Liberal Fascism

Daniel Pipes reviews Jonah Goldberg's new book, Liberal Fascism.

Liberal fascism sounds like an oxymoron – or a term for conservatives to insult liberals. Actually, it was coined by a socialist writer, none other than the respected and influential left-winger H.G. Wells, who in 1931 called on fellow progressives to become "liberal fascists" and "enlightened Nazis." Really.

More fascinating remarks:

A statist ideology, fascism uses politics as the tool to transform society from atomized individuals into an organic whole. It does so by exalting the state over the individual, expert knowledge over democracy, enforced consensus over debate, and socialism over capitalism.

As someone who has been viewed as dangerous for asking too many questions in local circles, think about Obama's claim to be post-partisan.

I remember a college election for student body president--one candidate said vote for me, I will reflect your will. Another said, here's what I stand for, I ask for your vote. Who do you think won, even in those paralyzing PC 70's-- the candidate who was an individual, not a symbolic embodiment of our hopes.

That is demagoguery. That way lies tyranny.

UPDATE: Bret Stephens: Barack Obama shows why foreigners consider us naive:

A nation in which the poor are defined by an income level that in most countries would make them prosperous is a nation that has all but forgotten the true meaning of poverty. A nation in which obesity is largely a problem of the poor (and anorexia of the upper-middle class) does not understand the word "hunger." A nation in which the most celebrated recent cases of racism, at Duke University or in Jena, La., are wholly or mostly contrived is not a racist nation. A nation in which our "division" is defined by the vitriol of Ann Coulter or James Carville is not a truly divided one--at least while Mr. Carville is married to Republican operative Mary Matalin and Ms. Coulter is romantically linked with New York City Democrat Andrew Stein.

This naivete extends to Iraq, and the war on terror.

UPDATE: Kyle-Anne Shiver, The American Thinker on Obama's Leftie mentor, whom he shares with Hillary, Saul Alinsky. Alinsky advised to "rub raw the sores of discontent". HT Stix Blog.

Related posts: Obama Obsession, Hope is not enough