Mona Charen: Useful Idiots

Mona Charen is an American columnist, political analyst, and the author of two best-selling books, Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First (2003) and Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help — and the Rest of Us (2005).

Charen usually writes about foreign policy, terrorism, politics, and culture. She regularly writes about her Jewish faith and is also known for her generally pro-Israel views.

On ecological issues, Charen often writes disparagingly about environmentalists, who, she argues, often "may not know what they're talking about".

In this her first book, Charen gives a well written and passionate defense of Cold Warriors by pointing out the lingering blindness of most liberals to the evils of Communism.

Much like Ann Coulter's best seller Treason, Charen indicts the leftist fifth column in America that conspired with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In fact, this book is clearly more serious and penetrating than the Ann Coulter book. In her defense, Coulter is probably more entertaining.

Charen paints a picture of liberals as communist sympathizers who are always willing to embrace the ideas of economic control and always quick to point the finger of blame at the United States, whenever a crisis arises.

Charen begins her indictment of liberals by telling us of how liberals admire Communism, and embrace the idea of economic equality, while ignoring any of the negative aspects of this type of system. She spends the introduction and the first two chapters talking about the liberal’s love affair with Communism, complete with quotations from some very prominent members of the liberal establishment. 

Charen hits the nail on the head with some of her examples of the hypocrisy committed by the American left. 

For example, she talks at length about Cuba and how many liberals seemed to have embraced Castro as a hero, in spite of the human rights abuses, lack of civil rights, and economic turmoil that has existed since he took power. 

Even when admitting to the atrocities, liberal reports will still look for a positive spin on the situation.

“Useful Idiots" is a great effort by one of the finest conservative writers of our time.  It’s a book that will likely invoke strong reactions from most anyone who reads it.

Another outstanding book, and a one that is highly recommended by The Conservative Review.