Posted on 08/21/2008 5:45:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
WASHINGTON -- It has been a mixed week for Sen. Barack H. Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate. On the one hand, a Reuters/Zogby poll announced that the junior senator from Illinois' 7-point lead over Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, has dissolved into a 5-point deficit. McCain now leads him 46 to 41 percent. On the other hand, the media have discovered Sen. Obama's long-lost half brother George Hussein Onyango (also spelled Owango) Obama living quietly in Kenya. Among the rustics who constitute the Democratic base, this discovery can only help Sen. Obama.
According to the Reuters/Zogby poll, the Democratic front-runner has slipped with almost every category of Democratic voter: Catholics, evangelicals, vegetarians, nudists, flagpole sitters -- you name it. Yet the slippage has been greatest among the senator's core supporters, the liberals. Among them he has dropped 12 percent. Part of the reason for this drop, Zogby speculates, is owing to the candidate's efforts to sidle toward the political mainstream. Zogby mentions Sen. Obama's switch from opposing all offshore oil drilling to accepting limited drilling.
Brother George will assuage the concerns of many of these liberals. According to the Italian edition of Vanity Fair, George lives in a hut in bucolic Huruma, Kenya, a few miles outside Nairobi. His residence is the epitome of "green," using no electricity, cooled solely by gentle breezes, and with no plumbing to pollute nearby waters, if there are nearby waters. George leaves almost no carbon footprint. He does not drive an automobile. In fact, he lives a very Spartan existence, spending only "a dollar a month," as he apprised VF in an exclusive interview; though other sources report an expenditure of a dollar a day. At any rate, his consumption of the world's resources is minimal.
Actually, it is not completely accurate to say George is Sen. Obama's "long-lost" sibling, for Barack met his brother when George was 5 years old, two decades ago. In "Dreams from My Father," Sen. Obama's autobiography, he recalls George as a "beautiful boy with a rounded head." As a writer, the senator has an eye for detail. George tells VF that the two met again in 2006, when Sen. Obama was touring East Africa and visited Nairobi. Apparently, the meeting did not go well. As George recalls it: "We spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger." George is only 26, which could help his brother shore up the youth vote back in the United States, a vote that is often unreliable.
Frankly, I find it curious that Sen. Obama has not brought George onto the campaign trail with him. Perhaps he has been saving George for the Democratic National Convention. The convention will abound with so many of the enthusiasts who, in the recent primary season, plucked Illinois' junior senator from relative obscurity and elevated him above the likes of Sen. Hillary Clinton and the widely admired former Sen. John Edwards in the presidential sweepstakes. I have in mind the environmentalists, the enemies of the giant corporations, the Angry Left, the Even Angrier Left -- most of whom never have dirtied their hands in politics or, for that matter, any civic involvement whatsoever.
In his VF interview, it is apparent that George is well-spoken and has experienced the ups and downs of life that are so enrapturing to Democratic convention goers -- particularly the downs. Moreover, it would be prudent to get George out of Kenya, where his presence could be a Secret Service nightmare. For that matter, Sen. Obama has seven other half brothers living in far-flung habitats. The Secret Service will have its hands full keeping an eye on them.
If brother George does make an appearance at the Democratic National Convention, he surely will outshine Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's brothers, who were so deeply implicated in the brokering of President Bill Clinton's last-minute pardons and in other questionable financial deals in the 1990s. Sen. Obama's boast of being aloof from the "same old Washington politics" can be reinforced only by his brother's presence at the convention. George Hussein Onyango (also spelled Owango) Obama is the farthest thing from being one of those "Washington insiders" his brother inveighs against. Finally, given our country's low estate within the world community, who would make a more agreeable United States ambassador to the United Nations than this exemplary Citizen of the World, George H.O. Obama?
Sen. Obama's decline in the polls may be over.
Kas,
Austin Hill said last night that he posted a column on Townhall.com this past Sunday, 8/17. Have you seen it or posted it? I cannot find it.
Thanks.
Should we take up a collection for the “least of Obama’s brothers?”
I love Barak’s “I-have-a-brother?” family values platform. Obviously he has been very close to his siblings.
“As a writer, the senator has an eye for detail.”
wretch wretch wretch
It is interesting that the reporters found everything there is to know about the brother except his religion.
Terrific article!
My tag month-old tag line is prescient.
LOLOL!!
Democratic "nudists" are for McCain? Or holding out for Hillary, Edwards, or Nader?
He best stay away from buses..
I think this Obama’s lost 1/2 brother situation is shameful. Honestly, Obama should have something, anything to help his brother so he doesn’t have to live in a shack. Possibly give him the means to learn a trade. Maybe some of you don’t agree with me, but I am a true believer in taking care of our situations at ‘home’ before traveling out to do bigger tasks. (Home in this case would mean his 1/2 brother). For a Democrat who believes in social welfare, he needs to look at his own family first.
LOL!
Did he ever help that school out in Kenya that he promised help to? Or is he waiting to get control of the taxpayers wallet?
Obama thinks it’s best that the US taxpayer pick up the tab for George.
That’s funny,
but, just to make it clear, I definitely did not mean ‘we’ should. I just think it’s a family’s obligation to look after each other. And since Obama has the means - and brags about his family in Africa, then maybe he should stop ‘using’ them and assist the one who is living in complete poverty.
Somebody should start a HelpGeorgeObama.com
"Be the brother that Barack isn't" would be a good marketing line for the charity.
A very good and accurate marketing pitch! ;-)
Watch for Oprah to scoop up Obama’s brother and coincidentally spend an hour or two with him on national TV.
....and this is what makes you a conservative and him a liberal.
details...details.
At first I was baffled by the fact that Obama has a brother who lives a spartan, “green” life on only $1 a month. Why not bring him here to the land of oppurtunity where he could be comfortable and successful?
But it dawned on me. George’s life is what the Democrats want for us peons in the United States.
“Did he ever help that school out in Kenya that he promised help to? Or is he waiting to get control of the taxpayers wallet?”
We all know the answer to that...don’t we? ;-/
Didn’t Senator Obama recently tell us to look not only at his WORDS...but also his DEEDS? If everyone really did as he asked they’d all vote McCain (and I not just referring to his lack of concern for his brother).
Well, it appears that Obama's track record on helping out schools is not so fine. That must be why it is being kept locked up and out of the public's eye. Seems like Obama has given George the best help he can by staying away.
Why do you think he’s pushing that WORLD POVERTY CRAP, give the UN $845bil. to take care of this. UH HUH UH HUH!!!!!!!!!!
Drat, already taken!
Obama has a LOT of siblings all over the world....his father liked to spread his sperm, and his mother....well...
Is that an ACTUAL quote?
LOL... not from BO... but I've seen other FReepers use it.;)
I guess this brother of his is supposed to make us want to vote for obama out of pity?!?!?!?!
Who would expect empathy for a half-brother from one who is so lacking empathy for, indeed, the least of us - the unborn and even those just born.
Barry knew the brother was there. This member of the family was inconvenient to display because that would not fit in with Obama’s self-created legends.
If anyone - anyone - would give the power of life or death over them to Obama, they are grossly ignorant or manifestly lacking the DNA that enabled their ancestors to survive and make their life possible.
I agree with you. I couldn’t imagine leaving a sibling of mine in a hell hole if I could do something about it. Even if I barley knew them.
A trifling amount of money for Obama could make a huge difference to his poor brother.
Obama would rather spend taxpayer dollars.
Shows what kind of man he is.
32 posts in response and so far nobody has thanked Mr. Tyrell for his sarcastic humor.
OK, I’ll say it. Tyrell is funny! This is a very funny piece, and it is written in Mr. Tyrell’s inimitable style.
Thank you Mr. Tyrell.
And of course it is Tyrrell, not Tyrell.
George, George, George of the Jungle
Kin to you know who.
“Habitats.” Lol!
People should make note of the fact of Obama’s involvement
in the Chicago political machine and Mayor Daly’s crowd.
My reaction too. Several years ago I participated in a political focus group made up of people across the entire political spectrum. The group was asked our opinions on numerous issues, including the problem of homelessness. It was quite interesting and ironic to me that the most liberal person in the group had a sister in town who was homeless. The Lib was clearly unwilling to help her own sister, while believing that the government should be doing more to help her! If Obama would be willing to give his brother just $1 a month, he would be increasing his brother's economic status by $100. But Obama's solutions to poverty apparently don't include actually spending money out of his own pocket.
Re: Obama would be willing to give his brother just $1 a month, he would be increasing his brother’s economic status by $100.
Sorry. I meant 100% not $!
......George leaves almost no carbon footprint......
I’m going to start thinking about owango every day. This thought will be transformed into a carbon credit. By thinking of Owango and of driving, I can cancelout the driving and assuage my carbon guilt.
The sky is not falling, owango is holding it up. +12 is not only possible, but practical. It helps an African
He Haw! Hey Junior $inator, Obama, the Oreo. How are you doing down there with the Poll number Changes? Change can be a B$tch!
As long as Hillary promises not to strip, I don’t mind having a few nudists vote for Juan.
LOL...!
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