“The sun did not shine.
The Iraq war dragged on.
And our once great economy
Was almost all gone.”
So begins Loren Spivack’s political parody of “The Cat in the Hat.” It’s opening stanzas blame Republicans, but the focus quickly shifts to “The New Democrat,” the title character modeled on President Barack Obama.
“The ‘big tent’ Republicans
Kept expanding the state.
And the health of our country
Was quite far from great.”
The Obama character enters the story with an easy prescription for alleviating voters’ woes.
“I know you are poor
And the outlook’s not sunny,
But we can have fun
With other people’s money!”
Spivack, of Waterbury, worked in nonprofit fundraising for years before setting out as an independent consultant. His client base shifted to include small businesses, which left him with little to do as the economy tanked.
In November 2008, Spivack made an observation that led to his book: “There’s only one business that’s going to be growing and that’s the anti-Obama business.”
The seed for the book was planted when one of Spivack’s friends tried to make an Obama version of “Green Eggs and Ham” at a party.
“I said the right book is ‘The Cat and the Hat,’” Spivack recalled. “The cat shows up uninvited to this middle-class house.”
Spivack said the cat brings crazy ideas. “It’s funny as he’s destroying everything,” he said. “The personality of the cat is he’s totally amicable.”
He said the political relevance is clear. “Obama is totally oblivious to the damage he’s doing.”
Spivack critiques the bank bailouts:
“We can bail out the banks.
I’ll find the money with ease.
We can borrow it all
From my friends the Chinese!”
And the rescue of Chrysler and General Motors:
“Then the people who make
The post office so fast
Will make your new car,
Since your old one won’t last!
A fish named Glenn – the book is dedicated to Glenn Beck – is a foil for the New Democrat’s ideas:
“Your stimulus plan
Has made things much worse.
Our whole economy
Is now in reverse!”
Spivack said the book is not necessarily designed to make converts, but to open Obama up to criticism.
“Its presence, its existence and hopefully its prominence will begin to break down the idea that certain presidents cannot be criticized,” he explained.
“The end of racism in America will not come when we elect a black president. It will come when we can criticize a black president just the same as everybody else,” Spivack said. “I’m rushing to that point.”
When George W. Bush was president, Spivack said, “was there anything that was off limits?”
He said there was an “aura” during the Bush presidency that it was the worst in history. “It was something in the air.”
“That really has an impact,” he said. “I’m not singlehandedly changing what’s in the air – but I’m part of it.”
The criticism is direct, although the rhyme and meter relieve some of the sting:
“Yes I’ll pay for my votes
With the money I tax.
But that is not all I do!
Just sit back and relax…”
Spivack has also been involved in Tea Party activities, particularly by offering short economics courses to any local group that will have him. “I’m probably still a better talker than a writer.”
“This is very self-published in the sense that I know the guy who’s running it off the printing press,” he said. “This could go viral at any moment.”