for the record:
the original article on the Seattle Museum of the Mysteries website is now FORBIDDEN:
http://www.seattlechatclub.org/museum.html
But thanks to Beckwith, there’s a link to a reprint here:
http://www.theobamafile.com/_exhibits/BabysittingObama.mht
Excerpt:
Mary Toutonghi, who now lives in Soldatna, Alaska, recalls Barack as “a really alert baby, very happy and a good size.” She does not remember him ever crying (although she adds she is sure he likely did but does not remember any undue fussing). She recalls as best she can the dates she babysat Barack as her daughter was 18 months old and was born in July of 1959 and that would have placed the months of babysitting Barack in January and February of 1962.
During our first interview, Mary referred to Stanley Ann Dunham as “Anna,” not knowing that it was the same name as what was listed in the Seattle City Directory. This verified for us that indeed Mary had known Ann Dunham. Anna was obviously confident enough with Mary to have her babysit her son Barack and confide in her about her future plans.
Mary strains to remember the days back over 45 years ago and relates that she did not know why Anna was in Seattle but remembers she was “anxious to get back to her husband.”
GOT THAT?
No one noticed that if you add 18 months to July 1959, you get January, 1961. And no one wondered how Charlette could know that Anna Obama was the same person as Stanley Ann Dunham, simply because Mary called the woman she babysat for ANNA.
My oh my, how many Brooklyn Bridges have you bought lately?
Anna Obama was in the Seattle Polk for 1961-62 and we are expected to believe she showed up in August 1961 - so the Polk collated their directory at the tail-end of the publication year, did they?
Charlette of course did realize her mistake, and brazenly added an edit to her article to say that Mary must have been mistaken, her daughter must have been a year older. Sure. There’s also a rumour around Seattle that has Mary not sober...but what tells us more than anything is of course that the original article written by Charlette is now FORBIDDEN.
Mary Toutonghi who now lives in Soldatna Alaska, (2) recalls Barack as ³a really alert baby, very happy and a good size². She does not remember him ever crying (although she adds she is sure he likely did but does not remember any undue fussing). She recalls as best she can the dates she baby sat Barack as her daughter was 18 months old and was born in July of 1959 and that would have placed the months of baby sitting Barack in January and February of 1962. [Note: 9/3/09: I believe Mary's daughter was older than what she remembered which would account for the age discrepency].
Charlette, there was no age discrepancy Mary simply told the truth, she didn't know any better. She babysat for the person who was listed in the 1961-62 Polk and that was ANNA OBAMA.