Video- Michelle Obama's Slavery Roots

The NYT story that this is based on is here.

Barack Obama's Irish Ancestors Reformed 19th Century Health Care

Dude, I'm telling you people I've got to be related to Obama, Kilkenney is like 30 miles from my family's ancestral home. (Castledermot)

President Barack Obama's Irish American ancestors were pioneers in 19th century health care reform.

Film-maker and historian Gabriel Murray, who found Barack Obama's great-grand uncle's tomb in Kilkenny, Ireland, uncovered the surprise links while he was researching his new documentary, "Obama's Irish Roots" (visit www.olympia-films.co.uk for more information).

One of Obama's Irish American cousins Jackson Brown Baxley (1814-1896) founded the Maryland College of Pharmacy and succesfully lobbied for the registration of pharmacists.

He was the first commissioner appointed and the first president of the Maryland Board of Pharmacy.

(snip)

So, Obama's (other) ancestors pushed for new public hospitals funded by the state to provide cheap health care for the poor.

In total 22 members of the Baxley dynasty practiced in Maryland as doctors, chemists, and health reformers.

Obama's cousins would also go on to push for other improvements in medical care.

They lobbied for the introduction of clinical medical education and practice which gave students first-hand experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Pic via Reutters.

Obama's Irish ancestoral home may become heritage centre

In case this happens and you need someone dedicated to work there, I am still looking for employment....

THE HOMESTEAD of US president-elect Barack Obama’s Irish ancestors has been withdrawn from sale with a view to being developed as a heritage centre.

The one-acre site in the centre of Moneygall is owned by Offaly County Council and was on the market for social housing for the last two years.

Mr Obama’s great-great-great grandfather on his mother’s side, Fulmouth Kearney, was born and grew up on the site before emigrating to the US in 1850.

Though Kearneys have not lived there for generations, the site was known until recently as “Kearney’s Gardens”.

Michelle Obama's Slave Ancestors Discovered

Not sure what you can say about this, since "interesting" or "cool" really don't reflect the reality of slavery.Via Taegan-

Michelle Obama's great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, lived as a slave, at least until the Civil War, on a rice plantation in South Carolina, the Seattle Times reports.

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign "hired genealogists to research the family's roots at the onset of his presidential bid, but aides largely have kept the findings secret... Obama aides refused to discuss the report or allow Michelle Obama to be interviewed about her ancestry."