Obama aide: Timing of news about his aunt 'suspicious'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/01/art.axelrodcall1101.gi.jpg caption="Obama aide David Axelrod, pictured here at a Pennsylvania campaign office earlier this week, called the release of information about Sen. Obama's aunt 'suspicious.'"]
(CNN) - Barack Obama’s chief strategist said Saturday that he thought the last-minute appearance of stories like this weekend’s news that the Illinois senator’s aunt may be living in the country illegally would make people “suspicious.”
The Associated Press has reported that Zeituni Onyango, a native of Kenya, has been living in Boston despite losing an appeal for asylum four years ago. Obama’s campaign issued a statement earlier Saturday that the Democratic nominee “has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws should be followed." The campaign also said it would return $265 in donations from Onyango, who is not legally permitted to donate to Obama because she is not a U.S. citizen.
CNN has been unable to independently verify the aunt's immigration status.
On the campaign trail in Nevada, Axelrod said the timing of the report might raise a few eyebrows. "The campaign issued a statement on that," he said. "And I don't have anything more to add to it, other than I think people are suspicious about stories that surface in the last 72 hours of a national campaign... I think that they're going to take that, they're going to put it in that context."
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers of Michigan questioned both the timing and the source of the news Saturday, sending a public letter to Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff requesting an investigation.
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McCain wants to win at all costs.
You reap what you sow.
Vote Obama
At this point no one cares! Everyone I know has already voted except for one person (that poor person is going to wait until NOV 4th).
People are sick of the non-sense.
Besides that anyone hear about Cindy's half sister that she cut off when her dad died. Talk about cruel. From my understanding those were not her families wishes.
Someone wants Palin's medical record 20 plus years ago.....sick liberal covnersation.
Joanne Buck
Minnesota
If Senator Obama did not know that she is in the country illegally then it;s not his fault and did say that the system should just follow the laws no matter who it is. This is really a none story as it relates to Senator Obama's candidacy.
that is all i have to say!!!
MCCAIN HAS NO SHAME!!
If you still don't know what Obama stands for, you are a real ignorant or stupid.
When you are in a desperate situation you will do anything. Nothing surprises me after yesterday, when McCain stood on the stage and laughed at what the Gov of Calf. had to say about Senator Obama's physical characteristics. It is true, John McCain upholds the negativity of his followers at his rallies. No one has had anything to say negative about McCain's physical characteristics. He truly a desperate man!!!!
Obama did say this weekend would be ugly. He spoke the truth.
I am really getting tired of this election. Sorry but I don't think Obama can be responsible for what and how every member of his family lives. But most important, I am concerned that this information is easily accessible. Should I be worried about someone in a government office leaking information on me?
REV WRIGHT IS
BACK.............
G = GARBAGE
O = OUT
P= PLEASE
ENOUGH...
BO08/12
America's choice McCaim/Palin thank god we have trustworthy candidates.
How dare somonw challeng god Obama. The will be punished.
To: dp November 1st, 2008 6:56 pm ET
Go back to your cage. Your ignorant "voice" does not matter.
Protect poor inexperienced Obama....and beat the heck out of Palin.
Journalism is dead as of early 2008.
Jack Jones
Colorado
If I were to ask which party she is registered to vote under, does that make me a racist?
Isn't this lady from his dad's side of the family? The side he only met once? I bet there are other Obama's he hasn't even met. He can't be responsible for them. Also, Cindy McCain's sister is living in poverty and no one pays attention to that one.
Are you *#@!$#* kidding me? Picking on an eldery woman who happens to be related to Obama.. how desperate!! If the McCain camp thinks that $265 will make or break the Obama campaign... well, they've established they're blind to the needs of the American people....
Now I just heard the TAPE with sarah palin and some radio guys up in canada. they trick her petty bad. And it was FUNNY and not Funny. because that just shows SHE WILL TALK TO ANYBODY> THIS TRICK PHONE CALL COULD DO IT FOR THEM. PLEASE HEAR THE TAPE. it on huff post! ITS REAL BAD FOR THEM!
Hey dp, I don't know what rock you crawled out from under, but this country is almost at that point right now. Having Obama in office wouldn't be any worse than having the Bush policy in McCain. Wake up and get educated for God sake and stop hating people for what they are instead of listening to what they have to say.
Mazakani,
Have you gone complete MAD. Or are you just out of your ever loving mind.
The statues that Republcans have set aren't exactly the values of this country.
Sen. Obama just can't hide the truth, this is another instance where he cannot be trusted. I sure hope that all those who support him will take a second look, after all it is just our country at stake, not race or money and no matter how much he blows on ads, the truth is the truth....
Gee, why didn't somebody tell me years ago that my more well-to-do relatives were responsible for my financial and legal welfare??? I sure would have liked to have known that it is standard procedure for the better off relatives to take care of their poorer relatives and my life could have been so much easier!! Gosh-darn it all to heck and back again!!! I guess Obama didn't know its standard procedure to take care of your distant half this and that that you've met only maybe once if ever....there's a lot of ill informed people in this country-including my well-to-do uncles and aunts, apparently 🙁
NO MATTER WHAT, THIS WILL NOT MAKE US LIKE MCCAIN! HE IS TOO WEALTHY TO BE OUR PRESIDENT! HE ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF!
what do you expect from a repub. look at bush &chenny do you expect
mccain an palin as repub. to be honest.