Obama's beloved aunt is here illegally
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): Obama's beloved aunt is here illegally
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama's aunt, a Kenyan woman who has been quietly living in public housing in Boston, is in the United States illegally after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum four years ago, The Associated Press has learned.
Zeituni Onyango, 56, referred to as "Aunti Zeituni" in Obama's memoir, was instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge who denied her asylum request, a person familiar with the matter told the AP late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to discuss Onyango's case.
Information about the deportation case was disclosed and confirmed by two separate sources, one of them a federal law enforcment official. The information they made available is known to officials in the federal government, but the AP could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved in its release.
Onyango's refusal to leave the country would represent an administrative, non-criminal violation of U.S. immigration law, meaning such cases are handled outside the criminal court system. Estimates vary, but many experts believe there are more than 10 million such immigrants in the United States.
The AP could not reach Onyango immediately for comment. No one answered the telephone number listed in her name late Friday. It was unclear why her request for asylum was rejected in 2004.
Onyango is not a relative whom Obama has discussed in campaign appearances and, unlike Obama's father and grandmother, is not someone who has been part of the public discussion about his personal life.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Kelly Nantel, said the government does not comment on an individual's citizenship status or immigration case.
Onyango's case — coming to light just days before the presidential election — led to an unusual nationwide directive within Immigrations and Customs Enforcement requiring any deportations prior to Tuesday's election to be approved at least at the level of ICE regional directors, the U.S. law enforcement official told the AP.
The unusual directive suggests that the Bush administration is sensitive to the political implications of Onyango's case coming to light so close to the election.
One of the sources acknowledged he was not a supporter of Obama or John McCain and said he has no plans to vote on Tuesday. He said that was not a motive for releasing the information.
Kenya is in eastern Africa between Somalia and Tanzania. The country has been fractured in violence in recent years, including a period of two months of bloodshed after December 2007 that killed 1,500 people.
The disclosure about Onyango came just one day after Obama's presidential campaign confirmed to the Times of London that Onyango, who has lived quietly in public housing in South Boston for five years, was Obama's half aunt on his father's side.
It was not immediately clear how Onyango might have qualified for public housing with a standing deportation order.
And this is Obama's fault?? How?? The article I read is that she is his father's half-sister.
Obviously you have cut and pasted a whole article, Collette. When you do that, please provide the source - there are copyright rules to consider.
Sorry, it's all over the associated press sites and the local news in Boston. Pick one.
boston.com
foxnews.com
thebostonglobe.com
cnn.com
thebostonchannel.com
let me know if you need more sites.
I agree, it is all over the net. I read it in the NY Times. What I meant, speaking as a moderator, is that it would be helpful if you would provide the specific source of the article you cut and pasted. There are copyright issues when a whole article is pasted, because that doesn't fit the "fair use" rules. Posting a link does, but not pasting the whole article. Personally, I'm very aware that many internet sites have lawyers spending a lot if time protesting copyright violations and demanding that posts be taken down because they violate a copyright.
Yes, I know people do this at Momsview - post whole articles, recipes, etc., but I really wish they wouldn't, and that they'd at least provide attribution when they do it.
I don't see that this is Obama's fault. But it is interesting that he has a family member who is breaking the law and it seems to be hidden. I guess we all would hide that. I think the more interesting bit, is why was she turned down, makes me think something is going on there. On the other side, boston isn't so close to chicago, so he may have no contact with her and have no idea.
I just have to wonder why if he is so concerned with spreading everyones wealth that he is allowing his "Aunti Zeituni" to be living in public housing?? If spreading wealth is such a great idea, makes you wonder why he doesn't spread some of his to his own family??? Seems to me I have heard of a little known brother that is very bad off too......
There is so much about this man that seems to be hidden (and of off limits to talk about) and the press is doing a terrible job of doing anything about it. They go to the ends of the earth to dig up stuff on Joe the plumber here in Ohio, but not to dig anything up and get answers to Obama and his past.
Sorry, but I think there is very little, if anything, unknown about Obama and his past. Reporters have interviewed his half-brothers in Kenya, his uncles, and, yes, his aunts - she was not an unknown person before today. They've interviewed fellow students at his college and law school, people who worked with him on all levels in college, explored his mortgage, college tuition, his earlier campaigns and voting records. I suspect some reporter even knows what kind of underwear he wears and what size.
The Hillary campaign went everywhere possible to learn every detail about Obama, and the McCain campaign has done the same. What is it you don't know?
I know the McCain campaign is putting out ads depicting Obama as some unknown, along with a whole host of other ads. I got one in the mail today, sent to me because my name sounds Jewish, warning me that Obama "is no friend of Israel" - that despite all of Obama's public pronouncements of his support of Israel and his intention to defend Israel, and despite the large number of endorsements Obama has received from Jews of all types and from all groups. That goes along with the e-mail sent out in Pennsylvania by the PA Republican Committee to 75,000 Jews, warning of a "new holocaust" in Israel if Obama is elected. Sandra Newman, a former PA Supreme Court Justice, was one of the signers of that e-mail. She has since denounced it, saying she didn't see the final version before it was sent, and the RNC employee who wrote and sent it has been fired.
As for that "little known" half-brother in Kenya, reporters interviewed him after an email went around that he was living on $1 a day. He denied that, and said he was doing reasonably well, thank you.
Do remember that this aunt (his father's half-sister), the half-brother in Kenya, and all of the other Kenyan relatives are his father's relatives - the father that left his mother and Obama when Obama was 2 years old; the father Obama saw once after that, when Obama was 10 years old. Just how much connection could he have with his father's relatives?
I am glad that you are confident in him and that the media has done a good job of everything.
I will just say that I don't and leave it at that.
It just isn't worth it!!
Well, it became known to me that Obama has known about this Aunt, and even requested that she come out to pose with him when he was sworn in 4 years ago. Since then, he has not had anything to do with her. She has contributed to his campaign, roughly about $200, which he took and used, by the way. She is also not allowed to talk to anyone about anything regarding Obama until after Nov. 4th.
Hmmm? Just makes me wonder....
My source: Radio talk show host Tammy Bruce.
Whether Obama requested that his aunt pose with him is something I don't know. It is true that she attended his swearing in ceremony. She has contributed some money to his campaign, most recently $5, and according to the Obama campaign those contributions are being returned. Personally, I find it very interesting that some anonymous source who is not allowed to talk about immigration hearings because they are confidential suddenly, two days before the election, releases this confidential information.
By the way, if you want to know about either candidate, go to FactCheck or Politifact. Both sites research and deconstruct ads, statements and emails about candidates, beginning many months ago. They seem fairly even-handed, calling out any candidate who puts out a false ad or makes a false or partly false statement.
Factcheck
Politifact
Either site will give you more information than you may ever want. I have referred to both of them almost daily during this interminable campaign.
Thanks for that link, Ginny. I hope to spend some time there before I go to elections. I haven't early voted due to my "undecided" standing right now. I actually don't care for either, so I am looking at choosing the one that is "the lessor of two evils" Not that I think either one is "evil". I just don't like either.
I like the years where I KNOW who I want in office. This year is hard.
Maybe he doesn't approve what she is doing, and therefore, doesn't want anything to do with her. I know I have plenty of family like that.
And spreading the wealth doesn't mean keeping up all of your family that you don't even know.
I could have millions of dollars and there are deadbeat members of my family that I wouldn't keep up. Heck, they are making it better than I do because they know how to work the system and I refuse to take advantage of it. Many in public housing are living better than my family is. They get their housing mostly paid for, their groceries paid for, medicaid, discounted heating, etc. She isn't neccessarily struggling.
Also, there are many members of my family that I know of but don't know.
Ditto Adena! I don't think it really has anything to do with Obama, regardless of who I support for presidency. I could have all the $ in the world and there are people in my family that I would do my best to not associate with, for multiple reasons. If he was trying to 'hide' her, wouldn't he have gotten her out of here? Pulled some kind of strings to get her legal? I do think it's awfully interesting that this is coming out 2 days before the election. Sounds like a last ditch effort to me, by SOMEONE....not sure who.
Check out www.glassbooth.com also....I've used it for lots of research as well. I have really used that site during this election.
I too believe the story was held, but I don't believe it was by the McCain camp at all.
Seems to me that with all the early voting etc., if the McCain camp had this story, they would have wanted more time for it to run, talk about it etc.
Seems more likely, to me anyway, that it was held to control any damage that might come from it.
Seems like McCain usually never has anything nice to say...he has made up enough junk about Obama, no? Almost all of his ads are negative. We can't have McCain in office...he respects all the wrong people.
To add, Obama rarely brought up all the convicted con-men McCain has partied with on their yachts, etc. McCain is more interested in having a new "highest" rank, which saddens me. He's always trying to hob-nob with the Catholics to get their votes. It's pathetic! This is the first year I've voted for a Democratic president.
Ditto Heidi!
*except for the "This is the first year I've voted for a Democratic president." 
Ditto Breann to ditto Heidi!!
Ditto Adena! As someone who was raised by a single mom much like Obama's circumstances, this kind of crap offends me. My (absent) father isn't the most wonderful citizen in the country, and I don't even know most of his family, let alone talk to them. Should I be held accountable for his sins, or those of his 3 half-brothers whose names I can't remember? Likewise, are they responsible for me and my life? I'd venture to say half of the people on this board have someone in their family tree they wish would fall out in a good breeze. There has been so much junk made up to scare the American people away from Obama, it's no wonder McCain lost. I don't get the whole "hidden dark side" people keep talking about. If they haven't come up with anything ***REAL*** in 2 years, where does he have all the bodies hidden? The best his opponents could come up with were loose associations to Ayers, blatantly false "facts" like him being a Muslim, and other such crap. If you don't like his ideas, fine... just stop acting like he's Satan incarnate.
THANK YOU CRYSTAL!!!! I so agree with what you just posted.
Right, but your dad isn't out preaching that we need to take care of our brother and sisters, when he's not practicing what he preaches in his own family. He'd rather the Mass taxpayers take care of her.
and launching your political career from the living room of two people involved in cop killings is not a loose association. He shouldn't have had any association with them, I don't care how old he was when they did it. I am horrified that people think that's not a big deal. This group shot to death a 42 yr old Boston cop, a father of NINE, with a sub-machine gun in the back.
Colette, if I support Obama's tax plan, and I had the income to fall into that tax bracket, I still couldn't and wouldn't personally support all of my father's family, or even him. Why should Obama financially support a distant aunt? He isn't saying any Americans should have to flat out support another family, he is saying people of a certain income should contribute more tax dollars that will fund the programs to support those in need. It's a ridiculous comparison.
As for "launching his political career" in living room of two people involved in cop killings, that is a big stretch. First of all, Ayers was not implicated in the bombing that killed the policemen. He admittedly was a radical in his youth, and set off bombs with the intent to cause destruction to buildings. He was not implicated in any deaths whatsoever. As for launching Obama's career in his living room, not really. Ayers served on a charity board with him, and apparently hosted a tea or something when Obama first ran for state senate, to introduce Obama to some people. That's not quite the same as launching his career in the man's living room.
Obama really does have a very loose association with this man, they don't speak on even a semi-regular basis, and Obama has denounced the actions of the Weather Underground, actions that occurred when he was a small child.
My sources for this information were Factcheck.org
Obama/Ayers
And Fox News (which is a very right wing media outlet, and still admitted there were errors in the Ayers association)
Obama/Ayers
It really bugs me how many people have taken all of these accusations (not just this, but EVERYTHING) as gospel. The one I have gotten the most from my friends and family, right up until election day, is that he was a Muslim. When something like that that is so easy to disprove can still survive as a "fact", it's scary to think what other "facts" people will buy into. (And Colin Powell was right when he asked who cares if he is a Muslim, is there something wrong with that?!)
Like I said, I am horrified that anyone thinks the associations with Bill Ayers and his wife, is no big deal. That is truly scary..
would you seriously have anything at all to do with someone involved in a group like that EVER? Regardless of how long ago?
The man is a professor of education, and a law abiding citizen now. He did scary things during his youth at a scary and crazy time for our country. I really don't see why that means Obama is guilty by association, considering his age at the time of the bombings, and his publicly saying he is appalled by the actions of the Weather Underground. We will have to agree to disagree, because I honestly don't see it as a big deal, and don't think that means I condone terrorist acts either.
I don't get the whole "hidden dark side" people keep talking about. If they haven't come up with anything ***REAL*** in 2 years, where does he have all the bodies hidden? The best his opponents could come up with were loose associations to Ayers, blatantly false "facts" like him being a Muslim, and other such crap. If you don't like his ideas, fine... just stop acting like he's Satan incarnate.
Thank you, Crystal, from me, too. I was just trying to find the anti-semitic connection too, and only found links to blogs with people's opinions. I didn't find any links to actual newstories. He went to the same church as Louis Farrakan. It doesn't mean he IS Louis Farrakhan. I really don't get the hidden agenda thing, either.
Bill Ayers is now a college professor, was protesting the Vietnam war in the 60's. He hasn't done any protesting activity in 40-some years.
Ayers and Dohrn have raised two sons of their own and adopted a third boy whose parents were Weather Underground members who went to prison. They've built stellar reputations as professors: Dohrn at Northwestern's law school, Ayers as an education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Read more...
I don't know, but a college professor doesn't sound too scary to me.
I don't know, I have always been taught and have taught my daughter that you are judged by the company you choose to keep.
You can't have relationships with people like he has (no matter how tight or loose) and run for president and not expect to have them questioned. And to argue that he was only so old when it happened.... please.... I wasn't even alive when slavery was going on. But you can bet I know about it and wouldn't want to be tied with anyone that was directly deeply involved in it.
His excuses/reasons have been evasive at best.
I can't believe that anyone honestly believes he was a member at Wrights church for over 20 years, got married there, had his kids baptised there, called him a spiritial advisor BUT never once in those 20 years attended a service in which Wright spoke like I have seen tapes of him preaching! Or had any idea he held those beliefs. Call me crazy, but I don't believe it. And in my eyes, if he isn't willing to be open and honest about that, I can't believe him on much of his other associations either.
I find a few things about all his strange associations intriguing. How and why did he even get wrapped up with these people to begin with? Did he seek them out or did they seek him out and why. What about them made him seek the out them and/or what about him did they seek out? Why was he invited to dinners etc? What did they see in him and/or vise versa?
In my eyes, this is the hidden dark side. I haven't heard answers to these questions that I can have faith in or believe. I don't think these stories have been fully investigated from all angles. I don't know of too many people that have this many radical people that they can be tied to. Why is that?
It isn't just the Wright thing or just the Ayers thing....or any just one thing of the list of others ... it is all of it combined that give some people reason to have questions.
I think the media did a terrible job this election cycle and there have been MANY studies to prove their bias. You can google it and find it yourself if you don't believe me. So if you believe the media did a good enough job researching these stories and you believe his expliantions for all of it than I guess I can see how you are past it. I don't. They maybe asked once, he gave some answer and that was the end of it and how dare anyone bring it up again. The "off limits" feeling of it all is what makes it feel so "dark" to me. People that have nothing to hide, hide nothing as Dr Phil likes to say. LOL
This wasn't even the main reason he didn't get my vote. Just one of many. Do I think he is some hidden terrorist? No, I won't go that far. Does it make me question his judgement, you bet!
ditto Vicki.
Crystal, this is simply not true:
He isn't saying any Americans should have to flat out support another family, he is saying people of a certain income should contribute more tax dollars that will fund the programs to support those in need.
He wants to mail a CHECK to people that make under a certain income. He wants to take money from people of a higher tax bracket and actually mail cold hard cash to others. I don't even know if any remaining money will be put into government programs or used to offset the tax breaks he gives to others. So the higher taxes imposed on some will be going directly to supporting other peoples families. Some in the form of cold hard cash and some in the form of tax breaks. There is no disputing those facts.
Vicki, I guess I don't see how this is different than our current medicaid system? Those who pay taxes simply fund those who get medicaid. Medicaid isn't just for those who are poor, but also for those with certain special needs. So one of my friends, her hubby makes about 150k, they get a check to pay for their medical deductible for the family (only one has special needs), they get free diapers, free formula, babysitting for up to 30 hours a week during the school year, 40 during the summer. Their daughter gets massage therapy, water therapy and then school services.
So I guess my opinion is we are already doing this, so maybe the taking from the rich might be spread differently to programs.
Also I guess I feel like what he might want to do and what actually happens won't match.
There is a big difference between a small amount of taxes going to help the poor, and actually financially supporting another person/family. The wealthy are not going to be charged tens of thousands of dollars to flat out support another family. For anyone to suggest he should financially support this relative is asinine, IMO. We don't know their relationship, or the details of her situation.
Honestly, there isn't much point in discussing it further. Some of us believe Obama is a good (but not perfect!) politician with great ideas, others believe he is a socialist, hypocritical, terror-supporting mad man, and neither group will be convinced otherwise. It's been an interesting debate, for sure. Now, only time will tell...
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