All in the Family: Obama and Cheney?
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller Reports: Illinois Sen. Barack Obama may have a distant cousin he’s not too happy about.
In an interview with MSNBC today Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, admitted that she discovered that "Dick and Barack Obama are eighth cousins," going back eight generations and having a common ancestor.
Part of Obama’s classic stump speech consistently includes criticism of the vice president. The senator is seeking the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
At a town hall event in Amana, Iowa, Sen. Obama didn’t let up on his regular critique of the the president and vice president, saying, "We have to bring an end to Bush and Cheney politics……(they) led us into the worst policy disaster of all time." Obama added, having a "long resume says nothing about your character."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton responded today saying, "Obviously Dick Cheney is sort of the black sheep of the family."
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I can just imagine the shame Obama must deal with. I would be totally embarassed to have a heartless warthog like Cheney on any branch of my family tree.
Posted by: dlfdll | October 16, 2007, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
I feel so bad for Mr. Cheney. What a total embarrasment for his family. Chop down the family tree Dick before someone catches on!
Posted by: Becker | October 16, 2007, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
That prove the fact that you can choose your friends but not your relatives.
Posted by: robert l paulin | October 16, 2007, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
…and if that’s not bad enough, just remember that if you go back far enough, we’re all related to George W. Bush.
Posted by: Jasper Eliot | October 16, 2007, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
Was Barack Obama keeping this fact a secret fearing it being made public? Now I know why I never like Obama as a politician or any other wise.
Posted by: Danilo | October 16, 2007, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
I bet I know what David Icke thinks about this!
Posted by: Bill Hicks | October 16, 2007, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
well that settles it, no more obama!
Posted by: gopi | October 16, 2007, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
This just killed any hope that Obama could get the Democratic nomination.
Posted by: Jamie | October 16, 2007, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
Ok… I dont really care if they are related. I care that Obama is as much of a liar as Cheney. The guy has told us he doesnt like the war and wants us out but, he continues to support bills that push us deeper and deeper into war and deeper and deeper into debt and don’t think Clinton is any different! RON PAUL IS THE ONLY TRUE CANDIDATE!!!!
Posted by: Ezra | October 16, 2007, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
we’re all related somehow folks
Posted by: zeex | October 16, 2007, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
This goes to show how gullible the White House believes American citizens truly are. This guy is a practicing Islamic believer and people better wake up quick, fast, and in a hurry. How absurd has life in America become????
Posted by: SGA | October 16, 2007, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
SGA he is not a practicing Islamic believer and why is it people just keep insisting this true? They’re making it up.
Posted by: Sandra | October 16, 2007, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
I like Sen. Barack Hussein Obama, but the name I could never live with.. The Cheney connection just make its worse.
Chow..
Posted by: Whatever | October 16, 2007, 10:35 pm 10:35 pm
Put a pair of glasses on Obama and….WOW…they look just alike !
Posted by: kenny | October 16, 2007, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
Ezra: First of all, he only is passing bills to fund troops. Those guys are there and we have to take care of them, whether or not the war is right. Second, he is trying to pass legislation ending the war, which is the way to go. So stop twisting it like he supports the war. Ron Paul is a lune.
Posted by: m | October 16, 2007, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
lol at people actually believing Obama is a practicing Islamic believer.
Posted by: Kim | October 17, 2007, 12:42 am 12:42 am
I’m amazed the number of people who will let such a rhetorical innuendo influence a rational decision. Who cares who his distant relatives may be, even though I personally wouldn’t be advertising the fact that Cheney may be in my family tree. That’s like saying you wouldn’t support Giuliani just because his father was a felon. Also since when did baptized christians become Islamic?
Posted by: GC | October 17, 2007, 1:04 am 1:04 am
Obama, and Cheney kin, something new to learn everyday.
Posted by: cpman1946 | October 17, 2007, 2:33 am 2:33 am
Just eliminated Obama from consideration. Thanks for the info.
Posted by: Scott | October 17, 2007, 2:39 am 2:39 am
Hey guys, don’t believe what they tell you in the media these days. Ask what the proof is. Don’t swallow what ever they give you.
I can see where this is leading, they want Hillary to win the primaries and keep her in the cage so they can beat her in the general election. They are really afraid of Obama.
Posted by: Bombo | October 17, 2007, 5:29 am 5:29 am
Despite out political, religious, and racial difference this proves how much of a family we really are in America. I think this news is terrific!
Posted by: Lisa Hampton | October 17, 2007, 7:17 am 7:17 am
This is almost as fun as the time they tied Al Sharpton to Strom Thurmond. I guess on some level, we are all related. I get a kick out of this story. I kind of like it.
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | October 17, 2007, 7:29 am 7:29 am
Uhoh! Barack doesn’t have a chance of getting elected if Cheney is any part of his background. Don’t want another neocon in office
Posted by: Bob | October 17, 2007, 8:17 am 8:17 am
If Cheney’s side said “Black sheep of the family” about Obama, then there would have been a racial outcry. This was probably said tongue-in-cheek by the Obama camp because of his race.
Posted by: Joitou2 | October 17, 2007, 8:24 am 8:24 am
Aren’t we all related some way some how if we go back far enough in the family tree? Why is this news that is being reported? Wouldn’t the effort spent on this article have been better spent had it been on something that really matters?
Posted by: George | October 17, 2007, 8:31 am 8:31 am
I think that we have heard this before at least I remember this some how.
We cannot forget they came over here as slaves for the rich folks so nothing really surprises me nothing.
If I were Obama I wouldn’t be proud of that all he believes in is killing our men and women in illegal war.
Everyone has to remember that all us are related in the eyes of GOD because we are made in his likeness EVERYONE!!!
Posted by: Carol R Hill | October 17, 2007, 9:25 am 9:25 am
ewww….ick. Too bad for Obama!
Posted by: dsotm | October 17, 2007, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Why do people believe everything they’re told? The Bush/Cheney Administration is great at smear campaigns. Just because they say this, it doesn’t mean it’s actually true. I think it’s just a way to get voters away from Obama. Show me the proof. If Cheney was related to me, I’d have a full blood transfusion.
Posted by: Sheila | October 17, 2007, 9:53 am 9:53 am
i feel sory for dick c
Posted by: rick | October 17, 2007, 10:50 am 10:50 am
I DON’T CARE FOR HILARY CLINTON,DEFINITELY, NOT OBAMA. BUSH & CHENEY ARE BETTER THAN BOTH OF THEM. FRED THOMPSON HAS MY VOTE.
Posted by: Jo | October 17, 2007, 11:05 am 11:05 am
I feel sorry for Obama. Hang in there Obama, maybe it’s a mistake. Maybe DC is related to GWB. That would make a lot more sense since they are both certifiably insane.
Posted by: Ron | October 17, 2007, 11:05 am 11:05 am
What difference does it make who is related to who? Our country is in turmoil, a 3rd world war is close to breaking out, american Economy is in shambles, americans are getting more jail time for killing a dog than a person who kills or rape a teen, poverty level is always low and list goes on. However, we are more worried about who is related? Come on people, thought we were better than that. This isn’t even news. Wake up America!!!
Posted by: TJ | October 17, 2007, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Does anybody on this post have any brains. The comments about practicing islamic religion, blood lines, supporting the war, secret handshakes. Come on, some of you should be required to prove some sort of inteligence before being allowed to fill out a presidential ballot.
Posted by: Brian | October 17, 2007, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Secondly, for those who failed reading comprehension. Lynn Cheney made the statement about Obama and Dick being related. Obama was not hiding anything. Some of you are ridiculous and speak without saying anything.
Posted by: Brian | October 17, 2007, 11:34 am 11:34 am
I heard that Obama was related to Forest Gump…
Posted by: Carrigan | October 17, 2007, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
I assume the relationship is on Obama’s mother side of the family. Otherwise it really would be news.
Posted by: jim | October 17, 2007, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm
I’m starting to think everyone has gone insane.
Posted by: cat | October 17, 2007, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
So what? It amazing what you find if start Googleing your family. Even if this is true…how many families in the current generation get along with each other…let alone 8 gens back?
Posted by: Bill | October 17, 2007, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
I read these comments because with such an hilarious story, I thought there would be some funny remarks- Poor Obama!! but mainly, (of course with a few exceptions), there is no humor- only great ignorance… misinformation… spin,,, obfuscation!- just like Fox Fake-News…
Come on people??.. deciding not to vote for Obama because of an obscure relationship over 8 generations ago??? I do not care how distasteful the distant relative is, it is no reason to disdain Obama!! …ok, maybe those comments were meant as jokes.. but the guy who thinks Obama is Islamic??? How can anyone be that ignorant!? I just refuse to think Americans are that far below average IQ…
Posted by: el depp | October 20, 2007, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
I too read these comments thinking there would be some funny remarks made on this story…but sadly there was no humor found here…we need to lighten up some…not everything needs such serious discussion…smile & laugh…it might make your day better!
Posted by: Ghpr | October 21, 2007, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Much to do about nothing. Going back eight generations would make Obama’s ancesters slaves and Cheney’s slave owners. How on Earth does THIS relate to present day politics? IT DOESN’T
Posted by: Marty Blueroads | October 22, 2007, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
wow. the fact that anyone is feeling sorry for cheney is pitiful. its ridiculous why anyone would make up false rumors about barack obama. he’s practicing islam??? what kind of joke is that. generally most muslims are too conservative to be democrats, so that would be highly unlikely. besides. even if he was, what would be wrong with that? every (republican) american thinks that all muslims are terrorists. the truth is, only a few radical muslims are. so stop calling all of them terrorists. cause theyre not!! besides, our lack of respect for other cultures and countries is really getting us into deep trouble anyways. most other countries hate us, and i can see why. just get it through you heads. being 8th cousins doesnt matter. i’m german so i’m probably related to hitler somehow anyways. and does that make me a bad person? no it doesnt. so just leave obama alone.
Posted by: Ava | November 14, 2007, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
These stories always come up during election time on who is related to who.
For instance these on Barack Obama and his family ties came out in an AP press story found then got picked up at
Slate.com and World Net Daily.
This one on Bush and Kerry being cousins
Posted by: Kristine | November 18, 2007, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
So what … W is a distant relative of Moe, Larry and Curly, too.
Posted by: tomp | February 10, 2008, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
WHO CARES AS LONG AS IT ISN’T BUSH!!!!!!! GO CLINTON!!!!!!!
Posted by: Oh well | April 18, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
It doesnt matter if they are a distance related all that matters is that Oboma is a lier and a crook..Country wide mortage scandal , friends with William Aires meets with louis faracan the church he goes to and the preachers…If you wanted change you are not going to get it..Weather you vote for Mc Cain or oboma we are all going it get more of the same…People got to stop voting based on what the canidates are saying and read what they are doing..I still cant beleve that anyone in there right mind could even concider Hillary my god by now everyone should realize how bad the clintons are..Stop drinking the cool aid..and start reading..Bush has broken many laws and no one seems to care. So unless people wake up and pay attention to what are elected or selected leaders are doing to us we are all doomed..
Posted by: fread | June 17, 2008, 6:29 am 6:29 am
Obama had middle name Hussein and what next? new comer in politic so……
Posted by: willy | October 20, 2008, 8:26 am 8:26 am
Dont you people see. The only reason that OBAMA is where he is today is precisely because of his connection to Cheney. The men behind all these big decisions, illuminati, new world order, rockefellas, groups etc. Like to keep the power in the family.
Posted by: Deej | December 13, 2008, 6:21 am 6:21 am