Obama's sleight of hand

Yesterday, i talked about the cartoon on the cover of the New Yorker as if Obama were too thin-skinned to deal with the insinuation that he and his wife are into terrorist chic and the politics of resentment. Now, thanks to the encouragement of Wolf Howling, who excerpts the New Yorker article, I have read the long piece in that magazine and see it has almost nothing to do with Obama's Muslim family, his friendship with the unrepentant terrorist, Ayers, or Michelle's anger at "privileged" America.

In fact, making fuss about the cover may well be a way of drawing attention away from what is actually written: an examination of Obama as a hard-nosed politician who has excelled at learning the more or less corrupt Chicago political game and plays to win, even when it means turning on friends. Granny is not the only one under the bus.

The piece is not really written such that a quote or two can well sum it up. Read the whole thing if you have a little time, and you might see Obama as just about the last guy to stand on principles, Koranic or otherwise. That's because he can find all principles have something to be said for them, especially when there are connections to be made with their better, well-connected, representatives.
The Political Scene: Making It: Reporting & Essays: The New Yorker