A few months ago, I wrote an article for Parade magazine about what President Obama could teach America’s kids. Basically, the piece told children that despite having no father present and a rather loopy mom, the president was able to prosper and achieve the most powerful position in the world. If young Barry Obama could overcome his chaotic upbringing (which included a stint in Indonesia), most American kids in difficult circumstances can do the same.

There is no question that Obama is a brilliant man. After graduating from Harvard Law, he worked his way up the political ladder quickly, using Chicago’s South Side as a launching pad. That’s tough turf, so Obama had to combine book smarts with guile, which he did.

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