We reported on former President Barack Obama's effort this week to pump up his presidential center, which is finally opening in June.
He advertised it on May 4th with "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill. He also pitched it in an interview with Stephen Colbert.
It was great talking to Stephen and the inspiring young people we’ve worked with at the @ObamaFoundation on the @ColbertLateShow.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 6, 2026
When the Obama Presidential Center opens this June 19, my hope is that this will be a place where people can come together to meet, learn, and work… pic.twitter.com/R6KEUBWkQL
It was great talking to Stephen and the inspiring young people we’ve worked with at the @ObamaFoundation on the @ColbertLateShow
.When the Obama Presidential Center opens this June 19, my hope is that this will be a place where people can come together to meet, learn, and work with each other to create change in their communities. Learn more at http://tickets.obama.org.
As we can see from the clip, he's trying to make it a hub for promoting "hope" and "change."
I can't imagine there would be a lot of ordinary folks beating down the doors to visit. As we've noted, the main building is not exactly a beacon of attractiveness. It's just flat-out ugly. They're even selling a pin that's supposed to look like the building, and the pin is similarly ugly. Plus, you have to shell out $30 for the pin, which is just a gray blob of clay.
READ MORE: Obama Rolls Out Cringeworthy New Message From His Ugly Library - With a Special Guest
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But it turns out they have other interesting things in the Center store.
One of the funniest was this necklace, which was priced at $390.
A $400 pearl necklace from an AAPI- and woman-owned jewelry brand inspired by Michelle Obama’s “whimsical elegance.” pic.twitter.com/Yit4b56WPh
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 8, 2026
It’s a timeless, hand-crafted accessory and a graceful nod to Mrs. Obama’s celebrated eye for fashion and her belief that our style is a powerful part of our story.
Her celebrated eye for fashion? They're kidding, aren't they?
They are even pitching these renewable energy kits for kids. Except, collectively, they add up to $460.
Kits ($400) for children to build their own wind turbines. pic.twitter.com/OhxCSbBhZL
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 8, 2026
It's all pretty expensive.
There are even items for dogs, who can "represent the mission of shared progress in their own wagging way."
A $40 dog hoodie so your canine companion can “represent the mission of shared progress.” pic.twitter.com/NppQQoSbXY
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 8, 2026
But in among the books that are mostly about Barack or Michelle Obama is this classic. Somehow, its inclusion tells you all you need to know.
Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals ($20) is available for purchase—for nearly double its price on Amazon. pic.twitter.com/Qu8XmK2r31
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 8, 2026
Here's the description where they compare Alinsky to Thomas Paine.
“This country’s leading hell-raiser” (The Nation) shares his impassioned counsel to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change and know “the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one.”
“A superlative organizer, strategist, and tactician who is also a social philosopher.” —Charles E. Silberman
First published in 1971 and written in the midst of radical political developments whose direction Alinsky was one of the first to question, this volume exhibits his style at its best. Like Thomas Paine before him, Alinsky was able to combine, both in his person and his writing, the intensity of political engagement with an absolute insistence on rational political discourse and adherence to the American democratic tradition.
Oh, and if you are silly enough to buy it from them, it will cost you double what you could pay for it on Amazon. So, why would you buy it from the Center?
But if you buy things, there is this fine print:
Proceeds from each sale support the Obama Foundation in its mission to inspire, empower and connect people to change their world.
As the saying goes, Caveat emptor.
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