Barack Obama’s Branch-y Family Tree
EmailHow many half-siblings do you think Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, has? Two? Three? Four? Would you believe eight? That’s the official count, at any rate, though that number seems approximate. Here’s how it shakes out. HALF-SIB #1 ONE: MOM’S SIDE — HALF-SIS MAYA
The one who has been front row and center is Maya Soetoro-Ng, 37, who has campaigned on Obama’s behalf. After Obama’s parents divorced, Obama’s mother Ann Dunham — Barack Obama Sr.’s second wife — married a man named Lolo Soetoro. The whole brood, including Obama and his new little half-sister Maya, lived in Indonesia. Maya Soetoro-Ng is a Buddhist, holds a Ph.D. in education, has a Chinese-Canadian husband, and teaches at an all-girl’s school in Hawaii. On this video she discusses her relationship with her older half-brother. We know far less about Obama’s half-siblings through his late father’s side. Barack Obama Sr. had eight children with four different women. Here’s who they are. HALF-SIBS #2-THROUGH-5 — DAD’S SIDE — MALIK, AUMA, ABO & BERNARD When Obama was in London, The Sun found one of his half-brothers in the UK, Bernard Obama. Bernard is the youngest child from Barack Obama Sr’s first marriage in Kenya to Kezia (who now lives in the UK.) He runs an auto parts firm in Nairobi, Kenya, and converted to Islam. Their other three kids from the Obama Sr./Kezia marriage are Abongo (Roy) Obama who is also known as Malik, half sister Auma Obama, and Abo Obama. Malik lives in the Obama family’s ancestral home in Kenya, Nyangoma-Kogelo, and runs an electronics store nearby. He and Sen. Obama served as best men for each other’s weddings. Readers of this blog might also recall the misinformation spread after Malik spoke to Israeli Army Radio. Malik converted to Islam and Obama wrote in Dreams From My Father that Malik is "prone to make lengthy pronouncements on the need for the black man to liberate himself from the poisoning influence of European culture, and scolds Auma for what he calls her European ways. The words he speaks are not fully his own, and in his transition he can sometimes sound stilted and dogmatic. but the magic of his laughter remains, and we can disagree without rancor." Obama met his half-sister Auma after their father died in a car accident in 1982. “I knew at that moment, somehow, that I loved her," Obama wrote in Dreams From My Father. "Even now I can’t explain it; I only know that the love was true, and still is, and I’m grateful for it." She lives in London, and in 2006 told the Guardian, "Barack was a lot like my father – his hand movements, his gestures, how he talks, how he sits. He’s got a certain quietness about him and he sits and he concentrates like my father. He can be in a room full of people and he withdraws on his own. And we’ve all got the Obama hands – the fingers and everything. So it was amazing to watch that, because I was meeting him for the first time but it felt like I knew him." The last child from this brood, Abo Obama, doesn’t necessarily come across the best in Dreams From My Father. In 1987, Obama visited Kenya to meet Jok Obama in K’Obama (the people of Obama in the Land of Obama), and Abo wasn’t happy that the tape recorder Obama brought him as a gift wasn’t a Sony. "I nodded at him, trying not to get angry," the senator wrote. In his half-brother’s eyes he saw "something that reminded me of young men back in Chicago. An element of guardedness, perhaps, and calculation. The look of someone who realizes early in life that he has been wronged." One except from Dreams make it seem less clear whether Bernard is definitely related to Obama. Obama’s Aunt Zeituni, his dad’s sister, tells him that after Obama Sr. went off to live with his third wife Ruth Nidesand, "’well, he would go to Kezia sometimes. You must understand that traditionally she was still his wife. It was during such a visit that Kezia became pregnant with Abo…The thing was, Kezia also lived with another man briefly during this time. So when she became pregnant again, with Bernard, no one was sure who –’ Zeituni stopped, letting the thought finish itself. "’Does Bernard know about this?’" Obama asks. "’Yes, he knows by now. You understand, such things made no difference to your father. He would say that they were all his children.’" HALF SIBS #6 & 7 — DAD’S SIDE — MARK AND DAVID The London Times also found Obama half-brother Mark Ndesandjo in Shenzhen, China, selling services to help Chinese merchants sell their goods in the U.S. Mark Ndesandjo is the son of Obama Sr. and his third wife, American Ruth Nidesand, who runs a kindergarten in Nairobi, Kenya. In Dreams From My Father, Obama describes meeting Mark, who said he never thought of settling in Kenya since, “there’s not much work for a physicist, is there, in a country where the average person doesn’t have a telephone…You think that somehow I’m cut off from my roots, that sort of thing. Well, you’re right…At a certain point I made the decision not to think about who my real father was. He was dead to me even when he was still alive. I knew that he was a drunk and showed no concern for his wife and children. That was enough.” "It made you mad," Obama said. "Not mad," replied Mark." Just numb." Obama wrote that when he said goodbye to Mark, “we exchanged addresses and promised to write, with a dishonesty that made my heart ache.” Mark’s brother David Ndesandjo was killed in a motorcycle accident. Nidesand had another son, Joseph Ndesandjo, owner and president of DHS Security in San Antonio, Texas. Joseph Ndesandjo may have a resemblance to Obama, but the campaign says they are of no relation, though he is Obama’s half brother’s half brother. HALF SIB #8 — DAD’S SIDE — GEORGE Lastly, from Barack Obama Sr.’s last known relationship, is George, whom Obama met during that 1987 visit to Kenya. "I took comfort in the fact that perhaps one day, when he was older, George, too, might want to know who his father had been, and who his brothers and sisters were, and that if he ever came to me I would be there for him, to tell him the story I knew," Obama wrote. – jpt
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I don’t get the point of this story, Jake. Interesting details but it seems these people have very little impact on Obama’s life other than to accentuate his inner demons about his place in the world.
Any Ours from a His Hers and Ours knows the world isn’t fair when it comes to blood relatives. It is what it is: messy.
Posted by: len | July 28, 2008, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
No matter what angle I look at Obama, I see hypocrisy constantly staring back at me. Obama has been preaching in Churches to black fathers about family responsibilities; but it turns out that he should do that within his own families. He tells us we can change America when all this time America is changing him.
Posted by: young_voter | July 28, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
“I knew that he was a drunk and showed no concern for his wife and children. That was enough.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
young_voter, From what I can see, Obama seems to be a great dad with a wonderful wife and kids. Is he somehow responsible for his father’s mistakes?
Posted by: obamamama | July 28, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Yet another waste of time and space. How many siblings, full or half, does John McCain have? What about his first wife and her siblings? Why did McCain divorce his first wife? How soon after this divorce did McCain marry Cindy? What is her net worth?
Posted by: sophillyfatz | July 28, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
“I don’t get the point of this story,”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Well, I guess this is interesting. But I feel like his only sibling is Maya. Since she is the one he grew up with and shares his mother and grandparents with.
If I had met my siblings when I was 25, I would not really consider them my siblings.
Posted by: Jenna | July 28, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
“Why did McCain divorce his first wife?”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Totally disagree with young_voter
Obama understnads better than anyof us the impact of fathers who don’t stand up as men for their children.
and talk about a cool family. I have fights with my conservative family members but can you imagine trying to have discussions in this family and avoiding the minefields of personal emotions… oy.
No wonder he doesn’t get shaken by this crap.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
Good grief…This should help the typical American family relate to Obama.
Posted by: riley | July 28, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
“Obama understnads better than anyof us the impact of fathers who don’t stand up as men for their children.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
@belle: “Possibly that for a “teach the world to sing in perfect harmony” type, the Perfect One’s not very well acquainted with his own family?”
I can’t say if that’s so, Belle. We don’t get to pick our relatives but we can learn a lot from watching them. If anything, I’d say this kind of family has given him plenty to think about regards the black culture in America and by contrast and comparison, in Kenya.
I am number 1 of an Ours and number 11 of the His and Hers, so I’ve some experience here. It absolutely will lean one toward being the uniter because otherwise, Christmas is a nightmare.
Let this one sit there for pondering. Don’t try to make political hay out of someone’s inherited pain. Treat it like those pictures you see in museums of pioneer families and be glad you live in a better sod. Papa was a rolling stone well well well…
Posted by: len | July 28, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Yahoo!
Posted by: skinny dog | July 28, 2008, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
“do you ever get tired of disrespecting Sen Mccain with that bile you spew toward Obama.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
riley
the typicla american family looks at this one and sees a man who puts his family first with 2 beautiful kids…
and they put obama just a little bit higher.
and the ones who don’t come from what you consider “a typical american family” (all those people who aren’t quite as lucky as you to have that) just need comments like yours to put Obama over the top.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Thanks for the info. I enjoy piecing together the candidates in my mind, and these tidbits help me create my own view. I’ll anxiously await your family history piece on McCain.
Posted by: hang | July 28, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
One has to wonder what Obama’s “morals” REALLY are. He comes from a less than Christian family and then attended a hate-filled church for 20 years and thought it wasn’t even controversial. The decay of America has already started and he will just make it go faster.
Posted by: Sarah | July 28, 2008, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
“If anything, I’d say this kind of family has given him plenty to think about regards the black culture in America and by contrast and comparison, in Kenya.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Sarah
your comment is a sign of the decay of America…
Bush and the right wing have have replaced real values of right and wrong with ones that empower one group.
this guy shooting up a church is a perfect example of someone that would say Obama is making the decay of America go faster…right before he shoots up a children’s play in a church.
The decay of America has to do with right and wrong toward each other…not somestupid dogma that has been corrupted by power and self-interest.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
In response to young voter’s comments:
Why are you blaming Obama for his family’s mistakes and or misfortunes?
You obviously do not like him- that’s clear. Bt why not give him credit where credit is due? I don’t know who you’re supporting but let’s be fair and diplomatic shall we?
Barack Obama has earned the right to preach about family responsiblity because he has become a great family man himself. He’s learned from his father’s mistakes and has broken the damaging cycle of absent father’s in his own life.
Remember: Change ALWAYS starts with us (you)first.
Posted by: Tech Recruiter | July 28, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Obama on Obama:
“The words [Malik Obama] speaks are not fully his own, and in his transition he can sometimes sound stilted and dogmatic.”
Malik sounds okay; Barry, on the other hand, when he veers off the script, sounds stilted and DRIFTY.
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Obama obviously understand the differences in politics and cultures.
He obviously has had to learn how to overcome those differences within even his own family.
Seems we may have ended up having the right man run at the right time.
and not a moment too soon.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
It is amazing to see the differences in attacking from one side …all trying to “dis” the man’s culture, heritage and upbringing.
and the other side continuously talks about why their candidate has a million qualities that have been setting us up to lead again.
That alone should scare people from McCain…a vote for him obviously from these posts…is a vote out of fear and smeer…rather than a vote for what is right and the potential of our country again.
Posted by: dl | July 28, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
“He obviously has had to learn how to overcome those differences within even his own family.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
It is amazing how the most vile practices are understood away by liberal relativists in the name of “culture”..
Posted by: hype bites | July 28, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
OK I thought Obama said his family is not to be politically touched, well if they come out speaking for him they are fair game period no matter what Obama says!
Now Obama has no clue to becoming President, someone tell him the Surge is what made Iraq better, it gave the oppurtunities for everything else to happen, this is not the chicken or the egg issue we now what came first to allow the Iraqi’s to stand up and for their political growth the SURGE,
Just on this point alone the fact that McCain supported the winning strategy and Obama still can not see that it is a winning strategy shows how dangerous Obama would be as President!!
America has only one choice for President and that is McCain.
CartObama is a failure!
also please explain to him if he raises taxes on anyone, the economy will bust, see people making over 250,000 invest in companies that employ people, if they have to pay more they will cut their investments and people will become unemployed!! But it seems that libs love people being unemployed!!
CartObama also does not mind us paying 12 $ a gallon for gas his words people!!
Who does this hurt the poor and middle class.
I wonder if there is a way just to have the libs pay the higher prices!! and be laid off first!!
Posted by: spock | July 28, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
“After Obama’s parents divorced,”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
“I thought Obama said his family is not to be politically touched,”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Please someone tell Obama that it was Gen Petreaus that brought the factions in Iraq together, and that there never was a civil war going on there. I really thinks he needs to know what is going on in the world before he runs for President!!
Posted by: spock | July 28, 2008, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
“Barack was a lot like my father – his hand movements, his gestures, how he talks, how he sits.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
@belle: I’m saying it reveals nothing about his qualifications as a candidate. It says a lot about the pain quotient in his extended family. I don’t think it helps your cause to use this any more than making a laughing stock of Billy helped Jimmy Carter. It is unfortunately something the right does and maybe it’s time to change.
@dl: “this guy shooting up a church is a perfect example of someone that would say Obama is making the decay of America go faster…right before he shoots up a children’s play in a church.”
Did he make reference to Obama or are you hijacking other people’s tragedy to make political points? Is that the kind of campaign Obama is running? Don’t make it so. It can become what the left does and maybe it’s the wrong thing to do.
I’ll give you this: the witches brew of causes Obama is using will do exactly what the right wing brew did in the case of McVeigh.
It pushes people close to the edge over it.
These people are not examples of any group except the mentally disturbed. They can just as easily adopt radical violent Islamism, black theology, white racism, and any other ideology that preaches violence as a means.
But they are all the same sickness and that sickness is amplified by the media awareness then used by the craven.
Don’t go there folks. Those people in that church were standing next to you in line at Starbucks or McDonalds last week. Weep for the dead. Don’t prepare MREs on their bodies.
Posted by: len | July 28, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
I believe if Mr. Obama gets elected there will be many terrorist’ turbans tossed high in the air and shouts of victory heard. I believe terrirost would use Obama for propaganda and a false sense of victory and will unite and empower the terrorist abroad. I believe terrorist are hopeful and watching as many American people become intoxicated with Obamas words. Maybe Obama would be a good President but not in this day and age, we truly need a Seasoned President that can confront this nations securities.
Posted by: patricia mo | July 28, 2008, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
–”After Obama’s parents divorced,”
Posted by: hype bites | July 28, 2008, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
What about Obama cousin Raila Odinga, who’s brought down the Kenyan government??
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 28, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
No to Obama, with or without his strange family and blood relatives.
Posted by: Mary | July 28, 2008, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
What uneducated responses to a life that he had no control over and really no connection to! LOL I just wish we could all look in your closets at YOUR lives! Bet it won;t be lilly white either.
Obama has his family just as Hillary had her brothers who sold pardons, Jimmy Carter had Billy with his Billy Beer and shady land deals, John McCain has his leaving a crippled wife and 3 kids and those 3 kids have NOT lead good lives..it seems like everyone has someone so when you get ready to throw those stones, think long and hard.
Posted by: Grissom | July 28, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Imagine inauguration at White House with his entire global family from Kenya and wherever else. Imagine them with Pastor Wright!
Posted by: stacy | July 28, 2008, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
Next can you do an expose on each of John Sidney McCain’s 11 homes?
Posted by: Seamus | July 28, 2008, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your relatives…
And so I ask, WHAT is the purpose of this story?
Posted by: sue | July 28, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
What is the point?
Posted by: musicisourhigh | July 28, 2008, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Meanwhie, back to the actual news, as opposed to really bizarre references t family trees that matter to no one: John McCain stated this Sunday, in public, on camera that we “had been greeted as liberators in Iraq.” He also apparently admitted that the brillinat Max Boot – who predicted that the war would be over in weeks – is one of his miltary advisors.
I have a novel idea: why don’t you report on the news?
Posted by: mara | July 28, 2008, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
Certainly not a father to be proud of. He sounds like Jessie Jackson with all the “Out of Wedlock” children. Maybe that’s was Jessie’s Nuts comment was about?
Posted by: Dennis | July 28, 2008, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
Thanks for doing a background article everyone else seems to be afraid to do. We’re interested in McCain’s history/upbringing and others, why NOT Obama, everyone I know is connected strongly with thier families who reading this wasn’t influenced and learned from thier families, reading of Obama’s one doesn’t surprise me and makes me see what he may/may not view as his connection to his immediate family.
Those questioning are so overthinking and blinded by thier twisted thoughts of political correctness. I must ask them what is wrong with learning of this stuff.
Heck I was just reading McCain’s daughter’s blog and thought a great and inviting look into their family.
Posted by: dan | July 28, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
What a beautiful sister he has. Young voter what are you talking about? Senator Obama is raising his children and is a great husband! He did not have a choice in the matter of his father and mother not working out. But you see you can become someone not only to your children but to the world. He doesn’t have to clean up his fathers mess just break the cycle , that is what he is saying to these young men!
Posted by: drunkdaddy2 | July 28, 2008, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
What’s the point of the story, you
say? To give us an idea of the throng
that will be part of the WH regulars
if Bambi succeeds…….along with
Wright and other desirables. Obama
can’t change the world unless his
family and friends are there to pitch
in and cover his back.
Posted by: oddfellow | July 28, 2008, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
Obama is never going to be President of the United States.
Posted by: U | July 28, 2008, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
Obama’s Brothers: Bernard, Abongo and Mark Ndesandjo
The band of brothers of the Obama clan are getting attention as famous brother Barack gains international fame. The UK Sun introduces Bernard Obama, a 37 year old Muslim car parts dealer from Nairobi, Kenya who was visiting his mum
Posted by: PAXALLES | July 29, 2008, 12:32 am 12:32 am
I’m voting Obama 08
Posted by: Abbie Baker | July 29, 2008, 2:00 am 2:00 am
So?
Dig deep enough and you’ll find stray branches on any family tree.
Thomas Jefferson and Sally hemmings?
Strom Thurmond and Essie Washington?
Plus, google prescott bush and see Shrub’s family ties to terrorism (not counting iraq) .
People in glass houses should not throw stones.
Posted by: MariaWr | July 29, 2008, 8:17 am 8:17 am
I clicked on all the links and guess what I found out – All his Sibblings are well educated and her doing prety well in their different endeavours.
Can we say that of you?
Posted by: Dare Nigeria | July 29, 2008, 9:23 am 9:23 am
I think that Obama is close to his sister Maya, but I don’t have the impression that he is close to all the rather extended family you mention here. I still find it odd that people keep digging and digging around to talk to and find out about relatives who have never spoken to or hardly know Obama or classmates that he hasn’t spoken to in years when the same isn’t done for John McCain. It’s true that I don’t think McCain seems all that interesting, but I don’t think you should assume that people know much about John McCain. I don’t know much, and I suspect I’m not the only person who can say that.
Posted by: mary | July 29, 2008, 10:51 am 10:51 am
wow, lots of siblings–and John (or Cindy) McCain owns a mansion for every one of them.
Posted by: JR | July 29, 2008, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
I am voting of Barack, was a republician and will never vote republician again as they are all liars.
Posted by: John Doe | July 29, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Is owning 11 houses a bad thing? Seems like something a person would aspire to.
Posted by: MtnBiker | August 21, 2008, 12:03 am 12:03 am
I will never vote for Obama. What are the American people thinking to even elevate this person to candidate status. He is so naive about politics. His response to the gas crisis is to tell people to inflate their tires to get better gas mileage. Now thats an energy plan!!NOT Blood is always thicker than water so where does this man’s loyalties lay when forced to make hard decisions. Heaven help us all if this man becomes the president.
Posted by: Angela | August 21, 2008, 6:55 am 6:55 am
My goodness, the Obama family father had trouble with morals. I don’t know about Barack’s morals but I do know about his ethics, about the same as his fathers questionable morals. This and he is not a good thing! Basically a socialist with the ultra-liberal democratic mentality which will lead to dictatorship/power. Already have that with the majority democrats in my County and State, and the love affair with criminals and illegal aliens is disturbing, for I, the white, self-sustaining, debt free, senior & American citizen has no voice any more.
Posted by: Dovey | August 22, 2008, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
See what happens when you forget to take out the trash?
Best wishes – I’d look for a couple hundred acres somewhere and plan on spending the next 10 years clear of this train wreck.
Are there really that many people that arent seeing the problem here?
Posted by: Run for the hills | August 22, 2008, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
Buyer’s remorse? More and more clearly Obama appears unelectable. What must the Clintons think? How inept to have let this upstart defeat them.
How brilliant do the democratic party chiefs look? Convention ought to be most fun to watch.
Posted by: MakeLifeGood | August 22, 2008, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
Question: If Barack Hussein Obama becomes President, how many of his siblings will require Secret Service protection, ask for asylum in the USA and/or go on USA welfare at tax payers expense?
Posted by: Tailhooker | August 22, 2008, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Obama, has the audacity to compare the United States to both Russia and China, and in both instances finds us in second place. This is the country that has given him a life and an opportunity he could have found in no other country on this planet, and he is not grateful for a single thing it has done for him. Well go run for president of China or Russia, why don’t you?”
Obama said Hillary Clinton would “be at the top of anybody’s short list,” but it was all just a lie to keep her supporters in line. Obama didn’t even bother to vet Mrs. Clinton! Don’t cry, ladies. Get mad. Vote for us!
“Obama didn’t even consider Hillary! This is the biggest sign of disrespect that anybody in the Democrat Party has ever shown the Clintons — and the Clintons are not the Clintons I know if they just sit there and take this. If I were Hillary, I’d declare myself the vice presidential nominee and watch the fur fly.”
Queen Bee Nancy Pelosi puts forth her pick for Obama’s VP, and it’s not Hillary. It’s Congressman Chet Edwards. But who is he?
“In the last two years, Obama gave less than 1% of his five to $6 million income to charity, and he’s trying to make hay out of a bunch of lies about John McCain’s homes. Well, we have a lot of Obama half siblings out there living in abject poverty! George Obama lives in a hut on less than $12 a year! I guess when Obama cited that passage about caring for ‘the least among us,’ it was just more empty words.”
Posted by: RepublicansRULE | August 22, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
If you never leave a paper trail, there is nothing to follow.
If you never make a decision, you can deny responsibilty.
If you speak in circles or philosophize, people will hear what they want to hear.
If you let others speak for you, you can always say, I didn’t say that.
If you never make a commitment, you don’t have to keep your word.
If you leave no footprints, no one can see where you’ve been.
If you never go into battle, you will never be tested.
Obama has never made a commitment, always lets others speak for him, and has never been tested.
With his silver tongue and charisma, he has charmed others into carrying him where he wants to go.
Obama wants the title of President, not the responsibility. I question whether he has the courage, inner strength, or the will to take a stand on the overwhelming challenges we face as a nation.
Posted by: REPUBLICAN RON | August 22, 2008, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
NoBama…..
Posted by: Sound Minded | August 23, 2008, 6:19 am 6:19 am
Would someone please identify Obama’s accomplishments which qualify him to be the next president of the greatest country in the free world?
Posted by: Lisa | August 23, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Why is this not good reading? He may be be our next president.
Obama himself wrote about his family in his own book. His comments reaveal what he thinks about the siblings.
I was wondering why Obama chose to name his book bringing focus to his father who had not given much to him except life. And if he values his life that he is living, that should give him pause to think about the issue of pro-life or pro-choice. If his mother exercised her right in pro-choice, Obama would not be here, pursuing his dream.
In the faith forum, Obama answered to the question of America’s greatest moral failure today. He said that it is our failure to take care of the least of our brothers, quoting Matthew in the Bible. We know how he will do it here in US. He will tax the rich and have government pay for the programs.
I would like to give him the benefit of a doubt that his helping hand is not confined to using goverment money only.
Just putting the two together.
Yes he should be commended for building a solid family.
Posted by: west coast | August 24, 2008, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
Sound Minded, my thoughts exactly. Obama is not motivated to help people as many public servants are. We’re supposed to believe that he is so gifted that the lack of effort in serving the public good should be waived in his case.
Posted by: Mary Ok | August 25, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Quote” “Would someone please identify Obama’s accomplishments which qualify him to be the next president of the greatest country in the free world?”
You know, though… I’m trying to figure out the answer to that same question about McCain. Or George Bush, for that matter. There are times when I wonder why the people who voted for GB shouldn’t be placed on voting probation for helping to get the country in such a mess.
Posted by: purplehawk | August 25, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Mccain was the pampered son of a admiral who like Bush recieved 0utside influence to get in a military academy,ranked toward the bottom of his class ,wrecked three airplanes ,couldnt fly an airplane captured for the same reason the fourth time,he,s a real loser that failed as a pilot who deserved to be captured.He,s no hero .Just a dumb SELF self righteous elitist rich boy who knows from experience how to rob a savings and loan (keating five.)does he know how to save the economy? An old whoremonger who married a very wonderful filthy rich woman.He is everything that is wrong with America, a George Bush clone.Barry Goldwater would change parties.Libertarian you know.
Posted by: Ben Bailey | August 26, 2008, 12:26 am 12:26 am
Regarding the statement in the article:
“I took comfort in the fact that perhaps one day, when he was older, George, too, might want to know who his father had been, and who his brothers and sisters were, and that if he ever came to me I would be there for him, to tell him the story I knew,” Obama wrote.
======================================
Can anybody tell me how George is going
to “come” to Senator Obama? George
lives on LESS than $1/Month and lives
in a 6′ X 9′ SHACK in some Shanty town in AFRICA. He makes the bums living on US streets look RICH, moneywise. You can read more about Obama’s brother, George, here:
Barack Obama’s ‘lost’ brother found in Kenya
How utterly SHAMEFUL to ignore family like this especially since Obama is so RICH!! His brother is trying to go to school to better himself. How he could possibly do it seems impossible to me since he is so DIRT POOR! Senator Obama could change his brother’s life and not miss any of the small amount of money it would take to get him through school and help him to find a job. Oh, I forgot, Obama expects his brother to “Come” to him. Can’t help him unless he does that! That’s a convenient Cop-Out…
Remember folks, Obama “Cares” about you!!! I’m sure he will give you as much thought and “CARE” as he has his very own BROTHER!!
Food for thought folks!! What a HYPOCRITE…
Oh, by the way, I’m not voting for McCain or Obama. Ron Paul is the only SANE choice for me! At least he is consistent and makes his choices according to the CONSTITUTION, NOT the POLLS!! LOL!
Posted by: Eugene | August 26, 2008, 2:06 am 2:06 am
You know reading through all these threads makes me wonder whether people actually think before they write. I enjoyed the discourse, both in favour of Obama and McCain, as long as it was TRUE, KIND and NECESSARY. For all the people that just talk out of their hats, with all the hate-speech, makes me wonder if they have gone past 3rd grade!
And my the way, can anybody stand up to be counted that came from a nice two-parent home, direct siblings only, no other siblings anywhere else…and oh, forgot, that has reached out to all their cousins and relatives and tried to make them equal with them on the socio-economic plane???? If you are one of these people, then let’s talk…!!!
And just for the record, Raila Odinga did not bring the Kenyan Government down, do yourself a favour and educate yourself. Secondly, Kenyans are not clamouring for the occasion to make the voyage to the US to become green-card holders or whatever. And anyway, can anybody on this post say how they came to America anyhow?????
Lastly, I don’t care how many mansions McCain has, it’s just important to know where your wealth is tied up. Alright already!
Posted by: Nix | August 26, 2008, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Obama is fond of quoting “If you have done it unto the least of my brethren, you’ve done it unto me.” What an absolute hypocrite he is. I live in South Africa and the media here in the tank for Obama so are the ignorant masses. There is a hope here in Africa that if Obama is elected he will help his African brothers. He won’t even help his own brothers, like George, let alone the rest. He is no messiah. He is more like a pariah!
Posted by: Mark | August 30, 2008, 8:43 am 8:43 am
I am no Obama fan. However, this discussion of Obama’s family is totally irrelevant, tabloid journalism. Wait, I take that back – the entire American mainstream media is now tabloid journalism, at least on its better days. With this assumption, I now understand why ABC considers this “news” during a presidential campaign. So, YOU GO, MEDIA!!!
Posted by: Stephen Henning | September 8, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Living in just 1 dollar a month? Your own brother? How much is a senator yearly salary?…
Can’t vote for you Mr. Obama.Show me proof that you did try to help this poor brother of yours… then I might study the issues more…otherwise the choice now is MCCAIN/PAlIN
Posted by: rbdodson | September 12, 2008, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
The story is a story of a story. Lifetime movies and daytime soaps have less drama. That being said – everyone has a story and their story tells more about their character, their struggles and who they are than the words they use – and in many ways, Obama’s background is the precise reason that he is a Presidential Candidate. He’s a poster child for being as screwed up as possible in your formative years and still being able to rise to the top – that’s pretty much the gist of his book isn’t it? (and the general gist of his campaign.) But think about this, would you encourage that kind of upbringing just so the child would have extra struggles to overcome? Goodness knows, life is hard enough with just the regular toil of responsibility. We are to look at everything he has accomplished and be almost in awe that he has accomplished it. Why are we in awe? This is America where millions have traveled to our shores in order to find better lives here. We’ve been fed the line that America is an evil and hateful place where if you look/talk/act a certain way, you’ll never accomplish anything. The truth is that the United States of America has always been and will always be a place where opportunity abounds. That doesn’t mean that you won’t struggle. Are you kidding? We live in a world where ido Overcoming obstacles and rising above them – so that you now have to power to put obstacles in other people’s way so that you can rise higher.
Obama’s Audacity is not that he hoped in believed that he could be something – his audacity is that he has believed that the wrong things brought him to that point – the fight against the establishment – God fearing, hardworking, Americans, those evil greedy people that could actually give him a job and real world work experience, and those who saw the best in him because of him – not because of his color or background. Unfortunately, I honestly don’t see any thing in his deeds that proves to me that he has risen to this status on his own merit. It’s called American opportunity for excellence. His rise to power is not on the bandwagon of American excellence, but on the guilt bandwagon and I dare say it, preferential treatment from well intended individuals trying to define fairness. It’s about making others pay for what you could not accomplish and this notion of fairness. Frankly, anyone that has had a sibling, cousin, classmate etc. should’ve learned in Kindegarten that nothing is guaranteed to be fair – as in fairness of outcome. The best we can do is to do the best WE can do given our own obstacles and struggles.
Posted by: hickfarmgirl | October 24, 2008, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Is Obama a US citizen? Has he broken the law by becoming a US Senator? Can he run for President of USA? Why don’t the “driveby’s” check into this?
Check our Rush Limbaugh …
Posted by: Mark | October 25, 2008, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Is Obama a natural citizen of the US? No one knows as he will produce the proof. I don’t understand why no media outlet is investigating this as it is a serious issue. Where is the so called watch dog media? Is it in the tank for Obama? Come on guys…..
Posted by: Rob | October 28, 2008, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Well, Obama is President – -Live with it, drop the bigotry and help our new President make this country what we all want it to be. Undivided! The civil war is over…
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | November 6, 2008, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
So many negative comments for no good reason. You people are sick! Get with it he is the president and should be given the same fair chance just as the last one who you still stand behind and he practically sunk the economy of the US which Obama now has to revive!
Posted by: Roxanne | November 10, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
For all of you self-righteoushypocrites
who are quick to judge a man,s characyer
I will say to, He who without fault, let
him cast the first stone.Eat your hearts out bigots.
Posted by: frederick Lee sr. | November 10, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
The cream of the crop always rises to the top.
Posted by: Obama Supporter | November 10, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Born in Hawaii, on American soil, of mixed parentage. He is American, he is of African descent. He will be President on Jan. 20, 2009. All you bigots deal with it. I am a white Southerner and Gay and proud of both and am glad and proud to have voted for Barrack Obama. Enough of the Good Ole White Boy network running our nation into the ground.
Posted by: writesright | November 20, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Who cares if Obama had a black father and white mother,he’s not the only one.Give him a chance to be President—he just might surprise you.
Posted by: johnny | November 30, 2008, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
Isn’t America Wonderful! All the stuff in that tell all article above about Obama makes me proud to be an American.
The strange thing is that if one had only taken the time to read his bio, it was all laid out for everyone to see. Open a book….READ, it’s become a lost art under the Republican Administration.
Posted by: Khrish | December 15, 2008, 5:52 am 5:52 am
4 years and counting…
Posted by: Deena | January 25, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
i love america its wild and fun and you can go on loads of shopping sprees!!!!!!now barck obama is president gives more rights to black americans, nowing about the past.
Posted by: hjaisl | January 27, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
america is a different place now brack obarmas president!!!! i now interact with more people other than white. and now i have loads more friends, i wish i could shake hands with him maybe even friends!!!!!!!!!! or with michelle his wife, or kids!!! soz got to go on a shopping spree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ehfmbjfh | January 27, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
i advise you all to go to america because its fun wild and they have the first black preident!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i wish we had him as our president
Posted by: ksjdrfngkwefhkejhgi | January 27, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
i dont understand how anyone could have voted for obama. he promised change but he never said what kind of change. all of u are blaming bush for the economy…well it might have gotten worse over his term but he inherited from what clinton started and if any of you actually knew what you were talking about you would know that. barack is promising change but its not the kind you’re thinking of. the man besides being liberal is taking away what this country was based on and completely throwing away its values. and on top of that all you who voted 4 him bc he’s black…well he’s not you ignorant people. he’s 50% white, 43.75% arab, and only 6.25% black. i’ve got blonde hair blue eyes and have cherokee in my blood line…if i become president are you going to call me the first cherokee president of the u.s.??? any christian who voted for this man obviously didn’t know about his beliefs. he believes in abortion and homosexuality! this is only a little bit on obama…i could seriously write a book on this man and the ridiculous things he’s trying to do to this country.
Posted by: john | January 28, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
JOHN, PLEASE WRITE A BOOK ABOUT OUR NEW PRESIDENT… enlighten us!!
P.S. To make a capital letter you use shift key or caps lock.
Posted by: Flavio | February 1, 2009, 12:19 am 12:19 am
hathis is an amazing story .. id never knew that … barack obama
Posted by: john madaris | February 5, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am
i dnt get what this has to do with anything. like why are ya’ll worried about how many half siblings he has.it’s really none of your business how many he has.He’s still the greatest african american man i know.
Posted by: Ariana Brickus | February 18, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
obama has truly inspired me when he was elected president then i knew that if i put my mind to it. i can be anything i want to in life if i believe. thanks Mr. president
Posted by: Garren | February 20, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
its all bushs fault
Posted by: rawg | February 1, 2010, 2:49 am 2:49 am
No one has ever produced a viable or legal document of Obama’s birth. Why is it such of a secrete. And since he is more white, why does he only chose black. Last but not least. Why is he protecting the illegal aliens more then the white Americans. Al
Posted by: Al Duhan New Milford, Ct. 06776 | June 21, 2010, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
I am very sad that we have a president that has done much more damage to America then good. The only good was to protect the illegal aliens and insure them by stealing funds from the most needed Medicare, that is near bankrupt. Now he is attempting to stop travel for most seniors by increasing the gas and fuel prices above their income. I believe that this is just to get the illegal and still employ ACORN to steel the votes from the dead again.
Posted by: Al Duhan New Milford, Ct. 06776 | June 21, 2010, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm