Barack Obama has lived one version of the American Dream that has taken him to the steps of the White House. But a few miles from where the Democratic presidential candidate studied at Harvard, his Kenyan aunt and uncle, immigrants living in modest circumstances in Boston, have a contrasting American story.
Zeituni Onyango, the aunt so affectionately described in Mr Obama’s best-selling memoir Dreams from My Father, lives in a disabled-access flat on a rundown public housing estate in South Boston.
A second relative believed to be the long-lost “Uncle Omar” described in the book was beaten by armed robbers with a “sawed-off rifle” while working in a corner shop in the Dorchester area of the city. He was later evicted from his one-bedroom flat for failing to pay $2,324.20 (£1,488) arrears, according to the Boston Housing Court.
Dvorak, you live with such a black heart and an angry soul. I (almost) feel sorry for you. It seems the only thing that you take from this story is the hope that it may somehow hurt Obama. Did you ever consider helping out these people yourself? Hell no!
And what exactly should the media “call Obama out on”?
I’m sure we could look into McCain’s extended family and find disabled people on hard times with little support. Oh wait, we don’t have to look that far. The Ex-wife with health problems whom he ditched for a younger, better-looking, better-funded model fits those parameters.
Seems to me the people cited in the article are among the many reasons why Sen. Obama is fighting for more and better healthcare access.
I guess it worked since I’m posting, but wow. Talk about a bid to stay relevant.
Oh NO!!
A real person with a real family. What’s America coming to.
Nothing more illustrates the power and the audacity of hope. A story like this warms the heart. Even Auntie Obama can dream the dream. Maybe one day she’ll even vote for Obama. I mean after her paperwork has been cleared up. wink wink 😉
After reading the article three times desperately trying to figure out what point John is trying to make here, I am wondering if his comment isn’t just an attempt at sarcasm that passed us all by………..
Hey Dvorak, stop doing my messy work for me!
How many here are supporting their aunts and uncles, financially?
“Heaven forbid the US media call Obama out on this.”
I don’t get it. Everyone, and I mean even Bill Gates has some family member somewhere who isn’t doing well financially. It’s a simple fact of life. I’m not entirely sure why you expect Obama to be any different.
Maybe because it’s been a non-stop parade of the sleaziest kind of smears for months and people would simply dismiss such an account out of hand at this stage.
It’s “under reported” because it’s a non-story and stupid… just like you are, Dvorak.
Moose said:
I’m sure we could look into McCain’s extaneded family and find disabled people on hard times with little support. Oh wait, we don’t have to look that far. The Ex-wife with health problems whom he ditched for a younger, better-looking, better-funded model fits those parameters.
Yep, much sleazier behavior IMO.
Wow the Obama bots are out in full force. A news story is a news story. Who controls the news? I thought his brother living off one dollar a month was a bigger story and his wife having a 450$ afternoon snack!
I thought it was kind of interesting. That’s all. There there now, Obamabots, and have a little more koolaid. Your saviour is going to be just fine. Juuust fiiine.
Well, hard to reconcile wanting to spread the wealth around without asking why he hasn’t spread his own wealth around to relatives in need. If she’s close enough to quote in his book, she’s close enough to throw out some political muscle in order to make sure she’s ok.
So, uh, John – how many aunts and cousins are you supporting?
You out there supporting aunts, uncles or cousins John? Stick to writing about technology. Leave the emotionally ridiculous appeals to the campaigners.
Dvorak makes the point I’ve forwarded for weeks now. His minions post pro-marxist stories, while John C. himself brings the other side. Sadly John doesn’t post nearly as often as he should.
#22 – ‘gor
If this kind of “scandal” is the best the “other side” has to offer, I’d say we’re going to be happily living in a “marxist” world as long as any of us is alive.
Good gawd, man. Obama’s not supporting his aunt and his weird-o uncle, the bodega magnate?
Have you no shame? Can’t you just admit that Obama is the better candidate, and move on? Christ on a crutch. He’s not giving money to his aunt (who already has a roof over her head and three meals a day)? WTF??
Is this a joke?
We have a penalty flag on the field.
John, is ineligible to throw that Hail Mary pass for McCain.
Either way, it is so lame it would have been flagged as intentional grounding.
#19 Mister Mustard
>>I have a number of aunts and uncles, and I doubt they feel that I should be subsidizing their lifestyles.
But then you are the great messiah, lord of all there is. They’ll be putting his freakin’ head on Mt. Rushmore before this is over.
You better get used to this, bush butt licker: President Obama
#18 Anus – “Well, hard to reconcile wanting to spread the wealth around without asking why he hasn’t spread his own wealth around to relatives in need. If she’s close enough to quote in his book, she’s close enough to throw out some political muscle in order to make sure she’s ok.”
Then we’d be reading how Obama spent money from his campaign, office etc.. on relatives.
Sorry John, you can’t have it both ways.
I’m confused. How desperate can Auntie be if she contributed $260 to Obama’s campaign?
And why doesn’t she see her situation as injustice? She thinks Obama’s great and won’t say a bad word against him…
I’m not responsible for my aunt. Why should Obama be responsible for his? I don’t understand the point of this article.
In fact, it sounds like she is already on the gov’t dole.
I’d much rather talk about “Joe the Plummer” who is now McCains foreign policy expert and also has a country music contract. The best part is he probably knows more about foreign affairs than the Republican VP nominee
You Republicans are so fucking pathetic it is almost funny. A half Aunt and Half Uncle and you think of course he should be supporting them? I thought you Republicans believed in everyone supporting themselves? It just makes you bigger hypocrites.
John C,
Geeze, most of these comments make my thoughts look mild.
For your sake, I hope you didn’t wager too much on McCain.
#27 – ‘tempt
>>But then you are the great messiah, lord of
>>all there is.
Are you a monkey? What kind of jibber-jabber is that?
Deal with it, dude. President Obama.
Nobody gives a f&ck if he sends his Auntie a chek each month or not.
That, just like McBush’s doomed Quijote-esque tilt for the presidency, is irrelevant.
I see that from many of these posts that the day is here when people of the past talked about the breakdown of the american family and their standards.
In the days of Dvorak’s parents they would have done all they could within reason to help the family, even if all it was to send clothes or some food. They would help.
My mother’s family would have also done the same and did as they lived through the depression.
I can see the mindset of the baby boomers and post boomers here. Screw anyone else its all about me me me! Yet you will gleefully take any courtesy from the government and from others when you want or need it.
It was a time in the US where you would help both kin and neighbour. That time is obviously gone from the manner of posts here.
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