"What evidence do you have from a credible source that Obama campaigned for Odinga?
Why, The Washington Times, of course:
"Initially, Mr. Odinga was not the favored opposition candidate to stand in the 2007 election against President Mwai Kibaki, who was seeking his second term. However, he received a tremendous boost when Sen. Barack Obama arrived in Kenya in August 2006 to campaign on his behalf. Mr. Obama denies that supporting Mr. Odinga was the intention of his trip, but his actions and local media reports tell otherwise.
Mr. Odinga and Mr. Obama were nearly inseparable throughout Mr. Obama's six-day stay. The two traveled together throughout Kenya and Mr. Obama spoke on behalf of Mr. Odinga at numerous rallies. In contrast, Mr. Obama had only criticism for Kibaki. He lashed out against the Kenyan government shortly after meeting with the president on Aug. 25. "The [Kenyan] people have to suffer over corruption perpetrated by government officials," Mr. Obama announced.
"Kenyans are now yearning for change," he declared. The intent of Mr. Obama's remarks and actions was transparent to Kenyans - he was firmly behind Mr. Odinga. "
And, here is some glorious documentary video footage of Obama campaigning with Odinga:
Obama and Odinga Campaign in Kenya
Is that "credible" enough for you, or do you expect me to soil myself with the New York Times? Because, I can...
Now, can you truly say that you have the utmost confidence in Obama's ability to not side with Kenya and metaphorically push that red button if the Kenyan government were to "go nuclear" on America?
If so, then congratulations, you are calling Obama a heartless b****rd who will kill his own brothers and sisters without hesitation because of the actions of his own buddies in the Kenyan government---whom he helped put into power, all without the official blessings of the United States government.
Cheers
The Washington Times is owned by the Unification Church, but I'm sure they are credible now and then.
Nairobi — Kenya President Kibaki has hailed US President Barack Obama on his 2009 Nobel Peace Prize win.
He said the award was a fitting tribute to the US President for his efforts in initiating dialogue aimed at bringing about sustainable peace in various parts of the world.
'On behalf of the government and the people of Kenya, I take this opportunity to congratulate you on being declared winner of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910090793.html
Mighty big of Kibaki don't you think particularly since Obama campaigned for the opposition.
Now, can you truly say that you have the utmost confidence in Obama's ability to not side with Kenya and metaphorically push that red button if the Kenyan government were to "go nuclear" on America?
A-a-a, I guess that makes sense to you, however your logic entirely escapes me.
"Kenyans are now yearning for change," he declared. The intent of Mr. Obama's remarks and actions was transparent to Kenyans - he was firmly behind Mr. Odinga. "
From the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom:
Corruption is perceived as pervasive. Kenya ranks 147th out of 179 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2008. Corruption has led to foreign disinvestment and has drained resources needed for education, health, and infrastructure. Kenyans view the police as the most corrupt public institution. Corruption involving food and fuel oil may have far-reaching consequences as the administration of President Kibaki tries to tackle a looming food crisis. The government has taken some halting steps to address judicial corruption.
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Kenya
Apparently corruption is a BIG issue in Kenyan politics and economic life; would you say that the Heritage Foundation also supports Odinga by taking note of it.
Hasn't Obama, as president, said similar things in Africa outside Kenya?
From the CIA World Factbook: Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement, which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular referendum in November 2005. KIBAKI's reelection in December 2007 brought charges of vote rigging from ODM candidate Raila ODINGA and unleashed two months of violence in which as many as 1,500 people died. UN-sponsored talks in late February produced a powersharing accord bringing ODINGA into the government in the restored position of prime minister.
The 2007 election was widely (universally) viewed as flawed and failed to get a seal of approval from any independent outside observers. Both sides seem to be guilty.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html
BTW, Kibaki was for the creation of the position of Prime Minister and power sharing before he was against it - could we say he flip-flopped?
Actually I think Kibaki is a fairly decent man by African standards, swimming is a sea of corruption. I also think Kenyans are fed up with the corruption endemic to their government and angry just as our tea partiers are. It is too easy to blame Obama, Odinga, or even Kibaki for the violence following the 2007 election. The issues are more complex and long standing than their small part.