davis perceived an America on the economic brink, the victim of a "virtual dictatorship of Big Business." He teed off on one of his most despised domestic enemies: General Motors. He was indignant at GM's profits, which he felt were too high. GM, said Davis, like America as a whole, was good at manufacturing one thing: "we have manufactured a national horror of socialism."
Notably, that line reminds me of one of the core Obama statements in the redistribution tape. "There has been a systematic -- I don't think it's too strong to call it a propaganda campaign -- against the possibility of government action," says Obama.
In essence, Obama, like Davis, bemoaned a national propaganda campaign against what Davis candidly (and correctly) called "socialism" and what Obama more carefully called "government action." Davis was characteristically more blunt and farther to the left; Obama was characteristically more careful and tried to avoid being perceived as too far to the left.
Later in the recording, Obama continued: "I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution -- because I actually believe in some redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot."
Obama thus posed a choice for his audience: how do we structure government to best facilitate this redistribution?
Ironically, Frank Marshall Davis had finished his column on "Free Enterprise or Socialism" by likewise posing a choice for his audience: "And so, with still rising unemployment and a mounting depression," wrote Davis, "the time draws nearer when we will have to decide to oust the monopolies and restore a competing system of free enterprise, or let the government own and operate our major industries."
Davis, who elsewhere openly advocated government nationalization of certain industries -- including the meatpacking industry, a project he worked on in Chicago with Valerie Jarrett's father-in-law, Vernon Jarrett -- did not bother explaining which option he preferred. Given that he was a communist, it seems pretty clear what option Davis favored.
In sum, once again, Barack Obama's thinking sounds hauntingly similar to that of the man who helped mentor him in the 1970s, the formative period of Obama's adolescence.
Now, can I say for certain that Obama learned about wealth redistribution from Frank Marshall Davis, a card-carrying communist? No, I can't. But the similarities strike me as remarkable and notable, with Davis being yet another of many far-left influences on the young Obama. Each day, we learn more about our president's political past -- a past that the Obama media continues to fail to expose.
Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College, executive director of The Center for Vision & Values, and author of the new book, The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama's Mentor.

I'm waiting for you to actually articulate your own ideas rather than quoting long winded articles that no one is going to waste time reading.

I'm waiting for you to actually articulate your own ideas rather than quoting long winded articles that no one is going to waste time reading. Originally Posted by markroxny

I already know liberals don't read....liberals don't think either, they only feel.......my articles are only posted for the benefit of conservatives who read what I post and laugh at liberals......

I already know liberals don't read....liberals don't think either, they only feel.......my articles are only posted for the benefit of conservatives who read what I post and laugh at liberals...... Originally Posted by ChoomCzar

Oh I seriously doubt that my friend. We read plenty. Your typical look down your nose high brow attitude toward "liberals" is exactly the kind of thinking that had Romney say that 47% bullshit and it's exactly why Obama is going to win a second term.

So please...continue....but it would be AMAZING if you actually stated YOUR OWN ideas, instead of just insulting liberals after quoting OTHER PEOPLE'S ideas.

Wont' happen, but it would rock.

Obama is, what is known as, a "red diaper baby." That means he was raised by communists. Obama was indoctrinated in communism from the cradle. Essentially every authority figure in his life was a radical leftist or an outright communist party member.

Some people rebel against childhood politcal indoctrination and go in an opposite direction, when they are able to think for themselves, later in life. But Obama has not turned against his Marxist training. Throughout his life, you can see Obama's radical beliefs manifested in his choice of friends and in his politics.

It is obvious that Obama is a radical leftist and has no business being president. Unfortunately, most people simply refuse to believe what is obvious about Obama.

If Obama is elected to a second term, he will have the "flexibility" to be even more aggressive in destroying our economy, our military and our capitalist system.

Clinton says Obama wants to rebuild the country from the ground up. What he doesn't tell you, is that Obama first has to tear down the current system to the ground, before he can rebuild it.

Rahm Emanuel said that you should never let a crisis go to waste. The economic crisis, that is growing worse everday, is likely to cause an economic collapse in the next four years. If Obama is president in that scenario, our constitution and our freedom will be in grave danger.

Odumbo has to lie about who he is because he knows he'd only get 20% [the 20% who are scum] of the vote and lose every election if he told the truth........

Odumbo has to lie about who he is because he knows he'd only get 20% [the 20% who are scum] of the vote and lose every election if he told the truth........
... Originally Posted by ChoomCzar

So you consider people who might not agree with your thoughts "scum"? This is the way that you view your fellow man?

The mind boggles. It wouldn't matter if you were a liberal or a conservative, this type of presentation of ideas is just sad. Completely sad. Perhaps bordering on pathetic.

So you consider people who might not agree with your thoughts "scum"? This is the way that you view your fellow man?

The mind boggles. It wouldn't matter if you were a liberal or a conservative, this type of presentation of ideas is just sad. Completely sad. Perhaps bordering on pathetic. Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

Liberals = marxists = scum = 20% = wrong

liberals believe in taking away people's freedom.....that sounds scummy to me

Liberals = marxists = scum = 20% = wrong

liberals believe in taking away people's freedom.....that sounds scummy to me Originally Posted by ChoomCzar

I thought it was 47% Will you guys make up your mind!

If someone put a magic spell on Obama so that he could only tell the truth about his real belief system, people would recoil in horror.

I believe that Obama has a genuine hatred for this country. He believes America is fundamentally evil and needs to be punished. Obama sees America as a country that has been successful, only because we stole the land from the indigenous people and enslaved the African-Americans. He believes America's wealth is built on genocide and slavery. Obama believes America's wealth is blood money.

Obama is essentially channeling Frank Marshall Davis and his Marxist father. He's governing, in a way, that he believes, would please his father and his surrogate father, Frank Marshall Davis.

So you consider people who might not agree with your thoughts "scum"? This is the way that you view your fellow man?

The mind boggles. It wouldn't matter if you were a liberal or a conservative, this type of presentation of ideas is just sad. Completely sad. Perhaps bordering on pathetic. Originally Posted by ElisabethWhispers

Well sometimes, that's a pretty valid reaction. I'm sure the Jews thought Hitler was scum. I'm sure most Cubans think Castro is scum. I'm sure most North Koreans thought Kim Jong-il was scum. Most Cambodians probably thought Pol Pot was scum.

Can't we all just get along is not always the best philosophy.

If you read my post "Frank Marshall Davis Jr." you might come to the conclusion that FMD is his Marxist father and know why Obama is hiding his birth certificate [BO Sr. and Ann Dunham not married]....... Originally Posted by ChoomCzar

I've read the argument made for FMD being Obama's real father; I suppose it's possible. Obama's history is so covered up, anything is possible.

The important thing to know, is that Obama is the product of his environment. Whether FMD was his biological father, or his surrogate father, may not really matter.

Liberals = marxists = scum = 20% = wrong

liberals believe in taking away people's freedom.....that sounds scummy to me Originally Posted by ChoomCzar

Wanted to let you know how well you fit in with Glenn Beck and his brown shirts...

The scummy part or the liberals taking away freedoms?