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Was Obama Mentor a Communist?

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    “The Communist” author Paul Kengor on the President’s mentor Frank Marshall Davis.

  • Duration 5:18
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Offering a surprising new look into one of the president's.

Well lesser known managers certainly and the radical policies that he espoused.

And with which he mentioned the president.

Joining me now is Paul -- is executive director of the center for vision and values is.

Author of the New York Times best selling book the comments Frank Marshall Davis the untold story.

Of Barack Obama's mentor the book by the -- wanna congratulate you Paul debuting at number nine on the New York Times best selling.

A list and that's that is terrific I wanna -- through account.

Two to Frank Marshall Davis because the president does refer to his mentor.

In his in in his -- Yet you your you say that no one is really examined before you do in some considerable detail in this book just truly wants and what it.

What role he played in the and the presidents.

Evolution -- well.

That's right Lou -- president refers to Frank Marshall Davis 22 times and has met in his memoirs dreams from my father.

Although never one time and all -- 22 mentions as he gives full name.

He refers Somalia is frank.

And I think that's because in fact I'm pretty sure that's because he knew just how radical this association was.

And he knew that the guy -- played a very strong influence in his life.

Clearly I believe that a mentor relationship.

But he also knew that this was a man and everybody in Hawaii knew that Frank Marshall Davis was a well known Communist he had been.

Called to Washington in December 1956.

Before the Senate Judiciary Committee which was run by Democrats -- should -- This guy wasn't pursued by Joseph McCarthy -- he was pursued.

By Cold War Democrats the very Cold War Democrats that he targeted an -- oriented.

And you've testified pleaded the Fifth Amendment.

The next year 1957.

That the democratic senate put out a report with a very revealing title scope of Soviet activity in the United States.

And there they listed Davis says a quote identified member of the Communist Party quote.

And he was also listed for our considerable time he was followed from 1940s.

Through the 1960s.

By the FBI.

The federal government actually place Frank Marshall Davis on the security -- -- which meant that -- a war broke out between the United States and Soviet Union.

He can be placed under immediate arrest.

You highlight that well before I -- true to some believed the policy issues and and some of the tenants of president Obama's.

Political philosophy.

I want to go back to Stanley -- pay his introduction.

Of Frank Marshall Davis.

To Barack Obama.

Yes how did that occur.

Yet striking.

-- that that happened that took place in 1970 Obama at that point would have been nine years old.

So the grandfather Stanley Dunham.

Is looking for a black male role model father figure to -- -- grandson because the father at that point Barack Obama's father was out of the picture.

And so of all people that he would attack.

I mean he picked in the Euro I if -- -- to pick amends or.

-- -- son or grandson it would might pick a boy scout troop leader a Little League Coach football Coach.

Well I don't think we pick a an actual how literal and I mean literal no exaggeration.

Card carrying member of Communist Party USA who wrote pro Soviet all propaganda and Communist Party publication.

It's -- his wanna -- you clearly establish the relationship between.

Young Obama how -- did that that relationship -- Yeah it lasted throughout the 1970s.

Obama dreams from my father talks about the parting advice that he got before leaving Hawaii to go to college.

From Frank Marshall Davis and an and that which Obama quotes -- at -- in dreams from my father.

That the parting advice from Frank Marshall Davis is a diatribe.

About quote the American way and all that -- can we use a curse word.

And and I found -- -- articles that Davis was writing for the Chicago star.

Which was the Communist Party publications Chicago Davis is not only -- weekly columnist he was actually the founding editor in chief.

I found articles in the Chicago star Rick Davis was -- blasting.

Not just Harry Truman not just Winston Churchill these figures but blasting the American way as -- This big sisters -- the the relationship Valerie Jarrett David Axelrod.

You talk about their ties -- well.

It's interesting the circle of influence that you draw.

I'd I'd like to go into that much longer but it's -- fascinating book wall.

Well let -- thank you in and in the book is called the Communist Frank Marshall Davis -- untold story.

A Barack Obama's mentor.

Or you can go to -- -- cyclical matter.

If you straight through the -- You can pick up -- bookstores near you Amazon.com.

And again on good luck with the -- we appreciation time come back some.

Thank you very much.

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