The Obama Library Is Ugly for a Reason

redstate.com

I've written before about the problems with the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. 

In October, people mocked Barack Obama's post about the library. Obama said it would be a "hub for change" for people to "get inspired." The pomposity of it all. 

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Like everything having to do with Obama, it started at one price — $500 million — but then the cost of it ballooned. Now it's at $830 million. Sounds like the Affordable Care Act that was never affordable. 

As I noted, it has to be one of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. It reminds me of the dismal gray buildings of the Soviet Union or some dystopian prison. Some compared it to the "Death Star" of Star Wars. 

READ MORE: The Reactions to Obama's Post About His Presidential Center Are Hilarious

But now the Obama team is explaining why it looks the way it does.

The odd design of former President Barack Obama’s new presidential center is supposed to evoke unity and not Darth Vader, according to an Obama Foundation official, who explained the bizarre look of the austere building. 

The $830 million monolith — slated to open in Chicago next year — has drawn comparisons to the “Death Star” on social media, and some locals have described it as a “concrete tomb” and a “monstrosity.” 

“The shape of the building was actually meant to mimic four hands coming together to show the importance of our collective action,” Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson told CBS Chicago. 

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So I have a question. Is there anything in that building that comes close to looking like four hands? It just looks like a gray blob. 

You mean it's supposed to convey some esoteric greater meaning that no one is getting? Well, that's certainly emblematic of Barack Obama. 

My favorite part is why it has very few windows, which was purposeful, Patterson explained.

“There are not a lot of windows on the building, but that’s intentional because sunlight is just not a friend to the artwork and the artifacts that are going inside of the building,” she said.

That also makes sense. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, so you can't have that. It might actually shed some light on how truly bad the Obama administration was. 

Yes, Obama was very involved in the monstrosity, according to Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett. 

“I wish that people could be a fly on the wall to see how many times in the course of the day that I hear from President Obama about ideas for the center, tweaks, programming, what we can do for the design,” Jarrett said.

“I sent him the menu for the restaurants,” she added. “He cares about what food we’re offering. Is it affordable? Is it tasty? Will children want it?” 

Jarrett touted the foundation’s efforts to contract with racially diverse businesses throughout the process. 

“Because we believe inclusion is actually a strength,” she said.

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What's incredibly ironic about that is there was a lawsuit filed by a minority contractor at the beginning of this year, alleging discrimination by the company that oversaw the structural engineering and design services, Thornton Thomasetti. 

But, hey, at least Obama has confirmed that Michelle Obama's dresses will be on display.

I'm sure that will pack the crowds in. 

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