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Rep. Barbara Lee, who admits in her book that she has been called everything from a radical to an anti-American communist, is very pleased with the record of her friend, President Barack Obama. In fact, she thinks he has been "phenomenal."

At an event sponsored by the National Press Club, where she was introduced by journalist Helen Thomas, Lee said that she's very excited about the bills that Obama has signed and the executive orders he has issued. And she thinks there is much more to come. She is even working for normalization of relations with Communist Cuba.

Lee, the chairwoman of the 42-member Congressional Black Caucus and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is perhaps best known for casting the lone vote in the House against U.S. military action to remove the Taliban regime in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban had harbored the al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for 9/11.

In her book, Renegade for Peace & Justice, Lee declares her support for "a world vision of peace" and a Cabinet-level Department of Peace. She favors big cuts in the Pentagon budget and reliance on the United Nations in foreign affairs.

Regarding President Obama, whom she served as a presidential campaign adviser, Lee writes in her book that "I liked his message of fundamental change, which was as close to a revolutionary message as we have had in decades." She served as Obama's Western Regional co-chair during the campaign "and I participated in rallies, phone banking, and behind-the-scenes advising on issues and politics."

Lee's effusive comments about Obama's record and agenda were made at a National Press Club event on Wednesday night and illustrate a fact of political life that has been lost amid the media controversies over Obama's tainted nominees and "stimulus" bill. She made it clear that, on issues ranging from the war on terrorism to federal spending bills, Obama and his "progressive" allies in Congress are winning.

Her book refers to Obama by his first name. She writes, "Barack and I spoke on several occasions before my endorsement [of his presidential bid] and in our conversations we discussed his position on the [Iraq] war and other issues..."

Before heading off to an event at the White House, Lee told the National Press Club audience that "I think he's doing a great job. I think his appointments have been great." She called his record "phenomenal." She then ticked off a number of Obama executive orders and statements and bills that he has signed or plans to sign:

1) Announcing the eventual closing of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility.

2) Prohibiting the use of "torture" by U.S. personnel when dealing with terrorists.

3) Limits on compensation for CEOs at banks getting bailout money.

4) "Understanding what we need to do to get out of this economic crisis," a reference to the federal spending "stimulus" bill now in Congress.

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