Tom Tancredo to Tea Baggers: Send Obama back to Kenya

By GottaLaff

A few days ago, we got a closer look at a much younger Tom Tancredo, thanks to a reader who, sadly, witnessed his racism first hand. As I said in that post, we have covered this Palin and McCain-dissing, literacy test-endorsing, immigrant/Obama bashing, Ed Show-quitting cretin for some time.

Another day, another toxic story, this time via The Grio.

Tancredo was at a Tea Bagger rally in Greenville, South Carolina, hosted by the Upcountry Conservative Coalition, a local South Carolina conservative group. Tancredo was a keynote speaker:

From Jillian Rayfield, Talking Points Memo [...]

[Tancredo] said that Americans are "going to have to pray that we can hold on to this country."

He added, referring to President Obama: "If his wife says Kenya is his homeland, why don't we just send him back?"

I'm not sure why Ed Schultz continues to have this hate monger as a guest on his show, but hopefully it's to expose him for what he is. His obvious disdain for Not White People is despicable. This so-called "anger at the government" is no such thing. Well, maybe a little.

But let's call it what it really is: Anger at non-whites. Racism. The fact that an African American resides in the White House is driving these people crazy... literally. So crazy, in fact, that something tragic could very well occur, as in the Dr. Tiller scenario, or the Matthew Shepard scenario, or the James Byrd, Jr. scenario, and we'll know exactly who to blame.

H/t: Lensman23

Guardian: CIA planned al-Qaida assassinations in friendly countries, officials say

By GottaLaff

Sy Hersh originally reported about Cheney's assassination ring, and I posted about that here. Now this:

Dick Cheney, the former vice president, ordered a highly classified CIA operation hidden from Congress because it pushed the limits of legality by planning to assassinate of al-Qaida operatives in friendly countries without the knowledge of their governments, according to former intelligence officials.

Former counter-terrorism officials who retain close links to the intelligence community say that the hidden operation involved plans by the CIA and the military to launch operations, similar to those by Israel's Mossad intelligence service, to hunt down and kill al-Qaida activists abroad without informing the governments concerned, even though some were regarded as friendly if unreliable.

The CIA apparently did not put the plan in to operation but the US military did, carrying out several assassinations including one in Kenya that proved to be a severe embarrassment and helped lead to the quashing of the programme. [...]

Another former senior intelligence official responsible for dealing with al-Qaida said that assassination plans were reined in after similar covert operations by the military were botched and proved to be embarrassing, particularly the killing in Kenya. [...]

The official said he believes from conversations with serving members of the CIA that the area of real concern in Congress is that the planned operations may also have involved the covert surveillance of American citizens, a particularly sensitive subject in the US.

There appears to be common agreement among knowledgeable former intelligence officials that the controversy goes beyond the immediate question of assassination and capture of al-Qaida operatives as there have been numerous killings and detentions since the 9/11 attacks. One former official said that the Bush administration discussed the assassination question in the context of a ban introduced in the 1970's in response to several failed CIA attempts to murder Fidel Castro and concluded that as the US had declared itself at war with Al-Qaida and the Taliban the ban did not apply.

Peter Bergen, a senior security analyst at the New America Foundation, said that the secret operation must have gone further than that to have created such a backlash in Congress. "If it's an assassination programme of al-Qaida leaders that is hardly surprising. Clinton had an assassination programme against Bin Laden. There have been 27 drone missile strikes against al-Qaida alone this year," he said.

But we shouldn't look back. Just keep moving along...

Judge extends Obama's Aunt Zeituni's stay in United States

By GottaLaff

Last night I posted about President Obama's Aunt Zeituni becoming a symbol in the immigration debate. Not an easy position to be in. But now she gets some good news:

President Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt, who was ordered deported five years ago, can stay in the United States legally until next year when she makes a new asylum bid, an immigration judge ruled on Wednesday. [...]

Zeituni Onyango, 56, whom Obama calls "Auntie Zeituni" in one of his memoirs, has been living in a public housing complex in Boston and is the half-sister of Obama's father.

"The decision as to Ms. Onyango's request to stay permanently in the U.S. will be made during a second hearing," Michael Rogers, a spokesman for Onyango's lawyer, Margaret Wong, said in a statement. [...]

The hearing on Wednesday was closed to the media. The next hearing is set for February 4, 2010. [...]

Obama's campaign said in November he had no knowledge of Onyango's immigration status and that "any and all appropriate laws" should be followed in her case. His aides questioned the timing of the disclosure.

Obama's aunt becomes symbol in immigration debate

By GottaLaff

What if she had a last name that sounded more like, say, Limbaugh, Buchanan, or Palin... or if she were, I dunno, white...?

Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt lost her bid for asylum more than four years ago, and a judge ordered her deported. Instead, Zeituni Onyango stayed, living for years in public housing.

Now, in a case that puts the president in a tough position both personally and politically, Onyango's request is being reconsidered under a little-used provision in U.S. immigration rules that allows denied asylum claims to be reheard if applicants can show that something has changed to make them eligible.

Such as the ascension of her nephew to the presidency of the world's most powerful country.

"If she goes back to Kenya, she is going to be much more in the limelight, and that, in and of itself, could put her at a greater risk. The chances of her going back and keeping a low profile are gone at this point," said Boston immigration attorney Ilana Greenstein.

Onyango, 56, the half-sister of Obama's late father, moved to the United States in 2000. Her first bid for asylum was rejected, and an immigration judge ordered her deported in 2004; she continues to live in public housing in Boston. [...]

Obama has said repeatedly that he didn't know his aunt was living in the United States illegally and believes that laws covering the situation should be followed. If she wins asylum, he could look soft on immigration enforcement. If she loses, he could face criticism from immigrant advocacy groups.

The White House says Obama is staying out of it. [...]

People who seek asylum must show that they face persecution in their homeland on the basis of religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group.

Onyango's reasons for seeking asylum have not been made public, and her immigration hearing will be closed at her lawyer's request. [...]

Onyango could improve her chances of winning asylum if she can argue successfully that some in the Kenyan government may perceive — because of her relationship with Obama — "that she may have some level of political power and be able to transfer that power" to her tribe, Kelly said. [...]

Her case is being closely watched by people on all sides of the immigration debate. Some critics say her status has already damaged the president's credibility on immigration issues.[...]

But immigrant advocates say opponents are unfairly using Onyango's case as political fodder.

"Whether it's the president's aunt, my aunt or your aunt — anybody who's seeking asylum is seeking that status for a very important reason," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. "We are always worried that a person whose asylum claims are rejected, that they end up in a situation where they are a victim of violence."

Conservative columnist makes up a quote from President Obama

By GottaLaff

Want to know what's pathetic? Here's what's pathetic: That the title of this post doesn't represent anything new or unique.

Columnist James Humes concocted a quote from President Obama, but that's okay. Why? Because if talk radio repeats a lie often enough, it becomes a "valid" talking point, regardless of its veracity:

We detailed how James Humes, in his March 12 Newsmax column, purported to quote President Obama saying of a bust of Winston Churchill, "Get that goddamn thing out of here."

Remember that Churchill bust story? I covered it here. [Sidebar: One comment on a wingnut site that linked to my post said of me, "How old is that guy, 12?" Flattery will get you nowhere, you big tease.]

To make matters worse, Humes didn't delete the quote (which was not properly sourced). Nosireebob, he added to it:

While the story was never fully substantiated, despite frequent repetition on radio talk shows, the sentiment seems to have been confirmed by Obama's subsequent actions.

Translation: I can't prove Obama said this -- in fact, I can't even name anyone who said he did, despite "frequent repetition on radio talk shows" -- but I'll pretend he did anyway because it meshes so well with my smear of Obama.

You ain't seen nothin' yet:

Of course, nowhere in Humes' column is it indicated that it has been altered from its original publication, let alone an apology issued for publishing falsehoods and unsubstantiated claims.

That would have been, you know, the right thing to do. Too bad someone didn't think to document the lies (as in, Obama was plotting tribal revenge in Kenya). Oh, really? Someone did?

Fortunately, we saved a copy of Humes' original falsehoods to document Humes' careless, malicious writing.

Go here for elaboration on other documented lies about Obama's family and childhood.

Isn't this special, boys and girls? Your whole childhood, you were taught to tell the truth. Fibs were bad. Tell a lie, you're grounded. See how well Humes paid attention? And now he writes for Newsmax.

If Humes keeps making such basic, blatant errors and ugly smears, why does Newsmax continue to publish him?

Newsmax should be grounded, too.

H/t: Oliver Willis

Obama's grandmother to help fight tsetse fly

Nice to see that she's trying to do good also.

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's step-grandmother will use her newfound celebrity status to help eradicate the tsetse fly, an insect that causes sleeping sickness, the African Union (AU) said Monday.

Sarah Obama, 87, was given a spray pump and enough insecticide to treat 3,000 animals -- which like humans can be infected by the insect -- by an AU team that visited her village of Kogelo in western Kenya last month.

"Mama Sarah very much appreciated the gift and ... vowed in her local language that she will be the goodwill ambassador in her area to eradicate tsetse flies," the AU said.

(snip)

Some 37 African countries are affected by tsetse and sleeping sickness or trypanosomiasis.

Ugly Churchill Bust + President Obama = WingNut Frenzy

By GottaLaff

Would you want a bust in your home that looks like this...

...which kind of reminds you of this:

Let's go one step further and two steps deeper. It's also reminiscent of this...

Being a strong proponent of Britain as an international power, Churchill would often meet such moments with direct action. One example was his dispatch of British troops to Kenya to deal with the Mau Mau rebellion.

...which hits home because of this:

Barack Obama’s grandfather was imprisoned and brutally tortured by the British during the violent struggle for Kenyan independence, according to the Kenyan family of the US President-elect.

Hussein Onyango Obama, Mr Obama’s paternal grandfather, became involved in the Kenyan independence movement while working as a cook for a British army officer after the war. He was arrested in 1949 and jailed for two years in a high-security prison where, according to his family, he was subjected to horrific violence to extract information about the growing insurgency.

“The African warders were instructed by the white soldiers to whip him every morning and evening till he confessed,” said Sarah Onyango, Hussein Onyango’s third wife, the woman Mr Obama refers to as “Granny Sarah”.

In other words, President Obama may be remembering this:

Churchill has less happy connotations for Mr Obama than those American politicians who celebrate his wartime leadership. It was during Churchill’s second premiership that Britain suppressed Kenya’s Mau Mau rebellion. Among Kenyans allegedly tortured by the colonial regime included one Hussein Onyango Obama, the President’s grandfather.

...which could have been a factor in President Obama's returning the bust (other than the fact that it is ugly as sin, and after all, it is his house)...

... which leads us to a 9/11-infused reaction from The Land of Wingnuttia that sounds a little something like this:

Barack Obama loves Lincoln. [...] But it looks like we are finding one great leader that Barack Obama doesn't like so much: Winston Churchill.

It appears that President Obama is dissing the Brit's most famous and stalwart leader by quickly returning the most famous bust of the man loaned to this country by the United Kingdom in the aftermath of 9/11. The return of the bust of Churchill flustered the British government because they didn't ask for it to be returned. Our best ally was nonplussed and even quickly told Obama he could keep it in the Oval Office where Bush had displayed the piece of art. Obama told them no thanks which made the Brits even more amazed.

So, Barack Obama, the man that would "fix" our "bad image" with the rest of the world, we were told by the media, has just dissed Churchill after only a month in office? [...]

I mean, this abrupt return of the Churchill statue is sort of odd. Would it have hurt anything to keep the thing?

...which resulted in Comments like these:

Obviously, he had to make space for a bust of Ayatollah Khomeini.

Naw, he is probably shopping for busts of Fredrick Engles or Karl Marx.

Obama has a room in the White House with nothing but Che statues. He has coffee with them in the morning...

It is Barak [sic] Obama, not GWB, that is proving to be the real dunce in the White House, go figure.

Obama wasn't dissin' the Brits. He was just making room for the bust of the First Lady.

If the president hopes to bring us together as "one America", he sure has his work cut out for him.

Kenyan choir signed after inauguration

Barely in the office and he's already helping out his ancestral home.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The artistic director for the Boys Choir of Kenya that performed at inaugural events for U.S. President Ba rack ABM says the group has signed a record deal.

Joseph Male said the choir, which has male singers between the ages of 13 and 24, was signed by Universal Music following its performances this week, the BBC reported Friday.

"We began from humble beginnings and to be recognized by a large recording company is so humbling and quite an honor," the choir's artistic director said. "We just thank God."

(snip)

Universal Classics artists and repertoire representative Tom Lewis told the BBC he was determined to sign the choir, which has toured the United States several times, after only seeing them once.

"I went onto You Tube and I saw their CNN performance and I thought, 'Wow -- I do not want anyone else working with them,'" Lewis said.

P.E. Obama's Kenyan "Granny's" White House Warming Gifts

By GottaLaff

Exclusive interview from WTHR-TV from November

Awhile ago, I posted about P.E. Obama's "Granny" attending an Inaugural ball. Now we see she proudly and joyfully comes bearing gifts:

A three-legged stool and a traditional Luo oxtail fly whisk are some of the household items that could bring a new feel to the Oval Office, courtesy of Barack Obama's Kenyan grandmother. [...]

Quoted in the Standard newspaper Monday, she said she had hoped to bring him a traditional spear and shield from her Luo tribe when she flies to Washington on Friday with some other family members.

"But I have been told that due to security reasons I will not be allowed to board a plane with it," she explained.

With Bush still in charge, she most likely would have been declared an enemy combatant, renditioned, tortured, and forever put on the "terrorist" watch list. Kinda takes the "heart" out of "heartwarming story", doesn't it?

"The day I was waiting for has finally come... I cannot hide my joy," she said. "I am going to be Kenya's ambassador during the occasion and I will live up to the expectations."

Kenya's Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula will head a government delegation for a pre-inauguration bash organised by African diplomatic missions in the US.

"It is a big feast that will be attended by delegations from many African nations," Wetangula told reporters.

"And because Kenya is the African nation where Obama draws his roots, I have been invited to be the guest speaker at the event," he added.

It's dizzying how many feel-good stories have come from one very hope-filled man's quest to become president.

Revealed: Britain's torture of Obama's grandfather

Fascinating.

Barack Obama’s grandfather was imprisoned and brutally tortured by the British during the violent struggle for Kenyan independence, according to the Kenyan family of the US President-elect.

Hussein Onyango Obama, Mr Obama’s paternal grandfather, became involved in the Kenyan independence movement while working as a cook for a British army officer after the war. He was arrested in 1949 and jailed for two years in a high-security prison where, according to his family, he was subjected to horrific violence to extract information about the growing insurgency.

“The African warders were instructed by the white soldiers to whip him every morning and evening till he confessed,” said Sarah Onyango, Hussein Onyango’s third wife, the woman Mr Obama refers to as “Granny Sarah”.

Kenya feel Obama's magic?

By GottaLaff

Obama is having a positive effect all over the world. Now Kenya is benefiting from Obama's election:

Ripple effects of Barack Obama's election are already being felt in Kenya, where the beleaguered tourism industry is preparing for an inaugural-season surge of visitors eager to trace the President-elect's African roots.

Tour operators are starting to offer packages to Kenya with trips to Kogelo, the rural village in western Kenya just north of the Equator where Mr. Obama's father was born and raised and where some of his relatives -- including Sarah Onyango Obama, his grandfather's wife, whom he calls "Granny Sarah" -- still live.

The election "will have a big effect," predicts Jonathan Sloan, a Kenya Tourist Board official in London. "Americans might not be knowledgeable about Kenya, but with Obama's election it has been thrust into their imagination." [...]

Kenya tourism officials are hoping to ride the Obama coattails to global visibility for their industry and their country. "The Obama election results became known on Wednesday, and on Thursday Kenya took a national holiday to celebrate," says Mr. Sloan. "It's an amazing thing for them. They're going to promote this massively. Kenya feels that it has been put on the world map." [...]

"It's highly unlikely they'd meet the relatives," says Louise Newton, a spokeswoman for Somak Holidays, a sister company of Somak Safaris in London that is offering its own Obama tours. "Initially the relatives were very available to the press," she adds, "but now we're getting reports of security being stepped up."

Paying it forward.

Prayers said for Obama in Kenya, birthplace of his father

Lord, I'm going to spend this whole day in tears.

KISUMU, Kenya — Kenyans filled churches today to pray that Barack Obama becomes the first black American president as Africans organized all-night election parties in honor of a candidate who is wildly popular across this vast continent.

"Obamamania" is particularly strong in Kenya, where the Democratic candidate's late father was born about an hour's drive from the lakeside town of Kisumu. In Kogelo, where Obama's step-grandmother still lives, hordes of journalists gathered and police blocked access to the family's homestead.

"Tonight we are not going to sleep," said Valentine Wambi, 23, a student at the University of Nairobi. "It will be celebrations throughout."

Many Africans hope an Obama presidency would help the continent, the poorest in the world. Some are hoping for promises of more U.S. aid to Africa, while others bask in the glory of a successful black politician with African roots.

Say Buh-Bye to Idiotic Republican Obama Birth Certificate Lawsuit

By GottaLaff

Via Oliver Willis. From the Dep't. of Neener Nanner:

A federal judge in Philadelphia last night threw out a complaint by a Montgomery County lawyer who claimed that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was not qualified to be president and that his name should be removed from the Nov. 4 ballot.

Philip J. Berg alleged in a complaint filed in federal district court on Aug. 21 against Obama, the Democratic National Committee and the Federal Election Commission, that Obama was born in Mombasa, Kenya.

Berg claimed that the Democratic presidential standardbearer is not even an American citizen but a citizen of Indonesia and therefore ineligible to be president.

He alleged that if Obama was permitted to run for president and subsequently found to be ineligible, he and other voters would be disenfranchised.

U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick had denied Berg’s request for a temporary restraining order on Aug. 22 but had not ruled on the merits of the suit until yesterday. [...]

In a 34-page memorandum and opinion, the judge said Berg’s allegations of harm were “too vague and too attenuated” to confer standing on him or any other voters.

Surrick ruled that Berg’s attempts to use certain laws to gain standing to pursue his claim that Obama was not a natural-born citizen were “frivolous and not worthy of discussion.”

The judge also said the harm Berg alleged did “not constitute an injury in fact” and Berg’s arguments to the contrary “ventured into the unreasonable.”

To all the Commenters who have been asking about it, that should finally put the matter to rest.

H/t: Chris