The Obama Nation
| Company type | Publication |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founder | Jerome Corsi |
| Products | Book |
| Parent | Threshold Editions (imprint of Simon & Schuster) |
The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality is a publication by Jerome Corsi that opposes Barack Obama's bid for the President of the United States. The book asserts that Obama embodies "radical left-wing ideology," maintains "significant links to Islam and extremist politics," exhibits a "naïve approach to foreign affairs," has a history of drug use, and maintains associations with questionable supporters. Critics have challenged the book for containing factual inaccuracies, allegations of racial bias, and for functioning as a politically motivated "attack book" filled with defamatory claims, untruths, and insinuations.
Content
Corsi authored this work as a critique of Obama during the 2008 U.S. presidential race. It explores Obama's background and initial political activities in Chicago, characterizing him as an "extreme leftist" unsuited for the presidency. The narrative highlights alleged Islamic affiliations and radical political connections, including involvement with black-liberation theology and associations with controversial individuals such as pastor Jeremiah Wright, fundraiser Tony Rezko, and activists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn from the Weather Underground. The book further condemns Obama's domestic and international policies as overly progressive and imprudent.
The opening of the book features a quotation from Andy Martin, identified by prominent news outlets as the chief originator of rumors about Obama's purported Muslim faith following his 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address.
Author and publication
Jerome Corsi, known for engaging with contentious subjects, authored this book. In 2007, he wrote about an alleged conspiracy to supplant the U.S. dollar with a global currency. He accused a "Muslim terrorist group" of backing John McCain's campaign and advocated for the impeachment of George W. Bush. Corsi has supported the 9/11 Truth Movement and co-authored Unfit for Command during the 2004 election cycle, critiquing Democratic contender John Kerry. He frequently contributes to the conservative platform WorldNetDaily, recognized for disseminating conspiracy theories regarding Obama's citizenship.
The book was released by Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster owned by CBS and overseen by Republican strategist Mary Matalin. The title deliberately echoes the term abomination.
Corsi faced detention and deportation by Kenyan immigration authorities due to promoting the book without securing a work permit.
Obama campaign response
The Obama campaign responded with a 40-page rebuttal titled "unfit for publication" posted on its fightthesmears.com website, disputing the book’s claims and highlighting numerous factual mistakes. The campaign labeled the book "a collection of falsehoods... authored by someone discredited after producing a similar work supporting George Bush and Dick Cheney's re-election." It denounced such publications as opportunistic efforts to capitalize on the presidential race and vowed to counter these defamatory attacks vigorously. The Democratic National Committee also participated in this effort, encouraging supporters to disseminate what it termed the truth about Corsi’s fabrications.
Other responses
John McCain chose not to comment on the book; his campaign indicated he did not hear questions regarding it. Senator John Kerry, who had been targeted by Corsi in his earlier 2004 campaign book, initiated the "Truth Fights Back" website to challenge these allegations. The progressive group Media Matters for America cataloged numerous errors within both the book and Corsi's promotional remarks. Paul Waldman from Media Matters appeared alongside Corsi on Larry King Live to debate these issues. MSNBC host Contessa Brewer confronted Corsi with purported inaccuracies, which he denied.
Reception and critical analysis
Upon its release on August 1, 2008, the book debuted at number four in nonfiction sales during its initial week and climbed to the top position on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller chart within a fortnight, partly driven by large-volume purchases. Some supporters of Obama speculated that conservative factions might have artificially boosted sales figures, a claim denied by Corsi. By September 8, it had dropped to second place behind Tori Spelling's Stori Telling. Corsi publicly showcased his early earnings from the book at a coffee shop in Washington.
The publication encountered extensive criticism over factual inaccuracies from prominent media outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report, Associated Press, Time, Newsweek, The Daily Telegraph, Editor & Publisher, The Guardian, CNN, The Independent, Politifact.com, and The Boston Globe. According to The New York Times, many of the allegations lacked substantiation or were misleading. Peter Wehner of Commentary urged conservatives to avoid relying on the book due to numerous factual errors, both trivial and significant.
Described by The Washington Post as an "innuendo-laden, error-filled biography," the book was also critiqued by the Los Angeles Times for demonstrating that bestseller status does not equate to factual reliability. Politico highlighted that the text contains extreme theories and bitterness that diminish Corsi’s credibility. The British paper The Independent labeled it a "hatchet job on Obama." As noted by Slate, neither Corsi nor his co-author Matalin responded to requests for correcting inaccuracies.
The book contains sections considered offensive concerning Obama’s personal and familial background, including an emphasis on his "African blood" rather than his American heritage and references to his mother’s choice of a second husband described as a "man of color," which CNN deemed racially insensitive. The Los Angeles Times pointed out statements implying Obama desires to "will all the white blood out of himself," characterizing these remarks as bigoted. The Chicago Sun-Times condemned the work for exploiting racial anxieties to provoke fear among white Americans.
Corsi faced additional backlash for promoting the book on The Political Cesspool, a radio program identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as espousing white nationalist views. Although he appeared on the show in July 2008, he withdrew from a planned August appearance citing travel commitments.
Questioned accuracy
The New York Times underscored errors within the book, such as alleging that Obama attended a controversial sermon by Rev. Jeremiah Wright in Chicago on a day when Obama was actually speaking in Florida. It also challenged Corsi’s assertion that Obama had "yet to answer" whether he ceased drug use, despite Obama’s public declaration: "I haven't done anything since I was 20 years old." Corsi implied ongoing drug use without providing proof.
The text claims that Obama maintains "extensive connections to Islam," referencing childhood friend Zulfin Adi’s assertion that Obama was a practicing Muslim. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, multiple interviews indicate Obama was not practicing Islam during his time in Indonesia, and Adi later acknowledged uncertainty and limited acquaintance.
Corsi’s incorrect date for the Obamas' marriage was corrected by Obama's campaign.
Regarding the 2005 acquisition of their Chicago residence, Corsi cited a 2008 Salon.com piece stating businessman Tony Rezko "found the house for Obama." Yet in a 2007 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Barack Obama credited his wife with locating their home.
FactCheck characterized the book as "a blend of unsupported speculation, partial truths, logical errors, and outright falsehoods," noting that documenting its numerous inaccuracies could fill an entire volume.
See also
External links
- Excerpt from The Obama Nation, featured in The New York Times