THE OBAMA campaign has raised the issue of Bain Capital, or more precisely what Bain Capital did from 1999 to 2001. Even though Mitt Romney was not in charge of the private company during those years, the Democrats demand to know how many jobs it sent overseas.

The mainstream media, as usual, repeats the Democrats’ message so that it has become a major issue in the campaign, seemingly more important than the economy or foreign policy.

While the mainstream media insists on learning all of the details of what a private company did over a decade ago, it has shown no interest in informing the public how many jobs President Obama has sent overseas in the past three years. The material should be readily available if they were inclined to look for it . But, of course, they will not look for it. They will continue to give President Obama a free ride as they have done ever since he appeared on the political scene.

Even though President Obama has written autobiographies, given hundreds of speeches, and appeared on TV practically every day of his presidency, the American public knows less about him than any president of the modern era.

WE SEE a handsome and articulate man with a calm demeanor and a ready smile. Rarely raising his voice or losing his temper, he appears to be the most reasonable of statesmen.

Yet, despite the image, he has pursued the most radical agenda of any American president, concentrating vast powers in the Federal government at the expense of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution. If he gets the opportunity to lead America for another four years,

He certainly will transform the country into something the Founding Fathers never imagined. If the actions of his first term are any indication, he may well accumulate so much debt in a second term that we will cease to be a Super Power. Indeed, a bankrupt America would exert about as much influence in world affairs as France or Venezuela.

The hallmark of good journalism is curiosity—a trait that is sadly lacking when it comes to President Obama. There are so many mysteries and gaps in his biography that we really do not know the man. His early years are murky to say, the least.

HE ATTENDED colleges, but for reasons never explained he has not released his transcripts. We know very little about his friends, associates or activities during those years. Despite being a poor immigrant, he managed to tour the world at an early age. Where did the money come from? How was he able to attend very expensive universities? He was drawn to radicals of the 1960s, such as Bill Ayers. Why? How did they influence him?

Of all the churches in Chicago, he chose to attend Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s for 20 years. Why? Did Rev. Wright’s anti-American diatribes influence him? In his successful campaign for president, he raised an enormous amount of money. Where did it come from?

Until questions like these are answered, we really do not know the occupant of the White House. We know an image and a sound bite, but we do not know the man. It is the role of journalism to dig beneath the surface, get the facts, and inform the public. When it comes to President Obama, the political journalists have failed to do their job.

WHERE ARE the journalists today who will dig and dig indefatigably, like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, until they answer the above questions and give us a complete portrait of the president?

James F. Cook, of Rome, is emeritus professor of history at Georgia Highlands College and author of “The Governors of Georgia, 1754-2004.”