The difference is that you didn’t actively campaign for one of those cousins who was, at the time, running for President of Kenya; and you did not thereafter decide to run for President of the United States. I see no reason why Obama’s connection with Odinga is not fair game. If it’s just an odd coincidence, then fine, but I don’t see how he explains campaigning for a man who later participated (some would say incited) a violent uprising that led to thousands of deaths.
Obama himself wants everyone to buy his juvenile, self-obsessed, and as he himself admits, “composite” (i.e., fictional) autobiography about his trip to Africa to “find” his father and reconnect with his African roots. He can’t have it both ways—if his identity crisis and Africa jaunt is such an important part of his character, “he can no more disown” Raila Odinga than he can his grandmother, no? Personally, I think it’s impossible to believe anything Obama says about himself simply because his whole political career has been premised upon these books which he himself admits are largely fictional.
BTW, I like the name. Don’t suppose it wins you many Shi’a friends, though, huh? I once did a research paper on The Battle of the Camel.
Interesting thing about old Muawiyah was that he looked beyond Islam, saw how a state could be organized, and did so without letting the religious elements interfere with top end statecraft, or the acquisition of wealth and power.
Guy was positively Jeffersonian when it came to religion, and Hamiltonian regarding statecraft and government involvement in national finance.
And this was on the part of a man who grew up living in tents, tending camels, and participating in an almost totally illiterate society.
His ideas in government were translated to Spain. Under the Umayyads Spain became the most prosperous, powerful and educated nation on Earth.
I don't think any of us would care to live in those societies, but at the time, they were the best to be had.