The Obama Diaries

by Laura Ingraham

  Obama said he was remaking America. We are retaking it.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  In the almost three years since I wrote Power to the People, my life has been turned upside down—in a good way. My children, Maria and Dmitri, are blessings in every way, and I am so grateful to be their mother.

  This book would not have been possible without the encouragement and collaboration of my friend and colleague Raymond Arroyo. From beginning to end, he helped keep this project going with insight and humor. My, did we laugh. And thanks to his wife, Rebecca Arroyo, for being her usual understanding and amazing self.

  A friend from my old law firm days, Stephen Vaughn, added important input and advice throughout the process. Even when swamped with work of his own, he always finds time to listen my political and cultural ideas and offer his own.

  Threshold Editions and its staff of highly talented professionals— publisher, Louise Burke; my editor, Tricia Boczkowski; deputy publisher, Anthony Ziccardi; and art director, Michael Nagin—were a delight throughout this odyssey. I knew I was in good hands from day one. And I would be remiss in not mentioning friends Vince Flynn and Mary Matalin, who introduced me to Threshold and convinced me to take the plunge.

  Chris Edwards deserves more thanks than an acknowledgment page can confer—his selflessness is a rarity in our “what’s-in-it-for-me?” culture. I continue to be inspired by my brave, smart, selfless friend Cathy Morrison. Others who have provided invaluable guidance in both the world of motherhood and business include Wendy Long, Deborah Colloton, Pat and Becky Cipollone, Julie Altman, John Cribb, Ed and Nina Hendee, David and Brodie Wheaton, Lia Macko, Sarah and Jon Talcott, Randy and Toby LeFaivre, Michael Savage, Sahaira Vasquez, Phil and Rachel Lerman, Patty and Marshall Coleman, Jill Sorensen, Conrad and Barbara Black, and Pam and Darren Cooke.

  Without the constant support and love from my “surrogate parents,” Charles and Ina Carlsen, I’m not sure if this book would ever have been written. Thank you.

  My dedicated radio team in Washington and Oregon has been extremely supportive in what has often been a wild ride. My executive producer, Tom Elliott, is one of the hardest-working guys I know.

  Thanks to Don Imus for putting me on the radio before anyone else did. And without Rush Limbaugh’s friendship, and his example blazing the radio trail, I would not be in the business at all.

  I am immensely grateful to Fox News’s Roger Ailes and Bill Shine for believing in my ability, and helping me become better at television. Bill O’Reilly has been gracious and generous in allowing me to fill in for him on The Factor. The advice that Sean Hannity gave me years ago about the media business has helped immeasurably.

  My attorney, Rick Bernthal, has been a steadfast friend, advocate, and advisor.

  My late mother, Anne Ingraham’s spirit runs through the funniest, feistiest parts of this book. My father, and my brothers, Jimmy, Brooks, and Curtis, keep me grounded with love when all else seems crazy. My children, Maria and Dmitri, kept me laughing while on deadline. My nephews, Jim and Bret, make us all proud. God has truly blessed me, and throughout all of the ups and downs of life, I am constantly reminded of His grace and His sovereignty over all.

  INDEX

  Abdullah (king of Saudi Arabia), 217

  abortion, 42–44, 168, 177, 192, 195, 196, 200–201, 231, 250, 307, 344, 346, 347

  abstinence funding, 61

  ACORN, 123

  Adams, John, 17, 90, 215

  Afghanistan, 240, 244, 254

  agenda, Obama: advice on defeating, 336–51;

  and American traditions, 348: importance of rolling back, 335–36;

  and retaking America, 350–51

  AIG, 153

  Ailes, Roger, 15, 109, 118

  Akihito (emperor of Japan), 217

  Al-Arian, Sami, 189–90

  Alexander, David, 88

  Alinsky, Saul, 207, 208, 297, 299–301, 302, 304, 312, 313, 324

  America: Americans’ views of, 248;

  books and resources to revive appreciation of, 29–30;

  creed of, 4, 9–10, 27;

  decline of, 248–51, 335, 336–48;

  founding of, 20;

  and keeping the republic, 328–30;

  love of, 25–30;

  as melting pot, 3;

  power of, 247–48;

  preservation of, 28–29;

  retaking, 350–51;

  role of faith in, 176, 199;

  as “shining city on a hill,” 2, 3, 7;

  spirit of, 27, 28, 29–30;

  what is, 1–30

  America Speaking Out, 108

  America: The Last Best Hope (Bennett), 29, 30

  American Atheists, 191

  American Beverage Association, 162

  American Dream, 148

  American exceptionalism, 11–16, 18

  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 125–30. See also stimulus plan

  American Red Cross, 172

  American Revolution, 28, 175

  Anderson, Christopher, 54, 208

  anti-obesity movement, 34, 36, 37, 38, 43, 77, 91, 97, 121, 153, 157, 160–62, 167, 319–20, 323

  Aoko, Kezia, 54, 56

  apologies, Obama: as Contrition Tour, 13;

  for domestic concerns, 231–34;

  for foreign relations, 219–27;

  ineffectiveness of, 236–44;

  justification for, 231

  Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 61

  Arizona: immigration law in, 144–46, 227

  Arlington National Cemetery, 288

  Armey, Dick, 302

  Arroyo, Raymond, 70

  atheists, 191

  Atlas, Scott, 115

  The Audacity of Hope (Obama), 48, 49, 174, 202

  Austin, Denise, 154

  automobile industry, 139–43

  Axelrod, David: and Biden as Obama running mate, 254;

  and demonizing enemies, 302, 309;

  and elections, 254, 349;

  and events at White House, 24, 76, 77, 210;

  and foreign relations, 227;

  and health care, 333;

  New York Times profile of, 260, 261, 263;

  and Obama approval ratings, 334;

  and Obama narcissism, 259, 260–62, 263;

  and Obama speeches, 132–33, 188;

  and Obama vacations, 284;

  and physical fitness, 261;

  and religion, 173, 175, 184–85, 210;

  and Rogers media coverage, 92;

  and Rogers resignation, 105;

  and Rogers-White House crashers incident, 100;

  and snowjobs, 152;

  and town hall meetings, 113;

  and Virginia gubernatorial election, 265

  Ayers, William “Bill,” 207

  Baier, Bret, 320–21

  bailouts, 142

  Baker, Peter, 268

  Balsera, Alfredo, 127

  Bancroft Elementary School (Washington, D.C.), 87–88

  banks, 123, 124, 130–38, 281, 306. See also mortgage bailout

  Barnes, Melody, 43

  Barofsky, Neil, 132

  Beck, Glenn, 314, 317–18

  “beer summit,” White House, 290

  Bell, Michael, 206

  Bennett, Bill, 29, 30

  Berlin, Germany: Obama speech in, 220, 221

  Biden, Beau, 33

  Biden, Jill, 33, 126, 294

  Biden, Joe: acceptance of nomination by, 69;

  and advice for defeating Obama agenda, 343;

  as breaking up Obama meetings, 225, 227, 234;

  and celebrities as Obama supporters, 83;

  and conservatives, 325–26;

  and demonizing enemies, 325–26;

  and elections of 2008, 254, 255;

  Emanuel views about, 332;

  family of, 32–33;

  and foreign relations, 220–21, 233–34, 254, 337–38;

  and health care, 332, 335;

  and homosexuality, 346–47; />
  manners and protocol of, 275, 290;

  and Michelle, 346–47;

  narcissism of, 293–94;

  Obama hamburger outing with, 156–57;

  Obama relationship with, 36;

  as Obama running mate, 254, 255;

  popularity of, 334;

  as pro-abortion, 43;

  and race issues, 290;

  and Recovery Act, 156;

  and religion, 213–14;

  and Sasha essay about Washington, 37;

  at State of the Union address, 21;

  and stimulus bill, 126–27

  bipartisanship, 74–79, 100, 128, 138, 336, 344–45

  Bo (dog), 93–95, 100, 192, 239, 269, 270, 279

  boot camps, exercise, 170–71

  Borger, Gloria, 319

  Boxer, Barbara, 341

  Bradlee, Ben, 258

  Brand, Obama, 67, 68, 70–71, 100–101, 105

  Breitbart, Andrew, 109, 307

  Brinkley, David, 32

  Brinkley, Douglas, 20

  Brookings Institution, 131

  Brooks, David, 315

  Brown, Gordon, 12, 14, 271, 272

  Brown, Scott, 56, 116, 268–70

  Brownstein, Ron, 318–19

  Bruni, Carla, 225, 284

  Buckley, Chris, 315

  budget, U.S., 130, 330, 340

  Burton, Bill, 281

  Bush, George W.: and apologies of Obama, 231;

  blame on, 20, 206, 302, 303;

  Catholic support for, 200;

  as churchgoer, 184;

  “failed presidency” of, 71;

  and foreign relations, 12, 222, 231, 251–52;

  and Iraq War, 20, 234, 243;

  manners and protocol of, 274;

  nation’s fatigue with, 68;

  and Obama family at Blair House, 8;

  and Obama family tree, 56;

  and Obama Nobel Prize, 164;

  and physical fitness, 157–58;

  popularity of, 218, 243;

  presidential legitimacy of, 317;

  social staff of, 107;

  on Time cover, 31;

  and White House as People’s House, 73

  Bush, Jeb, 108

  business: loan program for small, 131, 132;

  Obama hostility to, 335

  Business Roundtable: Obama speech to, 132–33

  Calderón, Felipe, 227

  Called to Renewal, 193

  Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department, 288–89, 290

  Camp David, 211–12, 281

  Campaign for Human Development, 207

  Campos, Paul, 164–65

  Canfield, Natoma, 117, 148

  Cantor, Eric, 108, 308

  cap-and-trade bill, 60, 279, 324

  Capitol, U.S.: protests at, 307–8

  carbon emissions, 61, 243, 347

  Carender, Keli (aka Liberty Belle), 110

  Carney, Jay, 33, 233

  Carter, Jimmy, 229–30, 238, 244

  Catholics, 176–77, 186, 188, 191–98, 200, 203–4, 207, 213

  celebrities: as Obama supporters, 79–85

  charitable giving, 200

  Chavez, Hugo, 15, 16, 22–23, 235

  Cheney, Richard, 14, 56

  Chicago, Illinois, 102–3, 207

  Chicago (musical), 70

  child rearing, 50–52

  children: Obama attempts to appeal to, 97–99

  China, 217, 234, 240, 243, 244, 249–51, 329, 335–39

  The Chris Matthews Show (MSNBC-TV), 316

  Christianity, 176, 178, 179, 184, 189, 194, 199, 209, 214–15

  Christie, Chris, 266–68

  Chrysler Corporation, 131, 134, 139, 140, 142

  church(es): black, 207–9, 212;

  Obama’s views about, 173–75;

  search for a, 179–85, 206–7, 210, 211–12;

  and social activism, 207–8.

  Churchill, Winston, 146, 147, 221, 272, 273

  Cinco de Mayo event: Michelle at, 155

  Cleaver, Emanuel, 305, 307

  Cleveland Clinic, 148

  climate change, 200, 222, 230, 243, 345

  Clinton, Bill: Asia trip of, 285;

  big government comment of, 231;

  as churchgoer, 184;

  and conservatives, 311;

  and Defense of Marriage Act, 62;

  at Democratic National Convention, 69;

  and demonizing enemies, 309, 311, 314;

  and Hillary-Obama relationship, 223;

  and Lewinsky scandal, 311;

  and Obama’s Nobel Prize, 238, 239;

  Podesta as breaking up meetings of, 225;

  and Tea Party movement, 311;

  and vegetable garden, 90

  Clinton, Hillary: and abortion, 43;

  and apologies of Obama, 219;

  Biden diary comments about, 157;

  and China reeducation camps, 250;

  and elections of 2008, 350;

  and foreign relations, 219, 222, 223–25, 246, 250;

  gift to Russian leaders from, 222, 275;

  Michelle’s relationship with, 225, 227, 246;

  Obama’s fund-raising with, 69;

  and Obama’s Nobel Prize, 239;

  and Obamas’ travels, 284;

  and vegetable garden, 90

  Clooney, George, 75, 82–83

  Coakley, Martha, 268–70

  Coburn, Tom, 119

  Cohen, Steve, 308

  Collins, Lauren, 6

  Collins, Susan, 75

  Colmes, Alan, 313

  Color of Change group, 318

  Comerford, Cristeta, 78, 91, 104

  community organizing, 135–36, 138, 152, 183, 207, 256, 299, 300, 303, 304

  Community Reinvestment Act, 123

  Congress, U.S., 61–62, 121, 139, 144, 159, 252, 340

  Congressional Black Caucus, 292

  conservatives: and advice for defeating Obama agenda, 335–36, 343, 344–45, 348;

  and apologies of Obama, 231–32;

  Biden views about, 325–26;

  and Clinton (Bill), 311;

  decline of, 345;

  and demonizing enemies, 302, 308, 311, 313–25, 326–27;

  effectiveness of, 302;

  and elections, 251, 341–42;

  fair-minded, 314;

  and foreign relations, 251;

  need for Razzie Dazzle by, 108–9;

  and nuclear weapons, 297;

  Palin as representative of, 298;

  Reagan as inspiration to, 330;

  and reform of conservatism, 335–36

  “Corporate Voices for Working Families” conference (May, 2009), 50

  Corsi, Jerome, 55

  Corzine, Jon, 266–68

  Council for Secular Humanism, 191

  Couric, Katie, 79

  Craig, Larry, 279

  Cranston, Alan, 128

  Crow, Sheryl, 71, 81–82

  Crowley, James 289–90

  Cuba, 15, 208

  culture: coarsening of, 335, 396;

  of dependency, 146–48, 149;

  reshaping American, 16–25;

  and Too Much Information about Obama family, 40

  Czech Republic, 47, 221, 235, 241, 297–98

  D-day, 284

  da Silva, Lula, 103

  Dalai Lama, 243

  Daley, Richard, 53, 102, 259–60

  Darfur, 82–83

  Dartmouth University, 116, 217

  D.C. voucher program, 61

  death panel, 120–21

  death tax (estate tax), 60–61

  Deaver, Michael, 109

  debt, U.S., 59–60, 128–29, 130, 249–50, 252, 335, 338, 339

  Declaration of Independence, 4

  Deeds, Creigh, 264–66

  Defense of Marriage Act (1996), 62

  DeLauro, Rosa, 37, 305

  Delphi Corporation, 139

  Democratic National Committee (DNC), 133, 340

  Democratic National Convention (Denver, 2008),
41, 44, 68–72, 82, 253

  Democratic Woman’s Caucus: Michelle comments about abortion to, 44

  demonizing enemies: and Alinsky influence on Obama, 299–300;

  and conservatives, 302, 308, 311, 313–25, 326–27;

  and health care, 303, 306, 307–8, 309–10, 318–21, 324–25;

  and importance of political activism, 327–28;

  and media, 298, 311, 313–25;

  and Michelle, 299–300, 301, 319–20, 322–24;

  and nuclear weapons, 297–99;

  purpose of, 326–27;

  and Tea Party movement, 301, 302–13, 314, 324, 327

  Dent, Charlie, 74–75

  dependency: culture of, 146–48, 149

  Dickerson, John, 319

  Dionne, E.J., 318

  disabilities: people with, 276

  Dobson, Jim, 193

  Domestic Policy Council, White House, 43

  Donnelly, Joe, 198

  Donohue, Bill, 186

  “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, 310

  Dowd, Maureen, 319

  Dreams from My Father (Obama), 54, 58–59, 204, 207, 256

  Drudge, Matt, 109

  Dubois, Joshua, 199–200

  Dunham, Madelyn “Toot,” 16, 49, 55, 204

  Dunham, Stanley Ann, 16, 54–55, 59, 204–5

  Dunn, Anita, 108

  Ebbert, Stephanie, 310

  Economic Club, 120

  economic issues, 59–61, 115–16, 120–21, 188, 295, 330, 333, 336, 338, 343. See also debt, U.S spending; stimulus plan; taxes

  Edelman, Marian Wright, 19

  education, 61, 83, 231, 334–35. See also school

  Education, U.S. Department of, 97, 98

  Edwards, John, 69

  “elder reduction program,” 121

  elections: of 2006, 345;

  2009 gubernatorial, 264–68;

  of 2010, 304, 310, 335, 341–42, 343, 348, 349–50;

  of 2012, 144, 145, 203, 211, 251, 348;

  and love for America, 28

  elections of 2008: auto industry contributions to, 139;

  Biden as Obama running mate in, 254, 255;

  Catholic vote in, 200;

  Democratic National Convention for, 41, 44, 68–72, 253;

  demoralization of conservatives by, 109;

  Obama acceptance speech for nomination in, 68–72, 253;

  Obama campaign in, 5, 6, 10, 41, 254–55;

  and Obama family background, 54;

  and Obama International Olympic Committee presentation, 102–3;

  and Obama Iowa victory speech, 299;

  and Obama logo, 67, 256–57;

  and Obama narcissism, 253–55, 256, 349;

  Obama victory speech in, 67–68;