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Education

Harvard Law Offering ‘Understanding Obama’ Course — Taught by Obama Mentor

Apr. 11, 2012 9:57am Erica Ritz

Harvard Law School Offering Understanding Obama Course by Professor Charles Ogletree

Barack Obama at Harvard Law (Photo: NY Times)

The sterling halls of academia are often targeted by conservatives for being political “indoctrination” centers, but Harvard Law may be taking it to another level. How? The prestigious school is now reportedly offering a for-credit “Understanding Obama” course.

According to the Harvard course catalog, “Understanding Obama” is taught by the president’s longtime mentor Charles Ogletree. Here’s how the course is described:

This reading group will focus on the way in which race, religion, and politics have impacted the development of President Obama as a leader. We will explore his views as a biracial child, his time as a student at Harvard Law School, the successes and failures of his political campaigns, and the way religion and his views on faith nearly derailed his campaign. Finally, time will be spent analyzing the challenges he faces as President of the United States in establishing both his domestic and global policies.

(Photo: Harvard Law School)

President Obama graduated from Harvard Law in 1991 after being elected the first African-American president of Harvard Law Review in 1990.

The Daily Caller interviewed Professor Ogletree about the course, and he said students will be studying both the positive and negative aspects of Obama’s presidency:

‘[The students will] be reading both critical and positive issues about Obama — of what’s happened in terms of the way the race and religion have been viewed during his candidacy, his presidency, and how it affects the larger country; and some other classic reading on issues of law and justice.”

Ogletree reiterated that his personal connection to the Obamas would not be part of the course, but he still speaks highly of them:

‘I’m an Obama fan, I love the president — love him and his wife…They were wonderful people to serve as a mentor when they were here in the law school at separate times in the 1980s. There’s a lot to learn.’

Barack Obama at Harvard (Photo: Getty Images)

But some are skeptical of the course’s motivations and relative utility.

One Harvard Law student told the DC, “Everyone knows professor Ogletree is an uncritical admirer of the president. To me, this looks like course credit for participating in an Obama fan club.”

Ogletree, you may remember, is the professor seen in the recent Breitbart.com video saying he and others “hid” the video of Obama giving a glowing introduction of controversial Prof. Derrick Bell.

(H/T: Daily Caller)

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Comments (116)

NeoKong
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:41am
Gee…I wonder how much time they will spend on his Pakistani period.

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- Jaycen
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:49am
  Anyone who sends their child to Harvard is a damned fool. If that offends you, defend spending your money there. If you’re receiving federally backed student loans to attend, defend SPENDING MY MONEY THERE.
  
  Report this comment
- Ruler4You
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:06am
  They can’t devote time to his Pakistani period. The time spent on how to cover up your student history, associations, radical past, current lies and marxist ideology are going to require a 16 week semester as it “IS”.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:07am
  Ok great…let’s see the college records then.
  
  Report this comment
- Detroit paperboy
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:14am
  Simple really, Obama is a Marxist and Marxism fails…. Course closed….
  
  Report this comment
- Banter
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:18am
  You know you have reached the nadir of politics when a college has to create a course to explain you, and it takes the entire media engine to cover for you.
  
  Report this comment
- BeyondFedup
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:23am
  Who approves these courses…..Harvard should be closed there is no intelligence there.
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:24am
  The name of the course/
  Being president Devaluation 101
  
  Being president Apology 102
  
  Being president No Drilling 103
  
  Being president Hidden History 104
  
  Being president Friend of Terrorists 105
  
  Report this comment
- netmail
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:38am
  This class can be considered as a cure for insomnia.
  
  Report this comment
- doctor rambra
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:54pm
  “One does not simply understand Obama…”
  
  http://thewashingtonfancy.com/2012/04/11/harvard-history-professor-lashes-out-at-harvard-law-school-over-new-obama-course/11360
  
  Fact
  
  Report this comment
- Marci
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:37pm
  I wonder if maybe he can shed some light on the time periods Obama spends millions to hide. Ogletree is a racist through and through. Will that be on the syllabus?
  
  Report this comment
- ShyLow
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 2:56pm
  Obama is a well endowed stallion , but not near as endowed as I am… http://chucklorre.com/index-bbt.php?p=221 If you don’t know , better ask somebody… I am a man and part God…Jesus is my strong name
  
  Report this comment
- BuzzardSays
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 4:44pm
  I will explain Barak Hussein Obama in two words “Malignant Narcissism”. A trait he shares with every other tin-pot dictator including Mussolini and Hitler. We know Hitler hated Jews the most and thus the final solution was wrangled out to cleanse his aryan race from supposed lessers. So who does Obama hate the most? Anyone with money and republicans. When Obama sends his IRS thugs to do his dirty deeds we will begin to understand the depth that this monster will go to in order to implement his evil marxist/socialist plans.
  
  Report this comment
teddrunk
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:35am
What’s the point in all of this. Women are allowed to vote. They’re easily fooled by this despotic Democratic Party and they’ll vote the demonic Obama back in. America is doomed by the “Eve Syndrome” again.

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- Dosrios
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:33am
  Sad to say… even my wife thinks the same… said she’d give up her vote if all women were disenfranchised. 80 % of them don’t have a clue.
  
  Along with 53 %of the general population. People who don’t row or set the sails should have no say in steering the ship of state.
  
  Report this comment
- doctor rambra
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 12:55pm
  One does not simply understand Obama – Boromir
  
  http://thewashingtonfancy.com/2012/04/11/harvard-history-professor-lashes-out-at-harvard-law-school-over-new-obama-course/11360
  
  Report this comment
2smart
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:32am
The challenges of being President? I bet it’s tough. Having to decide where to send the wife on vacation every couple of months and then deciding where he will travel and how to make it look as if he’s doing something Presidential. And attending all those concerts, dinner parties and events where celebrities will be present. Add to that his ability to dodge and duck issues because he hasn’t a clue how to resolve them but can’t appear to look foolish, yeah, it is tough being President.

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Derek01
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:31am
Harvard is going downhill very fast

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- johnjamison
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:17am
  Going? Harvard like most colleges have been downhill for a decade. For ever actual educated person system produces it produces 10 useful idiots.
  
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nocommie
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:31am
Refund,Refund,Refund, students, get your money back….run

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NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:31am
So just another Marxist course, like the one in Portland.

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TRONRADIO
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:30am
Harvard; an imaginary education.

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ShyLow
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:30am
and a new river shall come down from heaven

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Beckster2
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:24am
How about a president from State College for Hope & Change? Enough of these Ivy League know nothing snobs. Question Harvard and Question the Donkey.

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11:11
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:24am
those pics look photoshopped especially the” jc penny catalog ” one, tacky

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HKS
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:23am
Another effort to deflect Obama’s real agenda, “GET Whitey”

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perry1980
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:18am
I blame Harvard. They have produced some of the worst presidents.

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Mark0331
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:17am
If you look closely at the course syllabus, the first requiremnt for class is a huge does of LSD to help ensure you bend your mind around the BS that is about to be thrown out at you. The class is probably very close to the ‘Ludevico Technique’ that Alex underwent in ‘A Clockwork Orange’.

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Beckofile
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:16am
And some dope parent is paying 50k a year to ruin their children???? The university system was the first to fall to the socialist then the media. We are in trouble if this is what we send the brightest to learn.

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- barber2
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:02am
  Alumni funds are astronomical
  
  Report this comment
- scuba13
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:28am
  Who paid for Obamas Harvard education?
  
  Report this comment
irritated1
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:15am
Should be called “Excuses 101″ Or “It’s All Bush’s Fault”

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mobowman
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:12am
When will it ever stop? These people on the left are so far gone they think they have arrived. You can always tell a person from Harvard … you just can’t tell them much!

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teddrunk
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:12am
Ah, another Marxism course to be taught in college. Yawn…

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momprayn
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:11am
Yes, obvious to those that know the truth that this is another attempt to try to indoctrinate people to “admire” Obama – and also btw, his beliefs (as an added bonus)— like critical race theory of the radical Dr. Bell, Ayers, the terrorist, the wonderful Mr. Alinsky, who dedicated his book to Lucifer – things like that. I’m sure the “religion problem” will be said in a manipulated favorable light – meaning – lying about it…because if he “loves Obama”, this means he agrees also with all the radical Marxist/Communist/race ideas.
I’ll be praying for more Consvs./Christians to be raised up at Harvard and other lib colleges to wake up, unite and try to do something to expose more and get things changed, with God’s help – b/c it will take His help to get all this done.

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Teabunny
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:10am
Her face is cracked from smiling,
All the fears that she’s been hiding,
And it seems pretty soon ev’rybody’s gonna know.
And her voice is sore from shouting,
Cheering winners who are losing,
And she worries if their days are few
And soon they’ll have to go.

*My, my, my, I’m so happy,
I’m gonna join the band,
We are gonna sing and dance in celebration,
We are in the promised land.

She hears them talk of new ways
To protect the home she lives in,
Then she wonders what it’s all about
When they break down the door.
Her name is Brown or White or Black,
You know her very well,
You hear her cries of mercy
As the winners toll the bell.

* Chorus

There is a train that leaves the station
Heading for your destination,
But the price you pay to nowhere has increased a dollar more.
Yes, it has!
And if you walk you’re gonna get there
Tho’ it takes a little longer,
And when you see it in the distance
You will wring your hands and moan.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:18am
  Celebration Day?
  
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- Mark0331
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:26am
  Led Zeppelin for the win, Alex…
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:37am
  I think Dazed and Confused is more appropriate for this class.
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:09pm
  “I Can’t Quit You Babe”. Continued liberal supporters.
  “Since I Been Loving You”. Continued supporters that may be coming to their senses.
  “Trampled Underfoot”. The middle class. Working people in general.
  But
  Barack is climbing the “Stairway to Heaven”.
  While Carney is having a “Communication Breakdown”.
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:09pm
  One of the very best LZ tunes.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:09am
AKA ” Understanding Marxism “

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- IndyGuy
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:14am
  Exactly…maybe they are using the same teachings as those in Portland just changing the title of the course…
  
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NHwinter
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:08am
Universities continue to indoctrinate our youth. If parents don’t wake up and quit sending their offspring to these places, we will be doomed, if we aren’t already. We need protests against the Progressive/Communist agenda in colleges and universities.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:12am
  just give them the little red book and let them go
  
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EqualJustice
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:06am
Look, it’s BARRY holding a Black Panther nightstick! haha I guess you report to this class RIGHT after you take the Revolutionary Marxism class?

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SREGN
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:06am
Day one, first class, watch the film “Being There”.

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Gonzo
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:02am
I would like to see O’Keefe get a seat in that classroom.

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- GeorgieJo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:17am
  I would like to hear the professor DEFINE LEADER since Obummer is not one.
  Obviously this is a FAN CLUB.
  I may not vote in the election. Just heard that a Spanish company (partially owned by SpookyDude Soros) will BE COUNTING THE BALLOTS.
  No wonder Obummer is not worried.
  SIGH
  OMG 2012
  
  Report this comment
- MidWestMom
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:22am
  Me too.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:24am
  You better vote. If you love your country, you better vote.
  
  Report this comment
- GeorgieJo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:35am
  Gonzo
  I love my country very much. My grandfather,father and husband all fought to define this country.
  I do not RECOGNIZE this country anymore. My family has worked hard,saving our money,investing in our children’s future and now I feel I am the enemy!!!
  Obummer is penalizing ACHIEVEMENT.
  My faith carrys me through but when I heard this about Soros and the Spanish company counting OUR ballots—–I thought WHY VOTE?
  It’s the corrupt Chicago way.
  OMG 2012
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:39am
  Your faith and your vote are about the only thing you have to fight this communist with GeorgieJo.
  Don’t give either of them up no matter what!
  
  Report this comment
- momrules
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:40am
  Geogiejo………..I think Obama will probably win. Not win fairly mind you, but somehow he will stay in office. I will vote because I could not live with myself if I DON’T vote against Obama.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:00am
  Obama Campaign 2012: Penalize achievement; Punish the Wealthy; French Revolution II ; How I Destroyed Capitalism and Created Third World America
  
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brntout
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:01am
That’s about a 3 minute course if taught in the right context.Look around and see how hope and the change-y thing is working for you.

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