Leading leftist writer dedicated his book to the devil

Quoted by Ann Coulter from David Freddoso’s book on Barack Obama, here is the dedication of the first edition of Saul Alinsky’s influential book, Rules for Radicals. Alinsky wrote:

Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: From all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins—or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom—Lucifer.

How about that? I’m reminded of Woody Allen’s movie Deconstructing Harry, in which the Allen character, who is an extremely unattractive individual, visits hell, has a nice social chat with devil, and raises a glass to toast him.

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Flyboy writes from Canada:

What can we make of the fact that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton trace their left-wing roots to this same person—Saul Alinsky?

In fact, was not Hillary Clinton’s college thesis based on Alinsky’s work?

Gintas writes:

“I have always said, the first Whig was the Devil.”
—Samuel Johnson

Gilbert B. writes:

Alinsky’s teachings influenced Barack Obama in his early career as a community organizer on the far South Side of Chicago. See “For Clinton and Obama, a Common Ideological Touchstone,” by Peter Slevin, The Washington Post, 2007-03-25.

In the first chapter, opening paragraph of Rules for Radicals, Alinsky writes, “What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.”

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 13, 2008 09:28 AM | Send