Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Media Silent About Obama’s Hut-Dwelling Sibling
Share: 
by BMCWrites | August 22, 2008 at 12:36 pm
645 views | 0 Recommendations | 29 comments
Photos
Why do I wonder? Because so few of the major news media outlets have offered any coverage of the discovery, by a writer for the Italian edition of Vanity Fair, of George Hussein Onyango Obama living in a hut in a ramshackle town of Huruma on the outskirts of Nairobi. Here’s proof:
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Central, I conducted a Google Advanced News Search with “hut” in the top blank, “Barack Obama” in the exact-phrase line and “anytime” as the time frame. Making no other changes, the search yielded only 47 results, the oldest dated July 27, 2007.
In comparison, a Google Advanced Blog Search conducted moments later and using the same parameters — except that I had to specify “month” as the time frame to approximate the news search — yielded 757 results.
One would think that, with all of the discussions about real estate matters involving Barack Obama and John McCain, members of the news media would be more interested in the news about a dwelling — albeit a hut — occupied by a relative of the presumptive presidential nominees. It is, after all, the second hut belonging to an Obama relative.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (29)
at 13:02 on August 22nd, 2008
What about doing a Google news search using Obama's brother's actual name? Also, is the fact that two of Obama's relatives live poorly in Africa really that important to the election? Compare Obama and McCain's tax plans if you want to imply that one candidate cares more about the poor than the other.
at 17:17 on August 22nd, 2008
What good would comparing tax plans do? Politicians have a penchant for changing their positions after getting elected. "Oh, I'm sorry my fellow Americans. I've found out things are just too bad for a tax cut so we're going to have to raise taxes to make up for our over-spending. God bless America." Or something like that.
at 17:31 on August 22nd, 2008
For another view on Obama's economic policy here's an article from Larry Kudlow.
at 13:25 on August 22nd, 2008
juliaw -- I've already done my searching. As for a comparison of tax plans, that would only show that Obama wants to take more money out of my pocket in one of the largest wealth distribution schemes ever perpetrated. You should be frightened -- then again, you're in Vancouver, Canada, so you won't be directly impacted by his tax-and-spend thievery.
at 18:04 on August 22nd, 2008
Obama wants to take more money out of my pocket in one of the largest wealth distribution schemes ever perpetrated.
You'd rather keep on supporting Paris Hilton and her ilk to make certain the rich get richer, I suppose.
You should be frightened
The only thing that frightens me is Sydney "Songbird" McCain's shadow campaign of lies, distortions, hate and ignorance.
at 18:14 on August 22nd, 2008
I'm frightened by the idea that America could elect a president who can't remember how many houses he owns.
at 18:36 on August 22nd, 2008
Frankly I'm frightened at the thought of America electing a president who grew up being taught by communists, pals around with terrorists, and has ties with a convicted felon.
at 18:39 on August 22nd, 2008
The only thing that frightens me is Sydney "Songbird" McCain's shadow campaign of lies, distortions, hate and ignorance.
at 19:27 on August 22nd, 2008
Yea, but he only has ONE MANSION, BigT. Kindly remember that in the future! ;}
And his wife only got her salary doubled after he got elected (no influence-mongering there!). Jeez, they're suffering--it should have been quadrupled, right? Hey, do you know if she's still being paid while she's campaigning?
at 18:55 on August 22nd, 2008
McCain married wealth. So, BTW, did George Washington. ;}
I suspect that with a presidential campaign ongoing, and lots of world problems, that McCain really doesn't care how many houses/vacation homes/etc. his wife has. That's probably not high on his radar, ya know? I just don't see McCain going all Martha Stewart and giving a flip about houses.
I wouldn't vote against someone because they didn't have money; I won't vote against someone because they do have money. I'm going to look at the entire person.
FYI, it's not uncommon for even middle class or slightly upper-middle class Americans to have two homes. Those homes could range from primary plus condo, primary plus lake cottage or cabin (note: in upstate NY, the lake cottage or cabin may be revered and well-loved, but something that no one but family and close friends would describe as comfy!), primary plus winter sports cabin (see note on NY lake cottages!), primary plus taking the luxury RV to Florida or south Texas for the winter, primary plus second full home...well, you get the idea.
I know many people who have more than one home, and none of 'em are rich.
You might be amazed at just how many people live in very comfy RV's part of the year as their second home--and yes, use up the gas to get them somewhere. Just as you might be amazed at how many people do have more than one home, whether just theirs, shared with family, or whatever!
This was just a remark taken out of context and spun off by the Obama camp, IMHO. Hey, Obama lives in a mansion and has ties to a convicted racketeer, so let's keep that in mind! How someone can claim to be a "man of the people" and a champion of the working class after doing the Harvard route and living in a mansion, with a wife whose salary doubled at a posh job after being elected to office, and who calls for change away from "rich rule" is a bit...problematical.
Let me know when the Obama family move out of their mansion and into one of the Chicago 'hoods--then I'll take housing for political candidates and who has what as a serious issue. ;}
at 19:01 on August 22nd, 2008
Nice attempt at spinning.
However, many Americans for the first time have come to realize that "Songbird" McCain is not some humble good ol' boy anymore than Boy George Bush.
As the son of an admiral who was the son of an admiral, he wasn't hurting for much growing up.
Finally, if the oldest man ever running for president can't remember how many houses he owns, there is an issue of dotage.
at 19:13 on August 22nd, 2008
So because his family went into military service, and were successful at it, McCain should be dis-respected and that should be counted against him?
Wow. Somehow, I thought America tended to encourage and admire achievement. Oh, that's right--jealousy these days doesn't encourage people to get more education and do better than the prior generation, it encourages them to complain, drop out, and wait for entitlements, right? How's that working for us as a nation? Not very well, actually.
Dotage? Hey, McCain is a guy's guy, as I see it. I suspect that Cindy's wealth is her gig, just as the homes are her gig. As I said, I don't see McCain going all Martha Stewart on this.
OK, dotage--so if I forget say, how much my mother's home is valued at these days, and I co-own it, then I'm experiencing age-related dotage? No, it's not one of my priorities, frankly.
Given your comment, I guess we can assume that you've never ever, especially during long, stressful working hours, non-stop, in the public, not been up to speed on every single thing. You've never forgotten anything that's not high on your radar.
If you have, you're just either a) spoiled or b) uncaring or c) a forgetful old man, according to your viewpoint.
McCain made an off-the-cuff foolish statement. It's being spun up. Obama has made some real doozies, too.
at 19:18 on August 22nd, 2008
So because his family went into military service, and were successful at it, McCain should be dis-respected and that should be counted against him?
I never said that.
You may assume what you want, incorrect though it may be.
What I actually said, not what was twisted, I still stand by.
at 19:23 on August 22nd, 2008
John McCain don't own any houses, and come the New Year, he'll only need to remember one house, and that will be "White!"
at 18:38 on August 22nd, 2008
Could we see an opinion tag on this, please?
at 18:53 on August 22nd, 2008
Julianw -- Since when was it a crime to be successful and invest in real estate? Oh yes, I forgot, you're into redistributing wealth Obama-style.
at 19:19 on August 22nd, 2008
I'm waiting to see the anti-wealth crowd give up their iPods, Blackberrys, computers, and internet to give that money to the poor. Oh--their toys? That's OK, thank you very much. ;}
at 07:17 on August 23rd, 2008
Since when was it a crime to be successful and invest in real estate?
Where is a post here that says that?
at 19:03 on August 22nd, 2008
The home non-issue has no traction.
at 19:03 on August 22nd, 2008
Maybe Cindy won't tell him how many houses they own, just as she won't release her financial records.
at 19:17 on August 22nd, 2008
His and hers. She's not under any obligation to release hers. Don't know if you've yet heard about this, but this thing called "equal rights" means that even women in a marriage can have their own careers, and their own possessions, that *even the IRS* will process individually.
She's rich. John Kerry's wife was rich. I didn't see leftists getting all upset about that, either.
The day that someone is attacked because of their family's service to our country is a sorry day indeed. Most people won't make the sacrifices required for life-long military service; let alone the hard work it takes to be very successful at it.
Jealousy is indeed, a green-eyed monster, and it most often shows up attacking other people's income or possessions. Meanwhile, I haven't yet seen attackers of that ilk avoiding nice cars to buy junkers, or living in slums, to be true to their ideaology. It seems like "if I have what I have, that's OK, and if I did well, admire me, but if someone I don't like has stuff and did well, he's a louse."
at 19:26 on August 22nd, 2008
She's rich. John Kerry's wife was rich.
She was hounded to release her records as well.
What comes around goes around. That is, unless you insist on having it both ways.
The day that someone is attacked because of their family's service to our country is a sorry day indeed. Most people won't make the sacrifices required for life-long military service; let alone the hard work it takes to be very successful at it.
If you are speaking of anything I said. You , again, have twisted my words. Would McCain's sacrifices include trading information to the North Vietnamese for cigarettes? Would turning on his back on MIA/POW issues as a senator be included in that?
at 19:36 on August 22nd, 2008
How well would you do as a POW? How well would you do being tortured?
As you apparently haven't been tested in that cauldron of hell, it's easy for you to slice 'n dice at someone who has.
Yea, your comment on McCain's family was snide. His father, who served honorably, including submarine service in WWII, wasn't quite an admiral yet when John was born (not even close!). The family schlepped around from military facility to military facility--a lifestyle, including school changes, that not every family would like to try. They paid their dues.
Let's see, Obama's father....never mind. Yep, there's someone with real family values. Yep, we should definitely look at that as a role model vs. say, the McCains. Not in any rational universe!
at 07:08 on August 23rd, 2008
Jiltin' John McCain is your model for "family values"?
Is that because today is against abortion?
Or, is it because adultery is one of those family values?
at 07:10 on August 23rd, 2008
Jiltin' John McCain is your model for "family values"?
Is that because today he is against abortion?
Or, is it because adultery is one of those family values?
at 07:19 on August 23rd, 2008
Yea, your comment on McCain's family was snide.
Just trying to fit in.
[chuckle]
at 19:38 on August 22nd, 2008
I never asked for T. Kerry's records to be released. I frankly, didn't care. I wasn't electing her. Ditto I don't care about Cindy McCain's financial records. I'm not electing her.
at 07:21 on August 23rd, 2008
I did not single you out.
Boy George's attack dogs apparently did not care that you did not care.
at 18:15 on August 24th, 2008
PEP -- Thanks for handling the slam Dunk in my absence. Seems like I missed quite a virtual conversation.