Whats This thing about Obamas Aunt????

[Hutzpa]

Just saw a breaking news about Barack Obama not knowing
his Aunt was living in the United States illegally.

What nastiness have the Republicans cooked up now....

:shrug:

[gabeana]

1. where was the breaking what cable channel?

[babylonsister]

2. I'm ignoring it because drudge is pushing it:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/11/leave-her-alone.html

[mucifer]

3. Obama is black and scary and you shouldn't vote for him.

[iamthebandfanman]

4. atleast she didnt call 911 to complain about the traffic. n/t

[Heather MC]

26. CINDY McCAIN has a Half Sister she denies being related to. Cindy didn't share the 100 millon

With her sister! CINDY McLAME IS A HORRIBLE DRUG ADDICT!!!!!!!!!!

[ErinBerin84]

5. just more nonsense

There are about five DU threads on it, if you want to look back a page or two.

[PresidentObama]

6. It's their version of an October Surprise. It's not going to work, and Obama is still winning.

[DemNoir]

7. GET IT RIGHT

HALF AUNT

[Hutzpa]

10. The breaking report says Aunt

this from MSNBC, I'm still trying to research this breaking piece.

[Pirate Smile]

12. Did you read the article? Most of what we have is just the AP crap plus

this:

"Here's some interesting background: Murdoch's Times of London started this

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/31/f...

... William McGonigle, deputy director of the Boston Public Housing Authority, said officials only became aware of Onyango's connection to the Democratic presidential nominee last week, after receiving inquiries from a reporter with the Times of London. Onyango then confirmed the relationship.

... "She is a delightful lady and she did a wonderful job as a public health advocate and she's been a great resident," McGonigle said. "She's not looking for fame or notoriety, and we were as surprised as anyone to learn she was related to the Democratic nominee."

... Since the Times of London published its story on Onyango, reporters began gathering outside the red-brick building, part of the West Broadway public housing development that had recently undergone a $60 million renovation. But Onyango was not there; she was seen leaving her apartment at mid-morning Thursday after she telephoned housing authority officials to request help in keeping reporters at bay.

... Campaign records show Onyango donated at least five times to Obama's campaign, in July and September, three times for $5 and twice for $25. She listed her occupation as "RHA Volunteer/Boston Housing Authority."'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3577325&mesg_id=3577416

And Josh Marshall asks the right question:

"Breaking the Law for McCain
11.01.08 -- 10:08AM By Josh Marshall
You may have noticed that the AP is reporting that Barack Obama's aunt (who he does not seem to have a relationship with) was denied asylum in the US four years ago and is now living illegally in Boston. Convenient timing, ain't it?

The real story, though, is down in the third paragraph of the AP story ...

Information about the deportation case was disclosed and confirmed by two separate sources, one of them a federal law enforcement official. The information they made available is known to officials in the federal government, but the AP could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved in its release.
That's about as transparent a red flag as an outfit like the AP is usually willing to give. And there you have it. Quite likely working in concert with the McCain campaign, a Bush administration official is leaking details on an immigration case to try to help McCain three days before the election. It's shades of Bush I's riffling through Bill Clinton's passport files just before the 1992 election in a desperate last minute gambit as they were swirling down the drain.

Late Update: Note too that the story first got leaked to the Times of London, a Murdoch paper with a history of taking planted stories from Republicans for siphoning back into the US media. "

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/241682.php

[Hutzpa]

15. This is what came to my desktop

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27481680/?ocid=MSNToolbar100


Thats what I'm referring to

[Mz Pip]

8. Yeah, FOX Noise

was pushing this one big time this morning. I think she's a half sister of his father. It's a stretch but they are throwing everything they've got out there. It's pathetic.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. Im consirned, Honistly

[AuntPatsy]

11. How funny and interesting that they are calling this breaking news?

Does every single american citizen in this country know exactly where each and every relative they have are living and just what they are doing etc? This is so non news that it reeks of nothing more than desperation and should be countered as such..

[ErinBerin84]

13. no way.

Plus, this was Obama's dad's half sister, wasn't it? Hell, he hardly knew his father....I have relatives that are MUCH closer to me in the blood line, who I have met more than once (unlike Obama and this half aunt), and I never know what the heck they are up to. Guess I can never run for office. Plus, there are like 8 threads about the aunt already asking what is up with it...I make dupe threads too, but I wish people would just skim DU before adding to this. And I am adding to this just by commenting.

[AuntPatsy]

23. I agree with you about the dupe threads on such non news worthy issues I wish

so many on one subject would not occur.

[Hutzpa]

25. I haven't seen any story about this

until I saw it as breaking news, I know asking here would give the
answer, thats why I like this place, even though sometimes we get the
unexpected trolls.

If this came from Drudge then its a non story and I my hope is, it
stays that way.

Drudge is not considered a Journalist IMO, he is a tool for the
Republican party.

[Starry Messenger]

14. More silliness from the MSM:

From http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/241682.php

"The real story, though, is down in the third paragraph of the AP story ...

Information about the deportation case was disclosed and confirmed by two separate sources, one of them a federal law enforcement official. The information they made available is known to officials in the federal government, but the AP could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved in its release.

That's about as transparent a red flag as an outfit like the AP is usually willing to give. And there you have it. Quite likely working in concert with the McCain campaign, a Bush administration official is leaking details on an immigration case to try to help McCain three days before the election. It's shades of Bush I's riffling through Bill Clinton's passport files just before the 1992 election in a desperate last minute gambit as they were swirling down the drain.

Late Update: Note too that the story first got leaked to the Times of London, a Murdoch paper with a history of taking planted stories from Republicans for siphoning back into the US media."

Link to Times of London article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5042571.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

Murdoch. Naturally.

[Hutzpa]

21. If these separate sources

leaked this information, they should loose their job.

Its not confidentiality when Government workers are
allowed to go through private and confidential cases
just so they can use it for political gains.

There is HOPE in all of this, this news will help
drive the Hispanic vote right into Obamas corner.

Just watch this space.

The Republicans will think this is red meat and will
go after it like sharks and it will end up biting them
in the ass.

It is my deepest belief that the REPUBLICAN party is a
deep down BIGOTED AND RACIST party.

This just exposes that, why Obama trust these people
beats me.

[Blue For You]

16. My uncle used to love me but she died*.

That's about how silly this "Aunt" thing is.

*(Roger Miller)

[Thrill]

17. Another thing to try to make a big election about something small

[BlooInBloo]

18. Just shit leaked by bush/mccain. It's meaningless.

[DainBramaged]

19. Ain't no big thing, we got this

The Titanic is still sinking.

[busymom]

20. You know this can't be 'breaking news'....

What I don't understand is how she got public housing....and I wonder if there will be a push to deport her before the election on Tuesday just to put Obama in an awkward position.?

This is not Obama's fault and it shouldn't impact him or the campaign in any way. How is HE responsible for the behavior of a relative?

[Phx_Dem]

22. Non story. Obama has said he didn't know anything about it.

and he never helped her get a visitor's visa. There really isn't much more to say except that George Bush is, once again, leaking government information for political gain. OTOH, once you've outed a covert CIA agent, I guess nothing else seems that bad. Nice try though.

I'm actually surprised they waited until Friday to leak it.

:boring: :boring: :boring:


Edited to add: I've had MSNBC on since 7am and haven't heard one word about this. It was in my morning paper though -- but that's to be expected from the Arizona Republic since McCain is looking pretty weak in his home state and needs all the help he can get.

[endelfam]

24. Don't judge this woman!

Her whole life is being turned upside down because of reporters following a trail of crumbs left by McCain. It's my understanding that she requested political asylum four years ago and did not get it. My husband is an immigration lawyer and I can tell you first hand that getting asylum is no easy thing, even when the person truly deserves it. There have been political killings back in her home less than 12 months ago. Given the fact that her name is now being plastered all over the news, there is no way she can keep her privacy after her return to her home country. Her situation could be a lot worse than when she left.

[Hutzpa]

27. Thats why I say

those who leaked this to the McCain campaign should be fired and tried
in court for breach of confidentiality.

All immigration cases are confidential and leaking this to the press should
get people asking questions about their cases.

It opens up a can of worms that makes the Republican party looks stupid and
ignorant.

[GoesTo11]

28. Plan: Leak (by govt) Friday night. Gossip Saturday. Stump & shows Sunday. Viscious ad Monday.

No time for response.

I'm sure this has been planned for a long time.