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Obama Will Give Aunt Her Money Back

'Auntie Zeituni' found to be living illegally in US

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 1, 2008 3:03 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Barack Obama’s campaign will return donations made by his aunt, who was outed yesterday as an illegal resident in the US, the Washington Post reports. Zeituni Onyango, the half-sister of the candidate’s late father, lives in a Boston public housing unit and gave $265 to her nephew’s campaign. Rules bar foreign nationals from donating to American presidential campaigns.

“Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed,” said the campaign’s spokesman, MSNBC reports. Its chief strategist added, “People are suspicious about stories that surface in the last 72 hours of a national campaign.” The McCain campaign declined to comment on the story, calling it "a family matter.”

The public housing complex in South Boston where Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango reportedly lives is seen.
The public housing complex in South Boston where Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango reportedly lives is seen.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The door to the public housing complex in South Boston where Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango reportedly lives is seen.
The door to the public housing complex in South Boston where Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's aunt Zeituni Onyango reportedly lives is seen.   (AP Photo)
Barack Obama's campaign spokesman said the candidate has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed.
Barack Obama's campaign spokesman said the candidate "has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed."   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Shannonals
Nov 1, 2008 9:33 PM CDT
Never fails, someone always has to bring up Rev. Wright. You know, you might not like what the man says, but it is his first amendment right to voice his opinion, especially since he is a veteran. The smears are getting old, I notice how Sen. McCain supporters are quick to bring up Rev. Wright & William Ayers, but no mention of Sen. McCain friends Rev. Hagee, Rev. Parsley & Charles Keating. Sen. Obama didn't meet his relatives in Kenya until later in life, and barely knew his Father, so why do people act like the y lived right across the street vice in another Country? Swift Boating is what doomed Sen. McCains first election, guess he and his GOP friends figure if you can't beat them, join them.
Guest
Nov 1, 2008 9:22 PM CDT
Shannonals, I could not have said this better. McCain/Palin are just a right wing joke. We have heard enough of their blattering. They are so negative we sure don't need 4 more years of the same.
Greatbear100
Nov 1, 2008 4:47 AM CDT
Obama iis awfull naive when it comes to his relatives and radical friends. Obama in his books talks about how Rev Wright influenced his life and was his close friend, mentor, and advisor as well as his pastor for some 20 years but he never heard Rev Wright talk bad about the US or white people. What was he thinking sitting in the pew as the Reverend gave a sermon denouncicng the US and white people. Does he have an attention defecit problem so that he just stayed seated and clspped and cherred along with the others. In his books his own words tell how he agreed with Rev Wright. Does Obama expect us to believe that he does not know his paternal relatives in Kenya are radical Muslim and contrary to his words are not poor but rich land owners. His mother was an anthropologist who was able to travel to Kenya and Indonesia to do research so where do the food stamos and poverty come in? http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/?page_id=15

'Smear' story leaked by Bush administration
Talking Points Memo

'Maybe somebody should spread some wealth around in his own family'
Power Line

Auntie Zeituni, say goodbye to that quiet life
Washington Post

Don't forget about 'Uncle Omar'
Times (UK)

Bushies sensitive to story's political side
Associated Press

 
Barack Obama • Kenya • illegal immigrant • Boston • deportation • campaign contributions • Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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