@benj: For 6 months [Wretchard has] been pushing the idea that O is a grand mystery – while cultivating every ugly rumor that might make O look scary. In fact the roots of O’s current liberal – not “radical” – politics are spelled out clearly in his book. His career in politics – straight up through the speech Thursday night – flow directly from the movements of mind evoked in “Dreams From My Father.”

Indeed, zerObama’s roots are well known, and well understood at this blog. What’s not known is zerO’s own take on those roots. Because contra to what Benj writes, those roots are nothing BUT radical. There isn’t a centrist in sight, much less a conservative. BHO seems to have spent his life in a voluntary re-education camp. Yet from him we get nothing but high-falutin blather, plus the occasional (to me at least) terrifying talk about forcing children to participate in “community service” and a civilian — what? force? organization? — with budget and arms equal to the military.

What’s also not known are the details of many of those roots, Exhibit A being the paper trail of his relationship with Ayers that they are going crazy trying to conceal (what, are we to pretend Ayers is also a Liberal and not a radical?). zerO wouldn’t even reveal who “Frank” was in that oh-so-enlightening book — huh, why do you suppose that is? — and it had to be ferreted out by a reporter (shockingly, not a reporter for the NY Times). And what’s old avuncular Frank turn out to be? A squishy hearted Liberal? Gosh no, kids, he’s a card-carrying Communist! An actual party member (back when they still had enough pride or decency to admit what they were).

We know Obama quite well enough Benj to know what he is. As has been said here several times (by Fred?), the books are easy to parse if you’re not reading them with rosy glasses and a woody in your pants. The question is why is Obama hiding what he is? Why is he blocking access to records or all sorts? Cuz he’s just a Liberal? Uh huh.