I think Cashill missed part of what D’Souza wrote in the book. Obama Sr. was not just an anti-colonialist, but he was a particular political stripe of one. D’Souza mentions this in writing at length in the book about Jomo Kenyatta, who ended up beating out Obama, Sr, politically, and that Kenyatta was pro-Western, pro-American, but wanted Kenya to be its own independent nation. Note that in the book, Obama, Sr visits little Barry’s school class at Punahou and talks about being called “Burning Spear”, which was, in fact KENYATTA’s nickname! Obama, Sr, could not get over the fact of being beaten (politically), and was stealing the name of his rival due to inadequacy. Obama, Sr, was not JUST an anti-colonialist, but a socialist (in particular, redistributionist, D’Souza mentioned his writings on that point)This is important in understanding the father and the son The loss to Kenyatta is what destroyed Obama, Sr, causing his downward spiral into the alcoholism that eventually killed him.That is another possible motivator for Obama Jr. He’s not only going to hate the “oppressor” colonialists, he’s also going to hate anyone who wants to get along with them. That would explain why Obama Jr, picks nothing but extremist ideologues, and is of predictive value in showing that he will likely not triangulate like a Clinton might. Any move toward the center is going to be seen as being a Kenyatta, i.e. a collaborator or Uncle Tom.
Cashill ignores D’Souza making this point in his column in AT. There’s no way that Obama Jr would be anything other than what his father is, not JUST an anti-colonialist, but a socialist/Marxist/redistributionist one, in spades. This guy is not likely to move toward the middle any time soon, unless he has no alternative whatsoever left to him. In fact, he will likely rather go down and take others with him (seeing them as collaborators) in a blaze of pseudo-glory, which would feed his inner narcissism. In his own mind, he could then be a “hero” who gave up everything for his passion, like the false image he has in his mind of his father.
There’s also a VERY interesting passage in D’Souza’s book about a meeting that Obama has with one of his (many) siblings, (not George.. I forget this one’s name) who has basically adapted, and become part of regular society. This brother also dropped the O name. Met him once, never met him again, pretty much erased him from Obama’s world entirely as a “sellout” (much like his grandfather was!) and like Obama Jr’s mother treated Lolo Soetoro.
D’Souza’s book is VERY revealing, and very close to the mark, leaving out the birth certificate thing.
It seems more likely that he absorbed a majority of his political philosophy from those three rather than from Dad.