Yes, I can relate....

[Scott Campbell]

In the quote that Skinsack was referring to, "brother" was a metaphor for neighbor or fellow American.

Well it was a poor word choice given his own circumstances. I guess everybody says stupid stuff now and then. And Obama is no different in that regard.

[packinpatland]

Seeing as how this thread is no longer about Cindy McCain's attire, let me throw this in:

"But through this campaign McCain has transformed into a more conventional Republican. He's embraced the Bush tax cuts he once opposed, devised a health care plan that largely tracks Bush's, and renounced his own immigration bill. He's echoed the Republican call for more offshore drilling (after long opposing it) and, judging by the exuberant speech from running mate Sarah Palin, seems en route to reversing his opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, too. In choosing Palin over the other vice-presidential possibilities that most intrigued him -- Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, each of whom supports legalized abortion -- McCain deferred to the social conservatives central to the modern GOP coalition. Voters who choose McCain in November will be picking a president whose personal ideology places him near Bush on most major issues."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26563256/

[texaspackerbacker]

The thing I noticed--and really enjoyed--was Cindy's new hairstyle.

John McCain may not have felt pressure to outdo Sarah Palin, but Cindy apparently did--and I'd say she succeeded. Both of them, however, were runnerups in hotness to Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. Her early Thursday evening speech was on C-Span.

[hoosier]

Maybe you should read the story about him and his "brother". Because for me, it defines character. Call me naive, but I think it displays who Obama really is. $50 a month via Western Union would absolutely change that man's life. Surely Obama is able to discern that the sins of the father don't apply to the family? Surely, his brother had little to do with the father abandoning Obama and his mother? Surely, there must be "some draw" on Obama's part to help even a distant family member.

Don't you find it curious that Obama is seemingly determining that he owes his brother 'no help' which may be true in theory, but also determines that you and I must participate in a wealth redistribution program that we have no say in? Maybe I don't want to help the people Obama wants to help?

It's hypocritical. While I recognize it's an extreme example, it is a window into Barack character. I find it important. I recognize that you don't and will continue to minimize it's importance.

Whose version of the story would you suggest that I "read"? The Telegraph's? Rush's? Hannity's? I find it interesting that the Right seems to accept the negative interpretations of the situation, which--from the admittedly small amount of reading I've done--seem to me to be based on little more than a desire to destroy Obama's character. Have any of those who are going on about Obama's "terrible abandonment of his half-brother" bothered to find out what the brother wants? What if he doesn't want help? Or what Barack is thinking? Aside from the Telegraph/Vanity Fair interview, the only news story I've read where a reporter has bothered to talk to the source is CNN, which interviewed the brother in Nairobi. He states that he's doing well and that the Telegraph/VF painted a very distorted picture. To be perfectly fair, it's possible that George is embarrassed by the attention and is criticizing the "abandoment" story because he wants most of all to maintain his dignity (that's what I would want), but it's also possible that (a) he isn't desparate and/or (b) that he doesn't want anyone's help. Those who assume the worst, I think, are doing so because of convenience--because they don't like Obama or his proposed social policies. Attack those, don't engage in character assassination.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/08/22/mckenzie.obama.half.brother.cnn?iref=videosearch

[HowardRoark]

Wonder how small town america defines being rich?

Is Eau Claire a small town?

John Menard, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John R. Menard, Jr. (born 1940) is an American entrepreneur who is the founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement store chain. Menard is also a partner in Robby Gordon Motorsports with NASCAR owner/driver Robby Gordon, and is the father of NASCAR driver Paul Menard.

As early as 1959, Menard ran a business constructing pole buildings with friends from college.[citation needed]

A 1963 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2005, his company owned 203 stores resulting in an estimated $5.5 billion in sales. He makes his home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His son is Paul Menard, driver of the #15 Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series. Menard also owns an engine shop in the United Kingdom that produced engines for Team Menard and Robby Gordon Motorsports and was the owner of Team Menard which won the 1997 and 1999 Indy Racing League championships.

Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the Forbes 400, and is the richest person in Wisconsin.[1]

Menard is also engaged and due to marry... (2008)

Menard, founder and head of the Menards home improvement retail chain, said yes in a big way Wednesday when he gave $15 million to support Luther Midelfort's new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals.

Think of all the cool stuff Obama could have done with $15 million.

[mraynrand]

Wonder how small town america defines being rich?

Is Eau Claire a small town?

John Menard, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John R. Menard, Jr. (born 1940) is an American entrepreneur who is the founder and owner of Menards, a major Midwestern home improvement store chain. Menard is also a partner in Robby Gordon Motorsports with NASCAR owner/driver Robby Gordon, and is the father of NASCAR driver Paul Menard.

As early as 1959, Menard ran a business constructing pole buildings with friends from college.[citation needed]

A 1963 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Menard opened his first hardware store in 1972. As of 2005, his company owned 203 stores resulting in an estimated $5.5 billion in sales. He makes his home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His son is Paul Menard, driver of the #15 Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series. Menard also owns an engine shop in the United Kingdom that produced engines for Team Menard and Robby Gordon Motorsports and was the owner of Team Menard which won the 1997 and 1999 Indy Racing League championships.

Menard had a net worth of $7.3 billion in 2007, according to the Forbes 400, and is the richest person in Wisconsin.[1]

Menard is also engaged and due to marry... (2008)

Menard, founder and head of the Menards home improvement retail chain, said yes in a big way Wednesday when he gave $15 million to support Luther Midelfort's new emergency services department and to help Mayo Clinic educate and train health professionals.

Think of all the cool stuff Obama could have done with $15 million.

You should see what he did with at least 50 million in Annenberg challenge money working on the board with Bil Ayers in Chicago. Oh that's right - he didn't accomplish anything - but he did try to undermine the principals of the Chicago School system and impose a radical agenda.

[retailguy]

Whose version of the story would you suggest that I "read"? The Telegraph's? Rush's? Hannity's? I find it interesting that the Right seems to accept the negative interpretations of the situation, which--from the admittedly small amount of reading I've done--seem to me to be based on little more than a desire to destroy Obama's character. Have any of those who are going on about Obama's "terrible abandonment of his half-brother" bothered to find out what the brother wants? What if he doesn't want help? Or what Barack is thinking? Aside from the Telegraph/Vanity Fair interview, the only news story I've read where a reporter has bothered to talk to the source is CNN, which interviewed the brother in Nairobi. He states that he's doing well and that the Telegraph/VF painted a very distorted picture. To be perfectly fair, it's possible that George is embarrassed by the attention and is criticizing the "abandoment" story because he wants most of all to maintain his dignity (that's what I would want), but it's also possible that (a) he isn't desparate and/or (b) that he doesn't want anyone's help. Those who assume the worst, I think, are doing so because of convenience--because they don't like Obama or his proposed social policies. Attack those, don't engage in character assassination.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/wor...ef=videosearch

Well, you said earlier that you weren't familiar with the story. Guess you are. Whether you were then or are now, I guess that doesn't matter. You can dismiss it no matter what version you read, hell, I expected that, but in the process you proved my point, sort of.

I maintained that the only thing that matters is what Obama thinks. He thinks his brother is happy, therefore he is. I don't know what you read that said Obama's brother is happy, but lets just say he is happy. I now think we should send a community organizer over there so they can inform the poor soul about his lot in life.

Hoosier, the guy is living on a dollar a month. Are you really convinced that everyone is exaggerating his position? really?

Why don't you take all the stories you've read and pick out the points that are the same in all of them. Perhaps the beginning of truth starts there.

I wanted you to know one reason why I distrust Obama. I recognize that there is NO WAY on this earth that you'll ever alter your beliefs. They're set. You love the guy in spite of his faults. I just can't believe you can't see them.

I see McCains. He's way too liberal for me. I'm not fooled by the shift right. he needs to do that to get elected. It's the way of life. Too bad that you're incapable of seeing that Obama is not the second coming of Christ...

[texaspackerbacker]

He's the ANTI-CHRIST--I got an email saying so, so it must be true.

[retailguy]

He's the ANTI-CHRIST--I got an email saying so, so it must be true.

Nah. Too many people see that he's evil. Unless there is a pending rapture, we're probably OK on that front.

[hoosier]

Well, you said earlier that you weren't familiar with the story. Guess you are. Whether you were then or are now, I guess that doesn't matter. You can dismiss it no matter what version you read, hell, I expected that, but in the process you proved my point, sort of.

I maintained that the only thing that matters is what Obama thinks. He thinks his brother is happy, therefore he is. I don't know what you read that said Obama's brother is happy, but lets just say he is happy. I now think we should send a community organizer over there so they can inform the poor soul about his lot in life.

Hoosier, the guy is living on a dollar a month. Are you really convinced that everyone is exaggerating his position?

I'm convinced that everyone on the Right is using the Telegraph/VF article as ammunition for the character assassination of someone whose politics they don't like. I'm convinced that none of them have done any serious thinking or research of their own that would either butress or call into question what we have learned from the VF article. The only news source that appears to have done so is CNN, and what they found, while somewhat ambiguous, seems to call into question the dire image of a suffering half-brother painted by the Telegraph.

I wanted you to know one reason why I distrust Obama. I recognize that there is NO WAY on this earth that you'll ever alter your beliefs. They're set. You love the guy in spite of his faults. I just can't believe you can't see them.

I see McCains. He's way too liberal for me. I'm not fooled by the shift right. he needs to do that to get elected. It's the way of life. Too bad that you're incapable of seeing that Obama is not the second coming of Christ...

Your ability to decipher my political feelings about Obama--despite my never having posted anything about them here--is uncanny. You must be very powerful indeed.

For the record, Obama was not my first choice in the primary season. Like you, I'm stuck with two choices that I view as less than ideal, and like you, I side with the one who says things that come closer to what I want, or who I believe would do less damage.

[SkinBasket]

I'm convinced that everyone on the Right is using the Telegraph/VF article as ammunition for the character assassination of someone whose politics they don't like.

You're convinced of a lot of things. That's kind of been made obvious.

I'm not interested in "assassinating" anyone's character. I'm not sure how to go about it, and I don't look very good in black. I think it's because I'm too pale. I am interested in letting a man's actions speak louder than his words, no matter how pretty they are or how many times they're punctuated with glorious, well practiced stares off into the heavens.

I know, I know, you're seeing character assassination in the reporting of this story. I'm seeing a lack of any character to assassinate.

[Joemailman]

Obama's brother speaks:

"Huruma is a tough place, last January during the elections there was rioting and six people were hacked to death," he said.

"The police don't even arrest you they just shoot you. I have seen two of my friends killed. I have scars from defending myself with my fists. I am good with my fists."

Now, the shy but bright Mr Obama said, "I want to work hard and get myself to somewhere more comfortable".

He will not be calling on his famous brother for help, however.

"We have only met twice, once when I was five or six, and again in 2006," he said. " I cannot say that we are close, he probably does not even think about me. I am not going to start pestering him, I don't want to look to him for help, I want to achieve things for myself.

"I don't even tell people that I am related to Barack Obama, I don't want people here to be harassing me because they think I have money or influence. I have nothing like that, I am a person who likes to live quietly.

"I don't have any ambitions to do anything like politics, in Kenya, that means nothing. I read the newspapers, but only the sport section. Sometimes I am sure there are things about Barack which I miss, but it doesn't matter to me.

"Of course, if I was in the US I would vote for him, I think everyone should. But I am a bit biased," he joked.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2595688/Barack-Obama-is-my-inspiration-says-lost-brother.html

[SkinBasket]

Notice he said he said he didn't want help. He didn't say he has turned down help. After all, we're talking about what this relationship says about Barak, not George.

"He probably does not even think about me."

[Scott Campbell]

Hmm. Clearly not estranged. More a case of no relationship at all - bad or good.

[packinpatland]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080907/pl_politico/13216

Think McCain will be like JFK and not accept a paypcheck?