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Unrelated Obamas Relish Connection

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 28, 2008 2:59 PM CST

(Newser) – Ordinary citizens who share the last name Obama with the president-elect are seeing goodwill and unexpected perks lately, the Washington Post reports. They might not be able to score Inauguration tickets, but entrance to a swanky nightclub? No problem. Speeding ticket? Fixed. And it’s an exclusive club: The country may have fewer than 20 Obama families, compared to 60,000 people whose last name is Bush.

Most Obamas in the US trace their lineage to Equatorial Guinea, not Kenya, Barack Sr.'s homeland. That includes Nicanor Obama, who says, "I'm not related to the president, but I think Obama is a good name to have right now." "Everyone asks if I'm related to the president now," says Denise Maye Obama. "One of these times I'm going to say yes, just for the fun of it."

Michelle and Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, greet people at a food bank at St. Columbanus Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A pupil cycles past the gate of Senator Obama Kogelo high school in Kenya. (AP Photo)

President-elect Barack Obama greets school children. (AP Photo)

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Unrelated Obamas Relish Connection

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Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Africa • Kenya • name • surnames • President Obama • Equatorial Guinea

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?