Publisher’s Point: 2016, A Most Important Film

It’s not often that I go to see a movie on the big screen twice, but I have been greatly affected by the recently released documentary film, 2016: Obama’s America. It is beautifully filmed and written, avoids a number of opportunities for screed, and is produced by bestselling author Dinesh D’Souza and Oscar winning producer Gerald Molen, who won an Academy Award in 1993 for his work on Schindler’s List.

The film starts off with something that only Dinesh could accomplish, and that is draw upon his own personal initial similarities to the President. Both were born in 1961, both lived in former British colonies, both went to Ivy League schools, and both were married in the same year, 1992. Dinesh was part of the Dartmouth Review, and allegedly the President headed up The Harvard Review, although no one has ever seen any of his work. But that is where the similarities end.

Dinesh broke out of a destiny determined for him by his family in India, received a wonderful education at Dartmouth, was invited to be on the White House staff of President Reagan, and has gone on to be highly successful.

The President was abandoned by his father, taken away from his stepfather, sent by himself at the age of 10 back to America to be raised by his grandparents, and was mentored by self confessed Communist and pornographer Frank Marshall Davis. The President in his book Dreams From My Father is candid about the fact that his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, would get either rip-roaring drunk, stoned or both with Frank Davis, and Barack would listen by the hour as they discussed the follies of the free market system.

None of this is the fault of Barack Obama. He had no way to prevent being abandoned by his father, being abandoned by his mother, being sent away from his stepfather Lolo ( who was actually quite good to him,) being raised by his grandparents and being mentored by a Communist and pornographer.

But he does have control over returning a gift given to us by Great Britain in the form of a bust of Winston Churchill. He could respect common good sense and manners. He could side with our ally Israel, and not ignore Benjamin Netanyahu while he goes to eat dinner in the Residence. The President could let us know how he came up by letting us read his thoughts while in college or come clean about the fact he told Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, that Reverend Wright’s “problem” was that he, (meaning Wright) had to tell the “truth” about their relationship.

Last I checked, telling the truth never ultimately caused any true problems, and I believe you owe yourself the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God. And I also believe you can get a well documented dose of the truth by going to see 2016, which also happens to currently be the 4th most successful political documentary of all time. It also stands to break out of that distinction as its message gathers momentum. Would you consider both helping it to succeed while you arm yourself with unassailable facts? You certainly won’t regret it.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner