Saturday, November 01, 2008

Obama Responds

More accurately, his campaign responds.

The Associated Press found that Obama’s aunt had been instructed to leave the country four years ago by an immigration judge who rejected her request for asylum from her native Kenya. The woman, Zeituni Onyango (zay-TUHN on-YANG-oh), is living in public housing in Boston and is the half-sister of Obama’s late father.

A statement given to the AP by Obama’s campaign said, “Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed.”

The campaign said it was returning $260 that Onyango had contributed in small increments to Obama’s presidential bid over several months. Federal election law prohibits foreigners from making political donations. Onyango listed her employer as the Boston Housing Authority and last gave $5 on Sept. 19.

Perhaps this should be cause for the Obama campaign to take a good hard look at all of those little donations.  One wonders how often ineligible donors are giving to his campaign. 

Also, notice the hedging.  All “appropriate” laws should be followed.  Who defines “appropriate?”  It’s almost Clintonian.  He could have said something like, “she should be deported immediately as the judge ordered four years ago,” but that’s entirely too concrete for a slippery politician like Obama.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1213 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

  1. Guess she’s not the Auntie Zeituni he knew.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 01, 2008 at 1409 hrs


  2. I’t also entirely too concrete for GWBush, whose Administration has refused to execute the order.

    By the way, she’ll be living in a Boston slum at the end of a McPain Presidency, too.

    Posted by dad29 on November 01, 2008 at 1611 hrs


  3. How does someone who has a deportation order qualify for public housing?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 01, 2008 at 1658 hrs


  4. How does someone in public housing find $260 to “spare” for political contributions? Or is it just a “short-term bet” with the hope of vastly increased public assistance?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 01, 2008 at 2100 hrs


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