The Obama Identity
Encyclopedia
The Obama Identity: A Novel (Or Is It?) is a 2010 novel written by Edward Klein
and former Republican
United States Representative
John LeBoutillier
. Among other things, the book explores and promotes the Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
and Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories
in the form of a novel. In an interview on Fox & Friends
, Leboutillier claimed that the book uses "real things" and has "so much real stuff". Following the interview, Media Matters for America
published excerpts from the book in an article which criticized the book as having an "incomprehensible plot".
Other scenes depicted in the book include Jeremiah Wright demanding "100,000 a year in reparations for every black man, woman, and child", Obama having his feet washed by a "Filipino steward" and his cigarette smoke fanned away by "barely dressed Thai boys", and Katie Couric
having "erect nipples...clearly visible through her blouse" while "in full swoon over Barack Obama" because she wanted to "go out on a date with" him.
published an excerpt from the book, which it described as "satirical". The excerpt describes a fictitious episode of the Sean Hannity
television show, in which Hannity interviews a conservative activist who believes that John F. Kennedy
is still alive, that we never landed on the moon, that 9/11 was an inside job and that Obama's campaign is part of a "gigantic conspiracy by leftists to plant a Muslim in the Oval Office and to teach our children to wear shoes with Velcro instead of laces so they can take off their shoes when they come home."
Andrew Zarowny of the conservative website Right Pundits wrote a favorable review of the book, which he described as "hilarious". He also cited another review of the book written by advertising executive Jerry Della Femina
.
Edward Klein
Edward Klein is a bestselling nonfiction author who has written about the Kennedys and Hillary Clinton.Klein is the former foreign editor of Newsweek and former editor in chief of The New York Times Magazine. He frequently contributes to Vanity Fair and Parade; he has a weekly column in Parade...
and former Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
John LeBoutillier
John LeBoutillier
John LeBoutillier is an American political columnist, pundit, and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.-Education:...
. Among other things, the book explores and promotes the Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama claim that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. Some theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not...
and Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories
Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories
Barack Obama religion conspiracy theories—allegations that he secretly follows a non-Christian religion, or that he is the antichrist—have been suggested ever since Barack Obama began his campaign to become President of the United States in 2007...
in the form of a novel. In an interview on Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The show begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
, Leboutillier claimed that the book uses "real things" and has "so much real stuff". Following the interview, Media Matters for America
Media Matters for America
Media Matters for America is a politically progressive media watchdog group which says it is "dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." Set up as a 501 non-profit organization, MMfA was founded in 2004 by journalist and...
published excerpts from the book in an article which criticized the book as having an "incomprehensible plot".
Plot summary
Prior to Obama's election, the protagonist, a CIA agent named Theodore J. Higginbothem III, or "Higgy" uncovers a vast conspiracy surrounding Barack Obama. After Obama is elected, the protagonist attempts suicide, but is unsuccessful; afterwards, he goes to work for the president.Plot details
The book presents various conspiracy theories about President Obama and other Democrats as fact, including that:- Obama is a MuslimBarack Obama religion conspiracy theoriesBarack Obama religion conspiracy theories—allegations that he secretly follows a non-Christian religion, or that he is the antichrist—have been suggested ever since Barack Obama began his campaign to become President of the United States in 2007...
and was tutored as a child by an Indonesian imam and attempted rapist who was described as plotting to "plant converted Muslims inside non-Muslim governments with the hope that they would someday rise to hold high governmental positions." In the book, Obama's circumcisionCircumcisionMale circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
is described by the imam as having "cleansed Barry of his impure American ideas."
- Barack Obama was born in Mombasa, KenyaBarack Obama citizenship conspiracy theoriesConspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama claim that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. Some theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not...
.
- Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
avoided the draft because he was an undercover CIA agent.
- Jeremiah WrightJeremiah WrightJeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. is Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ , a megachurch in Chicago exceeding 6,000 members...
had a secret office underneath his church, which was used for organizing Obama's presidential campaign.
- Obama's campaign was funded by China, Iran, Russia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, with help from a "Soros aide".
- The late 2000s recessionLate 2000s recessionThe late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
was purposely created byGeorge Soros conspiracy theoriesMany conspiracy theories have been created about Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros since his rise to economic wealth...
George SorosGeorge SorosGeorge Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
in order to get Obama elected.
- Barack Obama wants to add his own face to Mount RushmoreMount RushmoreMount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States...
and rename ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
after himself.
Other scenes depicted in the book include Jeremiah Wright demanding "100,000 a year in reparations for every black man, woman, and child", Obama having his feet washed by a "Filipino steward" and his cigarette smoke fanned away by "barely dressed Thai boys", and Katie Couric
Katie Couric
Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric is an American journalist and author. She serves as Special Correspondent for ABC News, contributing to ABC World News, Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, This Week and primetime news specials...
having "erect nipples...clearly visible through her blouse" while "in full swoon over Barack Obama" because she wanted to "go out on a date with" him.
Reception
Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
published an excerpt from the book, which it described as "satirical". The excerpt describes a fictitious episode of the Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
television show, in which Hannity interviews a conservative activist who believes that John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
is still alive, that we never landed on the moon, that 9/11 was an inside job and that Obama's campaign is part of a "gigantic conspiracy by leftists to plant a Muslim in the Oval Office and to teach our children to wear shoes with Velcro instead of laces so they can take off their shoes when they come home."
Andrew Zarowny of the conservative website Right Pundits wrote a favorable review of the book, which he described as "hilarious". He also cited another review of the book written by advertising executive Jerry Della Femina
Jerry Della Femina
Jerry Della Femina is an American advertising executive and restaurateur. Starting from a poor Italian background in Brooklyn, he eventually became chairman of Della Femina Travisano & Partners, an agency which he founded with Ron Travisano in the 1960s...
.