The biggest scandal of the election campaign is going unreported, for the most part, by the mainstream newspapers and TV shows. Imagine if John McCain or Sarah Palin had a half-brother who was living in a hut. Imagine if McCain, a multimillionaire, did nothing to help the guy. Imagine if McCain came to the convention and spoke incessantly about compassion and how he was inspired by the biblical mandate: we are our brothers' keepers! This would be the lead story on the evening news.
So why aren't the networks covering the fact that Barack Obama's half-brother George lives in a 6 by 10 foot hut in the slums of Kenya? It took a reporter for the Italian edition of Vanity Fair to locate George Obama. Obama noted that when he met his famous half-brother in 2006 it was only for a few minutes and like talking to a complete stranger. George Obama also told the magazine that when people ask him whether he is related to Barack Obama he denies it because he is ashamed. Obama has done absolutely nothing to help his unfortunate half-brother.
Apparently alarmed that this report could hurt Obama, CNN dispatched one of its reporters to do cover-up work for the Obama campaign. This is a hopeless enterprise; anyone who sees pictures of Geroge Obama's dwelling place knows that they reveal the worst images of African poverty. Moreover, for all its propagandistic intent, the CNN report is unintentionally damaging to Obama. The reporter cannot hide the fact that George Obama comes from a "ramshackled slum." A neighbor tells CNN that Barack Obama really should connect with his half-brother and "see how he's living" and do what he can to "improve our way of life."
CNN attempts to portray George Obama as a self-reliant fellow who doesn't want any help. The network quotes him saying, "I was brought up well. I live well even now." Notice that George speaks in a halting voice; he is trying to maintain his self-image. George also says, "I'm Kenyan...I would love to live in Kenya." Presumably George gave this answer to a question asking whether he'd like to move to the United States with Barack Obama's help. These answers, however, in no way suggest that George doesn't want Barack Obama's intervention to relieve his grinding poverty. A man's effort to maintain his dignity should not be exploited to pretend that he doesn't want a helping hand.
When I posted on George Obama last week, the Obama apologists could do no better than to say that Barack Obama doesn't owe his half-brother anything. But sibling assistance is not a matter of debt. Rather, it is a matter of family values and compassion. Obama has publicly cited as his favorite Bible verse Jesus's statement: whatever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. It seems that the Republican allegation that this man is full of pretense and empty words--in other words, a modern-day Pharisee--is more than justified.
Obama may not want to help his 26 year old half-brother, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't. I'm starting the George Obama Compassion Fund which has the goal of raising some money to help George move out of his one-room hut. George also wants to become a mechanic and surely he could use some funds to get the training he needs to fulfill his humble aspirations. Currently George lives on a few dollars a month. Even a few thousand dollars would completely transform this man's life.
I'm putting up $1000 to get this fund started. I invite people to send me small contributions--$5, $10, $25, whatever you can spare. Send them to P.O. Box 3384, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. Make your checks to "George Obama." I will then contact the Obama campaign and offer them the money on the condition that they forward it to George Obama in Kenya. The advantage of this approach is that not only does George Obama benefit from our generosity, but also Barack Obama can use the opportunity to improve his relationship with his half-brother. Let's foster Obama family values, and give a break to a guy who really needs it.
Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 22)
91. That is the problem isn't it? Sometimes we need regulation especially when we "the people" are being taken advantage of by BIG CORPs and business.
xx
Case in point: Social security is nearly perfect in its administration. No one misses a check ever, and it's administrative costs are, get this, 2%. But mcsame wants to PRIVATIZE it!
How any neocon could convince anyone who worked for their money that filtering that money through wall street and adding a profit to it will improve their wealth is absolutely nuts. It's as transparent as a carney scam.
Wall street wants the money. Give it to them and hope you know as much about investing as the pros do. Right.
Next the republican voter can get into a razor fight with somebody named 'Charleston Blue'.
You'll get what you voted for.
I know what Obama intends and I trust him, but I don't think life owes me extra points for being white, and I think those issues are closely related.
Clif Kuplen at 7:11PM on Sep 8th 2008
92. Shannie..I really love Mustangs (Saleen)
Dee at 7:14PM on Sep 8th 2008
93. 87. Did you replace it, Pliny? I am trying to think what the ultimate convertible would be....
Shanni
xxxxxxx
Not yet - Hoping to get another one some day - or a rusty old series three - now THAT's an ultimate rag top.
I had a '57 T bird, and an early Miata for a while too. Not bad cars either one.
Pliny-the-in-Between at 7:17PM on Sep 8th 2008
94. "Be honest, you'd be pissing on Democrats whether they got Hillary or not." - MM
I loathe both political parties. One is openly run by big business and the other one pretends not to be. There is very little difference. Well, actually, when it comes to the war there is a difference. Dems wouldn't have waged war against Iraq. Everything else is just shades of grey.
Publius at 7:17PM on Sep 8th 2008
95. Shannie,
Here's all you need:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/4862/
Publius at 7:54PM on Sep 8th 2008
96. Dinesh,
In Matthew 10:16, Jesus tells his disciples to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. That's you, Dinesh, with this little stunt, pretty clever yet harmless.
Barack Obortion, er, Obama, (B.O.) probably wants the government to be his brother's keeper, since liberals think that when the government gives money to the poor, that they have then personally given money to the poor, that's why they can't understand the irony of a phony Christian politician, campaigning on Bible verses that he doesn't really feel the need to honor.
Who can help out a blood brother when piano lessons cost $10K these days? Sheesh! You know what I mean?
Dinesh, you make a good point that this story would be bigger than Palin's pregnant daughter story, IF it were against a conservative, instead the liberal savior of the Godless, B.O.
B.O. pretends to be a Christian, because that is big this election, but only non-Christians are fooled by phony Christians who promote abortion, sexual perversion, and suppress the Word of God by lying about it, or trying to make it illegal to be taught as a Hate Crime. Satan thinks the Bible is Hate Speech, and so do the followers of Satan, all anti-Christians.
Their ilk are disgusting, like Nancy Pelosi lying about church teachings that condemn abortion, or Joe Biden saying it is wrong to impose his pious views on others--is it right to promote legalized murder being imposed on innocent, helpless babies? These people really are voting their values, they are just lying about their Christianity.
Just say no to B.O.! Who cares if he will be the first half-black man in the White House?
Be historic, vote in the first all-woman Vice President, Sarah Palin! Finally, there is a GOOD reason to vote for John McCain, (instead of just the lesser evil compared to B.O.), and her name is Sarah Palin.
Rev 3:16 at 8:02PM on Sep 8th 2008
97. I would love a VW Thing.
Ryan Anderson at 8:05PM on Sep 8th 2008
98. T.Bro your candidate Obamanation is a flawed candidate. Absolutely no experience, the republican VP has more experience than him. And the best you can say is that she hates America? Puhleez... The socialist are the ones who hate America, you can see it in their actions.
Man_in_Wilderness at 8:09PM on Sep 8th 2008
99. Don't do it, Double D! A Democrap (from the Greek, literally "People of shit"), especially a black Democrap, will always find a way to steal money entrusted to them! Find a good White Republican if you really want to help this poor unfortunate.
Jeremy at 8:22PM on Sep 8th 2008
100. Man_in_Wilderness
What is it that brings out your animosity toward those you call socialist? What do you mean by the label socialist anyway? You seem to be angry toward those you disagree with, why is that?
Jerry Brown at 8:30PM on Sep 8th 2008
101. You are a prideful, egotistical, un-Christian piece of c**p.
ajkier at 8:31PM on Sep 8th 2008
102. 101. You are a prideful, egotistical, un-Christian piece of c**p.
ajkier at 8:31PM on Sep 8th 2008
And who is this address to?
Jerry Brown at 8:41PM on Sep 8th 2008
103. I would love a VW Thing.
Ryan Anderson
---------
Now you're talking !
I almost like the 'THING' as much as Peaches, my harley .
mac at 8:51PM on Sep 8th 2008
104. Hussein Obama brags he does not have lobbyists on his campaign. Well,
I guess Axelrod does not count in Obama's eyes even though he is a
lobbyist. Guess also Biden son, the lobbyist, is not really working
for Obama.
But then again, who made lobbyists evil?
Here is some information on PAC's and Lobbyists
Just how big a factor are PACs and lobbyists in Presidential
election fundraising?
Not much. Read on.
According to OpenSecrets.org, just 1% of John McCain's contributions
-- a whopping $960,990 -- came from PACs. Over $88 million came from
individuals.
Individual contributions $88,221,824= 91%
PAC contributions $960,990= 1%
And lobbyists?= $655,576.
$250 Million -Barack is opting out of public financing because John
McCain has raised $1.6 million -- less than 2% of his campaign --
from lobbyists and PACs. After Obama's very big promise he would only
use Public Financing, then broke that prosmise. Some more of the
change we can expect from Obama?
Obama used the same Big Lie against Hillary, though she raised $1.25
million from PACs, or about 0.6% of her fundraising. Lobbyists were
not in her top 20 industries, according to Open Secrets.
Now, I know that lobbyists are supposed to be the source of all our
problems. But lobbyists are ultimately hired guns -- hired and paid
for by big corporations. So, is Obama turning down money from
executives at big corporations and other special interests? Not
hardly.
These are the top employers of Obama contributors:
This is bundling, where individuals from a company bundle money to
skate the law.
Goldman Sachs $571,330
University of California $437,236
UBS AG $364,806
JPMorgan Chase & Co $362,207
Citigroup Inc $358,054
National Amusements Inc $320,750
Lehman Brothers $318,647
Google Inc $309,514
Harvard University $309,025
Sidley Austin LLP $294,245
Skadden, Arps et al $270,013
Time Warner $262,677
Morgan Stanley $259,876
Jones Day $250,725
Exelon Corp $236,211
University of Chicago $218,857
Wilmerhale LLP $218,680
Latham & Watkins $218,615
Microsoft Corp $209,242
Stanford University $195,262
Roughly 90% of funding for Presidential campaigns comes from
individuals, and just 1% comes from PACs. Lobbyists and PACs are
convenient scapegoats, but just the tip of the iceberg compared to
the millions Obama has received from corporate executives who hire
lobbyists to represent them before Congress and the executive branch.
If this is really about small donors, "true public financing" and
fighting corporate interests, Obama should have no problem limiting
the maximum an individual can give to his campaign to $100 and
turning down contributions from employees of Fortune 500 companies in
the general election.
Obama's big snow job.
But lest we not forget Hussein Obama saying
"I don’t take money from oil companies"
But that was a lie. As per Fact Check
We find the statement misleading:
Obama has accepted more than $213,000 from individuals who work for
companies in the oil and gas industry and their spouses.
Two of Obama's bundlers are top executives at oil companies and are
listed on his Web site as raising between $50,000 and $100,000 for
the presidential hopeful.
More bundling, more snow jobs.
Robert OKane at 8:53PM on Sep 8th 2008
105. "Obama's brother likes it where he is and he is satisfied the way he lives."
So are a lot of our homeless on the streets of America. We still try to help them. We are our brother's keeper...right? I really thought this was an Onion story. Didn't the Obama campaign vet George?
http://redheadranting.blogspot.com/
http://kidsofqueers.blogspot.com/
http://ergodiccogitation.blogspot.com/
Jen at 8:58PM on Sep 8th 2008