Obama Aunt in US Illegally

[emw]

The AP is reporting that Obama's aunt - his father's half-sister - is in the country illegally after being refused asylum in 2004. Obama claims to know nothing about her status.

I'd post a link but I don't know how to from my iPod. But I am interested in thoughts on this.

Should he have known?

Should this matter to us?

Do you see an impact on the election?

[yg17]

The AP is reporting that Obama's aunt - his father's half-sister - is in the country illegally after being refused asylum in 2004. Obama claims to know nothing about her status.

I'd post a link but I don't know how to from my iPod. But I am interested in thoughts on this.

Should he have known?

Should this matter to us?

Do you see an impact on the election?


No, no and no.

Does anyone here seriously keep tabs on all of their relatives? Especially ones who aren't close to us? This is the half sister of his father who abandoned him as a child. I highly doubt Obama is close with, or even knows, this aunt.

[thechidz]

oh for crying out...

no, no and no.


the man is kinda busy no?

[freeny]

Should they be deported?
If that is the law, then yes.

Do I care?
No

[rdowns]

Here's a link

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

I think he should have known. Surprised it took this long to come out.

I don't really care.

I'm sure the Republicans will be all over this. I would imagine only the Lou Dobbs crowd will really care.

[remmy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7704052.stm

He has met her before, but she is quite a distant relative.

[és:]

BREAKING NEWS: Obama's 2nd cousin twice removed did a fart that smelled like eggs.

I was going to vote for Obama, now I'm going for Hitler.

[iGary]

Who cares? I don't.

If I was rated on the activities of my relatives, I'd be effed.

[Ntombi]

If anyone really thinks this should impact the election, they're an idiot.

He met his father for one month when he was eight, how on earth is he supposed to keep track of his father's (many many) relatives when neither his father nor those relatives could even be bothered with him?

Puhlease.

[dukebound85]

yea i dont care.

i cant control the actions of my relatives so why should it reflect on me at all?

[és:]

Who cares? I don't.



Well, you didn't smell it. It was a humdinger.

Oh, right. We're talking about the other thing.

[NT1440]

JESUS CHRIST!

if crap like this somehow loses obama the election, i OFFICIALLY have no respect for my country anymore. NONE.

that is all.

[Sky Blue]

JESUS CHRIST!

if crap like this somehow loses obama the election, i OFFICIALLY have no respect for my country anymore. NONE.

that is all.

Obama could eat a cat live on TV and still win.

[rdowns]

Obama could eat a cat live on TV and still win.

Not going to happen. Everyone knows black men don't like eating pus**. :D

[Beric]

EDIT: whoops, wrong thread.

As for my opinion, I don't really see how this incident affects anything. If I learning a relative was doing something similar, I would feel sad, but also only allow the law to pass its course.

[mrwizardno2]

JESUS CHRIST!

if crap like this somehow loses obama the election, i OFFICIALLY have no respect for my country anymore. NONE.

that is all.

I completely agree. It's amazing the things people consider "news"

I think they just make this ***** up for fun.

[thechidz]

Who cares? I don't.

If I was rated on the activities of my relatives, I'd be effed.

haha touche

[Peace]

This will be Republican fodder. It will go something like this.

Palin : Ya know. Gosh darn it. That Socialist Obama palls around with terrest ( wink ) and now we find out his relatives are illegal immigrants hiding from the law. Well we gotcha now ( wink ) .

[ucfgrad93]

This is a non issue. However, the law should run its course with her.

[mobilehaathi]

No one cares. Or at least, no one should.

[Thomas Veil]

Expect Republican embellishments. Obama's aunt is in the country illegally to spread weaponized anthrax. And Obama knew! Obama knew!!!

:rolleyes:

[NT1440]

oh great, its about to be on MSNBC, damn that liberal bias:rolleyes:

[Anuba]

Not even Fox News considers it a big story. It won't fly, and they wont attempt to get it airborne either. The reason is that there's a huge risk of backlash, just like with the Rev. Wright connection which the McCain camp isn't touching with a 40 foot pole, because it may turn off certain minority demographics. Ranting about illegal aliens at a time when you're trying to lure hispanic voters over to your side may not be a good idea for McCain right now.

[leekohler]

It's a non-issue. The really are trying everything, aren't they? Nah- I don't think this will matter one bit.

[NT1440]

Not even Fox News considers it a big story. It won't fly, and they wont attempt to get it airborne either. The reason is that there's a huge risk of backlash, just like with the Rev. Wright connection which the McCain camp isn't touching with a 40 foot pole, because it may turn off certain minority demographics. Ranting about illegal aliens at a time when you're trying to lure hispanic voters over to your side may not be a good idea for McCain right now.

Somehow I dont think hannity will see it that way.....

[rdowns]

Wait until Lou Dobbs gets a hold of it on Monday.

[Anuba]

Oddly, this story is making bigger headlines around the world than in the US.

Sweden's two largest newspapers:

www.expressen.se "OBAMAS FASTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT"
("faster" actually means aunt... it's short for "faders syster", father's sister)

www.aftonbladet.se "Hans faster är i USA illegalt" (His aunt is in the USA illegaly)

Denmark's JyllandsPosten (famous for publishing the Muhammed caricatures)

http://jp.dk/udland/usa/article1501474.ece
"Obamas tante er illegalt i USA"

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7704052.stm "Obama unaware of illegal aunt"
(I thought her whereabouts were illegal, not the woman herself, but whatever...)

Finland's Helsingin Sanomat (http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/artikkeli/Obama+ei+tiennyt+t%C3%A4tipuolensa+asuvan+USAssa+laittomasti/1135240725558): "Obama ei tiennyt tätipuolensa asuvan USA:ssa laittomasti"
(I couldn't translate that to save my life... Finnish is crazy)

Norwegian Aftenposten: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/usavalg/article2746363.ece
"Obamas tante bor ulovlig i USA"

[zap2]

Don't care.


I don't care that McCain brother called 9/11 some reason bad reason either, I don't care how much they make, how tall they are, how pretty or ugly, how the left their first wife, how many times they did drugs, how "black" they are etc!


I want issues, I want solutions!!!!

[mactastic]

I want issues, I want solutions!!!!
But did you know Obama is a secret Muslim who has close ties to a radical Christian preacher?

Plus I hear he refuses to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

[rdowns]

But did you know Obama is a secret Muslim who has close ties to a radical Christian preacher?

Plus I hear he refuses to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

He steps on the cracks on the sidewalk.

[jessica.]

I seriously doubt this has any impact on his campaign. I'd venture to guess that alongside my three no's to all of the OP's questions, that Obama will have bigger things to worry about after the election. Such as, recouping the funds from his failed Presidential campaign.

[macfan881]

i bet 10 bucks that there will be some mention of this on Lou Dobss though on Monday :p

[Nickygoat]

Oddly, this story is making bigger headlines around the world than in the US.

Sweden's two largest newspapers:

www.expressen.se "OBAMAS FASTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT"
("faster" actually means aunt... it's short for "faders syster", father's sister)

www.aftonbladet.se "Hans faster är i USA illegalt" (His aunt is in the USA illegaly)

Denmark's JyllandsPosten (famous for publishing the Muhammed caricatures)

http://jp.dk/udland/usa/article1501474.ece
"Obamas tante er illegalt i USA"

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7704052.stm "Obama unaware of illegal aunt"
(I thought her whereabouts were illegal, not the woman herself, but whatever...)

Finland's Helsingin Sanomat (http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/artikkeli/Obama+ei+tiennyt+t%C3%A4tipuolensa+asuvan+USAssa+laittomasti/1135240725558): "Obama ei tiennyt tätipuolensa asuvan USA:ssa laittomasti"
(I couldn't translate that to save my life... Finnish is crazy)

Norwegian Aftenposten: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/usavalg/article2746363.ece
"Obamas tante bor ulovlig i USA"

I don't know about the others but Jyllands Posten often makes Fox News look fair and balanced.

It's not on DR, nor on Politiken, at least as far as I can see.

Even the Daily Mail only have it way down on their site (I feel dirty now after looking at that).

[Anuba]

I don't know about the others but Jyllands Posten often makes Fox News look fair and balanced.

It's not on DR, nor on Politiken, at least as far as I can see.

Even the Daily Mail only have it way down on their site (I feel dirty now after looking at that).
Aftonbladet is center-left, Expressen is center-right, both are far left by American standards. Both are tabloid-ish though, and measure newsworthiness by scandal factor more than anything else.

[bradl]

What may come to hurt though, is what the AP is reporting:


According to Federal Election Commission documents filed by the Obama campaign, Onyango has contributed $260 to Obama over a period of time. Under federal election law, only U.S. citizens or green-card holders are legally permitted to give money to campaigns. Onyango, who listed her employer as the Boston Housing Authority, gave in small increments to the Obama campaign. Her latest contribution was $5 on Sept. 19.


McCain's campaign could jump all over that, because they could spin that to say that Obama received foreign contributions.

BL.

[Ugg]

What may come to hurt though, is what the AP is reporting:



McCain's campaign could jump all over that, because they could spin that to say that Obama received foreign contributions.

BL.

Yeah, but at least they didn't send a donation request to the Russian UN Envoy...

I'm sure both campaigns have received donations from those who shouldn't have donated.

[NT1440]

What may come to hurt though, is what the AP is reporting:



McCain's campaign could jump all over that, because they could spin that to say that Obama received foreign contributions.

BL.
The Obama camp has already stated they are refunding any and all money from here.


Now the real question: Does that include birthday and christmas money??:p

[Peace]

The Obama camp has already stated they are refunding any and all money from here.


Now the real question: Does that include birthday and christmas money??:p

I'm sorry but that begs the question of why did he take money from her to begin with knowing she was a foreign national ?

I'm guessing he just doesn't even know her.

[JW8725]

Isn't everyone in USA an asylum seeker from other countries anyway apart from Red Indians?

[NT1440]

I'm sorry but that begs the question of why did he take money from her to begin with knowing she was a foreign national ?

I'm guessing he just doesn't even know her.

Do campaigns really run backround checks of the hundreds of thousands of donors?

Do you think he actually sees the lists of donors personally?

I highly doubt anyone in the campaign connected the dots, it just looked like another donor from a state.

[MacNut]

Isn't everyone in USA an asylum seeker from other countries anyway apart from Red Indians?Yes, we all drifted on a raft from Cuba.:rolleyes:

[mgguy]

So Obama wants all immigration laws followed in the case of his aunt? Does he feel the same way about other illegal immigrants too, or is he just saying this now for political reasons? Most in his party seem all too willing to look the other way when it comes to those in this country illegally. Is this another case of him throwing someone under the bus if it furthers his political ambitions?

[Ntombi]

So Obama wants all immigration laws followed in the case of his aunt? Does he feel the same way about other illegal immigrants too, or is he just saying this now for political reasons? Most in his party seem all too willing to look the other way when it comes to those in this country illegally. Is this another case of him throwing someone under the bus if it furthers his political ambitions?
Are you asking the question seriously, or just to take a swipe at Obama? :rolleyes:

He, like McCain, has been very clear in the need for comprehensive immigration reform in this country, but neither one of them has said that it's okay not to follow the current law. I think you're confusing both of them with the current president; he's the one who chooses not to follow the law when he doesn't feel like it.

[Compile 'em all]

BREAKING NEWS: Obama's 2nd cousin twice removed did a fart that smelled like eggs.

I was going to vote for Obama, now I'm going for Hitler.

^ great :D

[Lord Blackadder]

What kind of fool would change his or her vote based on this story?

It's a case of clumsy, desperate opportunism on the part of the McCain campaign. I don't see it changing the election one way or the other...

[mgguy]

Are you asking the question seriously, or just to take a swipe at Obama? :rolleyes:

He, like McCain, has been very clear in the need for comprehensive immigration reform in this country, but neither one of them has said that it's okay not to follow the current law. I think you're confusing both of them with the current president; he's the one who chooses not to follow the law when he doesn't feel like it.

I was being serious. I don't see much support for enforcing the immigration laws by either candidate, though I think McCain might make more of an effort to do because republicans would be more likely to move him in that direction. It is hard to believe that someone is serious about enforcing the immigration laws when he or she laments the deportation of those apprehended for being here illegally and using fraudulent identification, which is often stolen from citizens. But this is a topic for another thread.

[taylorwilsdon]

The only people who would think this stuff matters are the type that think Obama is a Muslim socialist terrorist Kenyan illegal immigrant and wouldn't vote for him even if McCain came and strangled their own mother in front of their eyes.

Its his dad's (who he didn't know) half-sister... that's a loose connection if I've ever seen one. Its not his fault she overstayed a visa.

[shu82]

What really gets me its that she also lives in public housing. That really shows how we should not be extending any of those systems.

I bet she also has an EBT card (food stamps), gets free medical care (doesn't pay the bill), and is registered to vote.

Sickening, just sickening

[JW8725]

Yes, we all drifted on a raft from Cuba.:rolleyes:

Nope apparently some made it over after being saved from the Titanic too.:p

[skunk]

What really gets me its that she also lives in public housing. That really shows how we should not be extending any of those systems.So, because one homeless old Kenyan woman is being allowed to stay in public housing rather than having to sleep on the street, this shows that the entire system should be locked down? You're probably right, she's almost certainly single-handedly responsible for the US deficit.

[mactastic]

So, because one homeless old Kenyan woman is being allowed to stay in public housing rather than having to sleep on the street, this shows that the entire system should be locked down? You're probably right, she's almost certainly single-handedly responsible for the US deficit.
Well, hell... by that logic, we've seen a huge amount of abuse of the Pentagon's budget in Iraq.

Perhaps we should shut down the whole military-industrial complex in response?

[skunk]

Isn't it odd how this story was first published by The Times of London, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp?

[juanster]

no worries, if he gets elected he will make sure the poor lady gets all her papers and such....you guys are being silly, worryinga bout that poor lady's status....

[Ugg]

Isn't it odd how this story was first published by The Times of London, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp?

No. Murdoch's political shrewdness is well known. He'd have done much better under a Clinton or a McCain presidency than he will under an Obama presidency.

[glocke12]

cant believe im saying this, but.....who cares???

[skunk]

No. Murdoch's political shrewdness is well known. He'd have done much better under a Clinton or a McCain presidency than he will under an Obama presidency.I think you need to replace the batteries in your Ironimeter™

[macfan881]

Wow i total lost any respect for Lou dobs id figure this wouldn't be a topic tonight since Obamas aunt died but he talked about it today i turned him off i think its a lil uncalled for at this time his family lost some one and you shouldn't really go after another family matter at this time but he did :(

[solvs]

This is obviously just racism.

Not sure how, just haven't said that in awhile and figured this would be as good a place as any.

[és:]

I think you need to replace the batteries in your Ironimeter™

Better to replace the entire unit, I'd say.