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Anita Dunn names Mao Tse Tung her “favorite philosopher”

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
This floored me. :eek: The one thing I know about Mao is that he murdered 70 million of his own people durning 'peace time'. He is Anita Dunn's favorite philosopher??!!! :eek:

Anita Dunn names Mao Zedong her “favorite philosopher”

Anita Dunn is the White House Communications Director, who’s been quoted everywhere for her on-target assertions that Fox News is a Republican channel, not a news channel. When I heard her say it a few days ago I was stunned (in a good way) that she was making this the official White House position. Sure, we’ve all known it for years, but it’s never been said by the Democrats on the record, and this was long overdue.
And now, just seconds ago, I watched Glenn Beck take Anita Dunn’s scalp, playing again and again a video clip of her telling an assembly of high school students, “My two favorite philosophers are Mao Tse-Tung and Mother Teresa.” He kept playing it, holding up a picture of Mao and reciting the usual litany, including the claim that Mao had killed more people than Hitler (70 million is the number he used). It was devastating. Beck is evil, but you have to give him credit for cunning and for dramatic effect. This made for very good theater. And you have to wonder, could Dunn actually have said this? How could she not see the danger?


http://www.globalpost.com/webblog/c...s-mao-zedong-her-8220favorite-philosopher8221


Vidoe clip:
http://www.freedomslighthouse.com/2009/10/glenn-beck-reveals-video-of-anita-dunn.html
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
You need to watch more than Beck.

CNN last Friday carried her reply:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- White House communications director Anita Dunn fired back at criticism from TV commentator Glenn Beck on Friday...

"The Mao quote is one I picked up from the late Republican strategist Lee Atwater from something I read in the late 1980s

On Thursday night's program, Beck showed exclusive video of Dunn taped in a speech in what appears to be a church, said the leader's philosophies were a guidepost for her own strategy on politics. She also praised the philosophy used by religious icon Mother Teresa.

"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before." [Ok, some political concepts are so simple that even Lee Atwater might quote them.]

The comments set Beck into a tirade. [watch how Beck gets from Communist to Hitler. Amazing! ]

"It would be like me saying to you, 'you know who my favorite political philosopher is? Adolf Hitler.' Have you read Mein Kampf? [She wants to] fight your fight like Hitler did," Beck said.

But it's not just Dunn, a Democrat, [or Atwater] who has used Mao as someone she reads....former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, also a Fox News contributor, quoted Mao in a 1995 Roll Call profile.
"War is politics with blood; politics is war without blood," Gingrich said, citing Mao.

Karl Rove, another Fox News contributor, wrote in a December 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed that President Bush "encouraged me to read a Mao biography."

Wow! Nazis all???
 

JEV

Mr. Congeniality
GOLD Site Supporter
Beck not only took her scalp, but his revelation of her affection for Mao also handed her ass to her. She is no longer in charge of taking down Beck and Fox, but according to Beck this morning Rahm Emanuel is personally charged with cleansing the airwaves of this channel.

That, friends and neighbors from the left, is how you handle criticism...you use your power (thru your toadies in the FCC) to silence your opposition, rather than to address the issues. This smacks of Chicago thuggery, and nothing less. Yes, this is change that you can believe in.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Anita's response about using it like Atwater is a easily seen through attempt to cover. Atwater used it as a joke. Listen to her speech. She said she turns to them (Tung and Mother Theresa) in her times of need. That is no way to tell a joke. She's trying to cover big time.

Nazi's all??????????? What the heck are you talking about CA? :confused:
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
Nobody in American politics would declare a sincere belief in Mao the way you infer. Well nobody this side of maybe Rev Wright. She's just making a dramatic point. If you are reading that as literal truth, as her declaration of communist loyalty, I think you are missing her point.

Mao and many others have repeated that saying that she attributes to Mao via Atwater. Certainly its somewhere in Machiavelli (I should be able to cite where from memory, I was a PolSci major 40 years ago) and I'm sure its also in the Romans and Greeks. (sorry, my education isn't that broad.) Likely something similar is somewhere in the Bible.

'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."

What he taped is nothing more than a public speaker's gimmick, not a declaration of Communist sympathies. Beck likes to play (?) humor-impaired when its to his advantage. As for Nazi - in that note I cited above, Beck immediately twists his attack on Dunn into Nazi nonsense as part of his speil. Are we to similarly take literally his "'you know who my favorite political philosopher is? Adolf Hitler.'"
 

SShepherd

New member
sorry, but the attempts to gloss over her admiration for the chinese killer doesn't wash.
Was she joking about mother theresa also? No, it's simple, the more they talk the more cocky they get. The cockier they get, the more their air their true colors for all to see.
 

JEV

Mr. Congeniality
GOLD Site Supporter
Nobody in American politics would declare a sincere belief in Mao the way you infer. Well nobody this side of maybe Rev Wright. She's just making a dramatic point. If you are reading that as literal truth, as her declaration of communist loyalty, I think you are missing her point.

Mao and many others have repeated that saying that she attributes to Mao via Atwater. Certainly its somewhere in Machiavelli (I should be able to cite where from memory, I was a PolSci major 40 years ago) and I'm sure its also in the Romans and Greeks. (sorry, my education isn't that broad.) Likely something similar is somewhere in the Bible.

'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."

What he taped is nothing more than a public speaker's gimmick, not a declaration of Communist sympathies. Beck likes to play (?) humor-impaired when its to his advantage. As for Nazi - in that note I cited above, Beck immediately twists his attack on Dunn into Nazi nonsense as part of his speil. Are we to similarly take literally his "'you know who my favorite political philosopher is? Adolf Hitler.'"

If you sincerely believe she was making a dramatic point, then I sincerely believe you need professional help, because you are delusional. Nobody with a modicum of intelligence could look at that tape and sense anything less than 100% sincerity. Do you embrace their marxist/socialist agenda, or are you here just to cover up for them when they get caught saying what they really mean?
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
The reason I mentioned I was a PolSci major long ago was because we saw these sort of quotes and philosophies tossed around all the time, as sort of a shorthand way of describing political strategies. You don't need to be a True Believer to recognise that the latest of many people to express a concept, has expressed it clearly.

I never studied Mao and the little I know of him, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But I assume his Little Red Book is full of the same sort of valid observations on human nature and political strategy as Michiavelli and many others. Many other observers also think a lot about human nature and how to manipulate it. I think both Dunn and Atwater are saying that Mao nailed it in this particular case, and neither is declaring allegiance.
 

jpr62902

Jeanclaude Spam Banhammer
SUPER Site Supporter
I think both Dunn and Atwater are saying that Mao nailed it in this particular case, and neither is declaring allegiance.

Bingo.

That said, it was still less than politically adept to refer to the good Chairman as one of her "favorite political philosophers."

It was also equally suspect for Mr. Beck to place her comments on par with subscribing to Mein Kampf. IMHO, of course.
 

Bobcat

Je Suis Charlie Hebdo
GOLD Site Supporter
If youse guys are done with Mao, maybe someone can enlighten me. Was Mother Teresa a political philosopher? If so, how so?
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
Well per Dunn she said
'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before.

That's the same thing Mao said. I wonder if that makes MT a secret communist in Beck's eyes?

See my post #2 above.
 

fogtender

Now a Published Author
Site Supporter
With all the staff that Obama has circled his wagons with, Mao admirers are going to be the least of our worries. Our Nation's Credit is becoming toast, Inflation is about to raise it's ugly head, the Dollar shortly is going to be only good worldwide for lining birdcages. Obama blames Bush, but in just about nine months, "Obama" himself has been at the helm and run up the Federal Debt almost three times of what it was during Bush or any other President before him.

Then we have our soldiers not getting what they want/need in battle, just lip service from their "Coward in Chief"...

We are being set up for the end, as soon at the "Religion of Peace" in which Obama was raised, gets a nuke, all hell will break loose and that isn't far off in the future... and whether he is/was neutering the United States either by stupidity, or intentional, he is doing it. We are being put back to 9/10...

Funny how 2012 seems to be in history as the "End", we certainly seem to be sitting in the the right spot for that transgression.
 

fogtender

Now a Published Author
Site Supporter
The reason I mentioned I was a PolSci major long ago was because we saw these sort of quotes and philosophies tossed around all the time, as sort of a shorthand way of describing political strategies. You don't need to be a True Believer to recognise that the latest of many people to express a concept, has expressed it clearly.

I never studied Mao and the little I know of him, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But I assume his Little Red Book is full of the same sort of valid observations on human nature and political strategy as Michiavelli and many others. Many other observers also think a lot about human nature and how to manipulate it. I think both Dunn and Atwater are saying that Mao nailed it in this particular case, and neither is declaring allegiance.

Giving someone that murdered millions of people in cold blood, any kind of credit for saying something nice is just insane, and her claiming that he inspired her for anything should be cause for her dismisal.

Hitler gave us the VW bug and created the great interstate system (Autobahn) that we copied and have here, so we should enshrine him in some kind of admiration now too? He only caused the death of some 30+ million people worldwide, so he must be a lot nicer than Mao was.

Then there is other's that say Castro is such a nice guy, how many people did he kill....?

People are getting PO'd about this President, his staff, circle of friends, and what he is doing to the Country.
 

RedRocker

Active member
I opened this thread and just knew our left coast liberal would rise to her defense, I wasn't disappointed. :rolleyes:
 

Bobcat

Je Suis Charlie Hebdo
GOLD Site Supporter
Well per Dunn she said
'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before.

That's the same thing Mao said. I wonder if that makes MT a secret communist in Beck's eyes?
<snip>

I still don't see that as a 'political' philosophy, but you have the edumacation to know the difference.

As far as quoting and learning from 'bad' people, there is nothing wrong with it as long as you aren't praising them overall. These powerful people didn't get to where they were because they were stupid (ignoring 'W' for the moment), they got there because they were smart and cunning. Take from their successes and failures as you cast aside their immoralities.
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
Well said, Bobcat.

RR I doubt you and I will ever see anything the same way. Here's another window into my world, maybe this will make sense to you. Long ago I was reading a debate about why is it worthwhile to earn a Doctorate in any subject.

The argument in favor (and it makes sense to me) was this: A real expert in any subject not only knows all the arguments about his area of specialization. He also know which of those arguments are wrong.

Dunn was hired as WH Communications Director, ie the interface between the WH and the news publishers. Ideally whoever is in that role would have the type of broad knowledge and thorough education, covering liberal, conservative and foreign philosophies, that I'm talking about.

And citing her source for one phrase (I suspect with a big grin, considering that she cited Mother Teresa at the same time) doesn't mean that source was ever her inspiration for anything which is what Fox is trying to paint on her now. Fox is making a pitch to improve their ratings rather than broadening our understanding of the world.

I simply don't see anything wrong with
'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before.
 

RedRocker

Active member
You're free to "suspect" as you wish, but I didn't see a big grin. I agree you should know both sides of an argument, but unless I wanted to conquer a country, I wouldn't look to Mao for inspiration. Can you imagine the uproar if Dubya had made that same speech, we'd still be hearing the fallout. The guy you voted for is a Marxist at least and probably closer to a communist. The Germans didn't see what was coming down the pike with Adolf untill it was too late, I can see the lefties jumping in right behind Barry to do his bidding no matter what it is. He'll come after the net, just like he's coming after Fox, if that doesn't scare you then I'm afraid you're asleep. The Man surrounds himself with very unsavory people that I wouldn't give the time of day, yet
liberals see nothing wrong with any of them, that is pretty scary.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
And citing her source for one phrase (I suspect with a big grin, considering that she cited Mother Teresa at the same time) doesn't mean that source was ever her inspiration for anything which is what Fox is trying to paint on her now. Fox is making a pitch to improve their ratings rather than broadening our understanding of the world.

.

Sounds to me like you have not seen the video.

It is not a short snippet cut to make you take what is said out of context. It speaks for itself. Watch it. You will not see a big grin. You will see a sincere speaker talking to a High School graduating class.
 

JEV

Mr. Congeniality
GOLD Site Supporter
You're free to "suspect" as you wish, but I didn't see a big grin. I agree you should know both sides of an argument, but unless I wanted to conquer a country, I wouldn't look to Mao for inspiration. Can you imagine the uproar if Dubya had made that same speech, we'd still be hearing the fallout. The guy you voted for is a Marxist at least and probably closer to a communist. The Germans didn't see what was coming down the pike with Adolf untill it was too late, I can see the lefties jumping in right behind Barry to do his bidding no matter what it is. He'll come after the net, just like he's coming after Fox, if that doesn't scare you then I'm afraid you're asleep. The Man surrounds himself with very unsavory people that I wouldn't give the time of day, yet
liberals see nothing wrong with any of them, that is pretty scary.
I'm with you RR, the left waited for W to say anything they could take, spin and scream from the housetops that the country was on a collision course with total destruction (in their not-so-humble opinions), and his was the most evil and wicked administration in the history of the republic. Now that the country is REALLY on a collision course with total destruction, with the most unsavory group of avowed socialists and communists inside the White House, the lefties are clamoring to get on the bus to go along for the ride into hell with their messiah. In spite of all the undisputed evidence, the left puts their hands over their ears and chants "la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la...." Perhaps the lefties will soon volunteer up their first born male children for inclusion in Obama's civilian militia and volunteer corps. Nothing will surprise me any longer after hearing the support/justification for this woman's infatuation with Mao. If it was not for the evil, profiteering Fox News, none of this would be brought to light by Obama's puppets at the other, not-for profit news(?) networks.
 
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