Obama Zombies: How the Obama Machine Brainwashed My Generation (33 page)

35
. Ibid.

36
. Ibid.

37
. Dave Itzkoff, "Can We Laugh? Yes, We Can,"
New York Times
, November 7, 2008.

38
. Frank Rich, "Throw the Truthiness Bums Out,"
New York Times
, November 5, 2006.

39
. "Colbert Roasts President Bush--2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner," Google videos, http://video.google.com/video play?docid=869183917758574879#.

40
. Seth Mnookin, "The Man in the Irony Mask,"
Vanity Fair
, October 2007.

41
. Ibid.

42
. Steven Daly, "Stephen Colbert: the second most powerful idiot in America,"
Sunday Telegraph
(London), May 18, 2008.

43
. Greg Mitchell, "Obama Owes Presidency To . . . Stephen Colbert?" Huffington Post
,
February 21, 2009,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/obama-owes-presidency-tos_b_159664.html
.

44
. Mnookin, "The Man in the Irony Mask."

45
. Daly, "Stephen Colbert: the second most powerful idiot in America."

46
. Ibid.

47
. Maureen Dowd, "America's Anchors,"
Rolling Stone
, October 31, 2006.

48
. Mnookin, "The Man in the Irony Mask."

49
. Daly, "Stephen Colbert: the second most powerful idiot in America."

50
. "Key News Audiences Now Blend Online and Traditional Sources," Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, August 17, 2008, http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1353.

51
. "Nearly One-Third of Younger Americans See Colbert, Stewart As Alternatives to Traditional News Outlets," Rasmussen Reports, March 25, 2009, http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/life
style/entertainment/march_2009/nearly_one_third_of_
younger_americans_see_colbert_stewart_as_
alternatives_to_traditional_news_outlets.

52
. Ibid.

53
. Gail Shister, "Young adults eschew traditional night news for 'The Daily Show,' " Philly.com, May 13, 2007, http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/gail_shister/
20070513_Young_adults_eschew_traditional
_nightly_news_for_quot_The_Daily_Show_quot_html? page=2.

54
. Ibid.

55
. Mnookin, "The Man in the Irony Mask."

Conclusion

1
. "Independents Take Center Stage in Obama Era," Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, May 21, 2009, http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1516.

2
. Lydia Saad, " 'Conservatives' Are Single-Largest Ideological Group," June 15, 2009,
http://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/Conservatives-Single-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx
.

3
. Martha Irvine, "Tough political realities quiet youth 'Obamamania,' " Huffington Post, September 22, 2009,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090922/us_obama_youth_hangover
.

4
. Saad, " 'Conservatives' Are Single-Largest Ideological Group."

5
. David Von Drehle, "The Year of the Youth Vote,"
Time
, January 31, 2008.

6
. Jeff Mason, "Obama to raise 10-year deficit to $9 trillion," Reuters, August 21, 2009,
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE57K4XE20090821
.

7
. Mark Knoller, "National debt now tops $12 trillion," CBS News Political Hotsheet, November 17, 2009,
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/17/politics/
politicalhotsheet/entry5686644.shtml
.

8
. Byron York, "Michelle's Struggle,"
National Review Online,
February 29, 2008, http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmEyN2RkNzcwYzgyZDY2MDBiY2U5MjJ1ZGMwNDM2ODg=.

9
. "Obama ASU speech: Full text," Huffington Post, May 13, 2009,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/obama_asu_speech_tex_n_203287.html
.

10
. P.J. O'Rourke, "Fairness, Idealism and Other Atrocities,"
Los Angeles Times
, May 4, 2008.

11
. Ibid.

12
. University of North Carolina Economics Department,
http://www.unc.edu/depts/econ/byrns_web/Economicae/HET/Pioneers/Smith.htm
.

13
. Wayne Crews and Ryan Young, "America's Hidden Trillion-Dollar Tax,"
Investor's Business Daily
, May 27, 2009, http://www.ibdedito rials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?secid=1502&status=article&id=328318400128627&secure=1&show=1&rss=1.

14
. "America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day," Tax Foundation, March 31, 2009,
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxfreedomday/
.

15
. George Will, "March of the Polar Bears,"
Washington Post
, May 22, 2008,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052102428.html
.

16
. Nicole Hoplin, "Obama Takes a Page from Reagan's Playbook,"
Human Events
, October 29, 2008,
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=29237
.

I've always imagined that writing a book would be quite the undertaking. And boy, oh boy, was I right. For six months, my life was focused on one thing, and one thing only:
Obama Zombies.
The bad news was that my social life was shelved.
Sigh.
The really bad news was that my social life was shelved because of Obama.
Double sigh.
The good news is that my social life is no longer shelved.
Hurrah!

In all seriousness, there are many people that helped make this book a reality. Wynton Hall of Wynton Hall & Co. fame: you've emerged as a trusted mentor, confidant, and friend. You are the best at what you do, the supreme communications counselor and strategist. You answered every literary question I had, even if I called you at 1:00 a.m., with more of a vent than an actual question. And you read and gave counsel on the hundreds of pages I wrote. My sincerest thanks, brother.

My deep gratitude to the team at Threshold: the Executive Vice President and Publisher, Louise Burke; as well as Mary Matalin; and Mitchell Ivers, my trusty editor, who offered indispensible guidance and masterful edits. A special thanks to Anthony Ziccardi, who believed in this project from the very beginning. Thank you for your visionary leadership.

Glenn Hartley and Lynn Chu, I couldn't have asked for better agents. Thank you for being in my corner.

To my colleagues at Young America's Foundation, America's campuses are better off today because of your steadfast commitment to introduce young people to real diversity--
intellectual
diversity. Ron Robinson, you are a strategic genius and a tireless advocate for the conservative cause. I've been blessed to call you boss. Patrick X. Coyle and Roger Custer, you guys run the best student conferences and campus lecture programs in the country. I've been blessed to call you colleagues.

I'm usually asked how a kid who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and went to college in Rhode Island found his way to Washington, D.C. . . . and as a conservative, no less! Liberals, for that, you have my awesomely awesome parents to thank. Their financial sacrifice allowed me to dodge that institution that normally ruins adolescents and fries brain cells: public school. To my dad, Joseph, you've been the ideal father. You've been the most supportive person in my life, always there for me when I needed direction and advice. I will always remember when you ignited my intellectual curiosity on those road trips to basketball camp. To my mom, Joyce, your work ethic and passion have always been a source of inspiration. Thank you.

To the Meeks household, you'll always be family. It was Cindy who assured that my nightly dinners didn't consist of just Cheerios and pancakes. My stomach thanks you! And it was Daris who offered
me blunt feedback on everything in life and a constant stream of unforgettable jokes.

Alyssa Cordova, yes, you were a great intern (non-Clintonesque, people!), but you've turned out to be an even better friend. A. J. Rice, you're one of the most creative and talented individuals I know. Thanks for your insights and support.

Jedediah Jones, it's been many years since our days at Roger Williams University. I will never forget your constant encouragement and mentorship. To June Speakman, one of the few "tolerant" professors on campus. Thanks for sticking by this troublemaker!

As a young professional, I've been humbled to have the support of political heavyweights. Michelle Malkin, thank you for allowing me to contribute to your inestimable crew over at HotAir .com. It's been an honor to work with you. To Ann Coulter, thank you for your early backing of
Obama Zombies,
and for your always making yourself available for my questions. To Andrew Breitbart, thank you for your wise counsel and friendship.

I also want to thank all the great radio hosts who, over the years, have been kind enough to invite me on their shows to blabber about my views or who have featured my work, including: El Rushbo, Sean Hannity, Mark "the Great One" Levin, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Jerry Doyle, Mike Gallagher, Roger Hedgecock, Rick Roberts, and Monica Crowley. Your courage and unapologetic defense of liberty and freedom has been contagious. I'd also like to thank Thomas Sowell, whose books have contributed enormously to the development of my worldview. Thank you, sir, for your intellectual leadership.

To God, the giver of life and the savior of mankind: I have not earned Your grace, but You've bestowed it upon me nonetheless.

Lastly, I must thank all you Zombies out there who allowed this
project to become a reality. If it weren't for your multiple and public O-gasms, your undue trust in Washington bureaucrats, and your inability to think critically, I would've never landed my first book deal. For this, I do hope His Holiness Barack Hussein Obama visits you in a dream, and gives you the mother of all O-gasms.

Peace and love,

Jason Mattera

ABC,
11
,
131
-32

abortion,
3
,
29
,
82
,
170

academia: and Ayers' radicalism,
65
-67;

and climate change,
89
,
93
,
94
-99

and deprogramming of Obama Zombies,
196

left's domination of,
91
-92,
150
-51

peace studies in,
78
-80.
See also
education

adultery novel classes,
150
-51

Afghanistan,
155
,
164
,
185

Aguilera, Christina,
153

Al Arabiya: Obama interview with,
73

Al Jazeera,
172

Al-Qaeda,
72
,
80

Alba, Jessica,
31
,
100

Albright-Hanna, Kate,
4
,
37

Alexiev, Alex,
74

American exceptionalism,
74
-75,
195

American Revolution,
79

American University,
92

Americorps,
200
-201,
203

Anderson, Pamela,
53

Apple,
21
-22

Arizona State University,
95
,
201
-2

Arms Race Alternatives,
67

Army Reserve, U.S.,
81

Arquette, David,
45

Associated Press,
16
,
41
,
52
,
179
,
196

Atta, Mohammed,
71

auto industry,
17
,
21

Axelrod, David,
7
,
15
,
52
,
54
,
206

Ayers, Bill,
38
,
42
,
65
-66,
67
,
170

"Baracking,"
14

Barash, David,
78
,
79

Barely Political website,
28

Barna Research Group,
76

Barney Generation,
78

Barrymore, Drew,
99
-100

Baskin, Roberta,
4

Bass, Warren,
3

Beck, Glenn,
180

Begala, Paul,
177

Behar, Joy,
28