Obama’s aunt an illegal alien — the “October surprise”?
By Nick Ragone | Related entries in News
This might be as close as we get to an “October surprise.”
The AP is reporting that Barack Obama’s aunt — the one that is living in public housing in Boston — is an illegal alien.
Of course, the Obama camp’s first response was to say that they knew nothing about her status, and to immediately return her $260 donation. Their second response was to suggest that this was all just a Republican plot.
Truth is, someone at the INS must have leaked her deportation case to the AP; I’m not sure how else this could have surfaced at the last minute.
What will the political fallout be? This isn’t a blockbuster like Bush’s DWI or Cap Weinberger’s indictment, but it will be a 48 hour distraction for the Obama campaign.  I think it’ll raise the larger question for some voters: why would Obama allow his aunt to live in poverty? You’d think he would have helped her out public housing, but evidently not.
In the end it may contribute to some further tightening of the polls, especially in the key battlegrounds states. Seems like McCain had been picking up a little bit of momentum over the past few days with the ‘redistribution of wealth’ stuff, and this could juice that ‘mo’ a bit more.
www.nickragone.com
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November 1st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
This story is the biggest nothingburger yet. It’ll do nothing for McCain and has already dropped out of the news cycle.
And I don’t know what momentum you were talking about for McCain. The polls showed a slight tightening towards the beginning of the week, but Obama has regained all the ground he lost and even more.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
This dirty trick finally made up my mind? This really is sickening? That some unknown entity would try to sabotage Obama’s campaign, by fingering his aunt for an immigration violation. Did some sleazy group allied to the Republicans hire an investigator, to look for a skeleton in the closet?
I’m an Independent and will be definitely voting for Obama now. It just shows what the other side will lower themselves to win. We don’t need people like that, in power. Not that the Democrats have not reverted to dirty tricks. Some of my family are in dire need of health care. My step daughter who died with cancer, found insurance companies implying she had a pre-existing condition so that they could deny her coverage. She passed away this year.
I don’t mind paying my share of taxes, but I draw the line in supporting every illegal alien who slips pas the border patrol.
We don’t need McCain’s platform of a $5.000 dollar credit, when we can sweep to one side greedy health insurance companies. Outside of Obama’s contribution for America’s future,
I resent his insistence in giving 37 million illegal aliens, NOT 13 MILLION, according to the Tucson sector Border Patrol union local 2544 (with an additional half-million coming every year) a blanket amnesty.
A massive financial impact on our economy by importing the worlds poor. However, I respect Obama’s foreign policy, his rebuilding our interior infrastructure, neglected by the Bush mob. No more outsourcing without financial consequences or selling America to some countries that hate us.
As to the illegal immigration conflagration? Once it comes up for a vote, they will have withstand the angry voice of millions of Americans. Enough is enough from the open border zealots. http://www.numbersusa The truth!
November 1st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
He’s probably referencing the polls Drudge has been posting today. According to those folks, Winky McMyFriendserson has closed the gap and then some.
Of course that’s contrary to what every other organization is reporting, but it IS Drudge after all.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
this will hurt mcbush. it shows he is not serious about real issues, breaks the law to leask info about an old lady in a walker, and everyone knows barack only met his father once. do you really think he new the immigration status of his father’s half sister? seriously. get a grip. if this is how mcbush closes this election, the coffin is already nailed shut for this old fool.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Quite possibly the best nickname ever!
November 1st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
OBAMA IS DONE!!! Game over. He is supporting illegal immigration, partial birth abortion, marxism, socialism, and islamic terrorism. Game over.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Two points. First, this story didn’t come from McCain, so I’m not sure why the venom towards him — AP broke it. Second, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it … I think a lot of people are going to wonder why he allowed his aunt to live in abject poverty. It just seems weird. I mean, wouldn’t you think he’d help her out a little bit, especially knowing that he’s going to run for President? This is just strange, plain and simple.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
No Nick,
This is going nowhere except to piss people off that an illegal leak designed to help mccain was made in the last days of the campaign. It was an obvious attempt by someone favorably disposed to mccain to try and create a distraction. If the GOP really cared about leaving people in poverty they have a strange way of showing it given their economic agenda. plus i doubt mccain and his wife want to get into a discussion about leaving relatives in poverty. They left cindy’s half sister in poverty and denied her existence. This was a political leak plain and simple. Have you happened to read Conyers letter on this?
Dear Mr. Chertoff:
I was startled to read in today’s Associated Press that a “federal law enforcement official” has leaked information about an immigration case involving a relative of Senator Obama. Even more troubling, the AP reports that it could not “could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved,” a very disturbing suggesting indeed. This leak is deplorable and I urge you to take immediate action to investigate and discipline those responsible.
I note that this is not the first leak of law enforcement information apparently designed to influence the coming Presidential election — in recent weeks law enforcement sources leaked information about an alleged investigation of a community services organization, a leak that the Department of Justice informs me is now under investigation by the Department’s Office of the Inspector General and Professional Responsibility.
Such leaks are deeply harmful to the political process, and the American people expect and deserve better from their government and its law enforcement agencies.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/241737.php
November 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I don’t see why anyone should be responsible for supporting every member of their family.
Also, personally, I find the ethics charges against Palin (misuse of power, misuse of government funds for personal expenses) far more relevant, yet you have to hunt to find new stories about them.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
“Seems like McCain had been picking up a little bit of momentum over the past few days with the ‘redistribution of wealth’ stuff, and this could juice that ‘mo’ a bit more.”
First they criticize Obama because he wants to “redistribute wealth” and now because he didn’t redistribute his wealth to his many half-cousins. Idiotic neocons.
November 1st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Unfortunately, it ain’t October anymore. November surprise? Pfft.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Isn’t Conyers the guy with a corrupt wife?
Seriously, the Conyers clan are corrupt as hell.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
So when LBJ halted the bombing in North Vietnam a week before election day to help Hubert Humphrey, that was totally cool? Or when Democratic special prosecutor Lawrence Welsh decided to indict Cap Weinburger a week before election — again, totally cool?
I still don’t get how an alleged INS leak about a deportation case is imputed to McCain … someone help me with the link here. And I still assert that the alleged leak is not the story; the story is that Obama is letting his aunt live in poverty. I mean, most people I know would rally their families resources and lend a helping hand if someone fell on such hard times. You’d think that would be doubly so if you were RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. I just don’t get this guy’s thinking on this one.
November 1st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Nick,
It is simple, Obama was demonstrating that he really doesn’t believe in ‘sharing the wealth.’
November 1st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Nick-
First of all, it’s the AP, where Ron Fournier is in the tank for McCain. Second, the story has already become more about the leaking of the information than the status of a distant relative. So the takeaway is that McCain and his media lapdogs will resort to the same type of politicization of the justice department to try to win elections.
Simple reminder that McCain = Bush, and another miscalculation by the criminally inept McCain/Bush cartel.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Nick Ragone,
So the AP broke the story? Big deal. How did AP get the documentation to back it up? There’s no proof that anyone in either the Bush administration or the McCain campaign was involved in this. Similarly, there’s no proof that anyone in either group was not involved.
I’d bet my next paycheck that Matt Drudge has an illegal clean his home once a week… as do most other rich Beltway types. People who live in glass houses with illegal maids and au pairs.
Agnostick
[email protected]
November 1st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
All this business about Obama’s aunt is sad. I have compassion for the old gal. She is now suffering humiliation and the blistering light of our mainstream media. This is wrongful.
Yes, she should have worked on becoming a legal immigrant, but this is difficult. She probably could have become an American citizen had she worked hard at this. I do not know much about our immigration laws, doubtful many of you readers know much about this topic. Correct my thinking on this if I am wrong. I invite this.
My understanding is this old gal could become a citizen if she has a sponsor. This is, if an American or an American family document they will take her in, take care of her and take all those steps needed to find her employment, income, a place to live, all that, under circumstances like this, I “think†she could become an American citizen.
I do not know for sure. Again, I am very ignorant of immigration laws. Maybe a reader can clarify and add to this issue.
There is a cultural perspective worthy of mention. Our traditional peoples, we American Indians, are well known for taking in others in need, those of our bloodline. Not all of us do, but a majority of us do. This is especially true up in the Lakotas where our peoples are the most impoverished peoples of our nation. Not uncommon at all for ten, twenty or more people to be living under one roof. Sioux, Cheyenne, Crow, other tribes in the Lakota region, are well known for taking in those in need, no matter how distant the blood relationship.
This prompts me to wonder why Obama has not offered to take in his aunt, has not offered to sponsor her or employ some other method of helping her earn citizenship. I am sure there is something Obama can do, some law, some loophole, something he can do to help her.
Why has Obama not taken steps to help his aunt? He has certainly enjoyed plenty of time. Heck, years back he could have secretly whisked her away, made arrangements for her care. I tend to think not many would criticize Obama for an act of compassion, especially with her being old and at a disadvantage in our country. I do not know, maybe he would be critiqued. Personally, I would not fault Obama for helping his aunt in need; I would turn a blind eye.
Suppose this a cultural difference. Our peoples, if a distant relative, would have taken her in, right off. Not only taken her in, we would have also hidden her from authorities.
I suppose Obama is not willing to take a risk in the name of family compassion. Appears Obama is calling for his aunt to be deported back to Kenya. Odds are high, she will die back in Kenya.
I suppose her life is not as important as the presidency, to Obama.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
November 1st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Truth is, someone at the INS must have leaked her deportation case to the AP; I’m not sure how else this could have surfaced at the last minute.
Paranoid BS. Deportation orders are public record. They no more require “leaking” than does any criminal conviction or outstanding warrant. As soon as her name hit the news all someone had to do was check outstanding orders and court records for a match.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Hi Obama, spread your whealth with your aunt, is it hard to do that, isn’t it? For you is easy to spread the others peoples whealth….. too bad, she is your family Obama, not mine but you feel shame about her….
November 1st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Nick, how do you know Obama hasn’t helped her out? And if the press picked up on money he gave her, what would the right-wing say about that? I can see the headlines on Fox – “Obama aids and abeds illegal immigrants” or “Obama sneaking into the country everyone in Africa he’s related to – estimate is over 100,000 relatives.” Another “boo!” that gets a yawn from me.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
A couple things. Interesting point about how Obama’s mouthpieces have been harping on being neighborly, spreading the wealth around, how people who want to hold on to what they earn are selfish, etc. Barack lives in a 7-figure home in Chicago with just four people in his family. If he really believed what he was preaching, he’d be in a 1600 sq. ft. split level ranch out in the FAR suburbs, and using the rest of that money to help the needy. So this irks me a bit in the hypocrisy department.
Secondly, this goes to campaign funding. Obama lied when he pledged to use public funds (as soon as his campaign realized they could get a lot more by going the other direction), and the fact that he doesn’t even use basic safeguards is exemplified here. It wasn’t until his aunt was proven to be an illegal alien that the campaign rejected the $$. This leads me to believe that there’s a lot of unaccounted for cash, from inappropriate/illegal sources, in Obama’s coffers.
So, in and of itself, not a big deal. Just more fuel for the anti-Obama folks.