“A Chimp’s Last Stimulus Bill Co-stars With A Nation of Cowards!”

If you were harboring doubts about whether, despite the election of President Barack Obama in November, there are still unresolved issues around the subject of “Race in America,” just refer to a couple of news events from last Wednesday. Let me stipulate, right off, the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are still the top billed headlines for the American people, and the current Administration. I would add, rightly so.

The President spent nearly an hour last night outlining a bold, ambitious agenda in his first speech to a joint session of Congress. While noting the “the cost of action will be great,” he added, “the cost of inaction will be greater.” President Obama reiterated his plans to cut the deficit in half over the next four years. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, tapped to deliver the Republican response to the President’s speech, labeled the $787 billion stimulus package irresponsible. He added the Republican Party would regain the nation’s trust.

But this post is about last week; not last night. Much has been said about the widespread notion that America entered a post-racial, post-partisan era, effective November 4th. Allow me to caution; not so fast! First, in its February 18th Edition, the New York Post ran an editorial cartoon depicting two police officers standing over a dead chimp, complete with two blood oozing bullet holes and the caption, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

A loud hue and cry ensued, much of it accusing Sean Delonas, of penning a racist cartoon, and the New York Post and Rupert Murdoch, its owner, of irresponsibility, or worse, latent racism. This view was countered by sentiments ranging from The Post and Mr. Delonas were exercising 1st Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression, to, the protests were simply yet another instance of blacks crying foul, and displaying unwarranted sensitivity.

In response to criticism and complaints, including a suggestion from activist Al Sharpton, that The Post clarify its position on, and interpretation of the cartoon, The Post’s Editor-in-Chief, Col Allan said: "The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist." In a separate statement to CNN, Mr. Delonas characterized the controversy as "absolutely friggin' ridiculous."

Sober reflection would reveal that there may be several plausible reasons objective viewers might reach a different conclusion. A few of them include:

• The history of race relations in America, and a sordid collection of racial
stereotypes; including those comparing blacks with monkeys, apes, and or
chimps, for example.
• The fact that President Obama actively made himself the face of the Stimulus
Bill
• The cartoon ran the day after President Obama signed the Stimulus Bill
• The cartoon appeared on page 12 of that particular section of the paper;
opposite it on page 11 was a picture of President Obama signing the Stimulus
Bill

The Post initially refused to offer an apology. After a of day of reflection, and quite likely an assessment of the continued protests, buttressed by subsequent leaks that suggested even the paper’s owner, Rupert Murdoch, found the cartoon in poor taste, the paper altered its position.

Citing a belief by African-Americans that the cartoon depicted President Obama, and concluding that belief had been the reason for the controversy, The Post issued the following statement in an editorial on its website entitled “That Cartoon”: “This most certainly was not the intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.”

“It was meant to mock an ineptly written stimulus bill. Period.”

In a move that caused some to doubt the sincerity and legitimacy of the apology, the paper also said it was not apologizing to all its critics.

“There are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past – and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback. To them, no apology is due.”

“Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon – even as the opportunists seek to make it something else.”

The story appeared in or was actively discussed by most major news outlets, and quickly went viral in the Blogosphere, where there are a host of both conservative and liberal commentators. One voice, conspicuous by its absence, is that of President Obama. When asked about the cartoon, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs downplayed the matter, and distanced the President from the subject.

“I have not seen the cartoon,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Obama returned to Washington from Arizona, where he announced his plan to deal with the foreclosure crisis. “But I don’t think it’s altogether newsworthy reading the New York Post.”

In a second development, at a Black History Month Observance at the Department of Justice, ironically, on the same day Mr. Delonas’ editorial appeared in print, Attorney General Eric Holder caused more than a few raised eyebrows when he said, “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.” Even though, Mr. Holder took great pains to put that assertion into its proper context, he was panned in many corners for having the temerity to utter such a statement.

In clarifying, he noted, specifically, that:
• Average Americans do not talk to each other about race
• Given our nation’s history, it is understandable why we are ill at ease
• Making progress will require comfort with and tolerance of each other
• We must have frank conversations about the race matters that still divide us
• We have done a pretty good job of melding races in the work place, but:
o This interaction operates within certain limitations
o ‘American instinct’ and learned behavior inform us that certain
subjects are off limits, and exploring them risks, at best
embarrassment, and at worst, the questioning of one’s character
• Outside the workplace the situation is even more bleak
• On Saturdays and Sundays, America in some ways does not differ significantly
from the country that existed 50 years ago; that is truly sad
• Changing will be painful, but rewarding
• The alternative is to continue polite, restrained interaction that
accomplishes little

CNN’s Campbell Brown, she of the “No Bias, No Bull” fame, lauded Attorney General Holder, noting, he could have taken the easy way out, praising African-Americans for their sacrifice, or referencing President Obama’s victory, or his own confirmation as the first black United States Attorney General. Instead, he pressed all Americans to confront the unfinished business on the uncomfortable subject of race.

Among those who earnestly disagree with Holder, some argue his provocative word choice distracted Americans from his larger point, which was, we still have a great deal of work to do. Others, as did a Washington Post editorial this past Saturday, take Mr. Holder to task for not accounting for generational change; the paper argued as the country becomes more diverse, we will become less affected by the baggage of our horrific past.

These two distinct, but thematically overlapping news items combined last week to serve as a not so subtle reminder that even while we are navigating the tumultuous economic seas of a global financial crisis, focusing on efforts to gear down, responsibly, the war in Iraq, and creating a strategic design to gear up our involvement in Afghanistan, and possibly Pakistan, we are bound, inescapably, to deal with what W. E. B. Du Bois deemed in his 1903 Treatise, The Souls of Black Folk, “the problem of the 20th Century…the color-line.”

That we are still trying to resolve this challenge, a decade into the 21st Century, is instructive. It speaks to the complex and trenchant nature of the issue of race. As Americans, we are at a point where it is no longer sufficient to sing "Kumbaya," or even "Lift Every Voice and Sing", for that matter; we must commit to the serious, arduous and continuous work of building Racial Détente. Perhaps it is apropos that during Black History Month 2009, Mr. Delanos’ Chimp Co-starred in the news with Attorney General Holder’s Cowards to underscore that salient point.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/obama.speech/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/video.obama.sotn/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/sotn.jindal.speech/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXHDTch-Mpc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7nN2SCquwQ

http://themoderatevoice.com/26579/new-york-posts-chimp-cartoon-racist-or-politically-motivated-pc-firestorm/

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/postopinion/editorials/that_cartoon_155984.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/ny-post-put-obama-photo-o_n_168016.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7900963.stm

http://cbs3.com/topstories/chimp.attack.cartoon.2.938541.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmU5UV3bnuM

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/18/campbell.brown.holder/index.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090219/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/holder_race

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/20/AR2009022003643.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/18/holder.race.relations/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6905255&page=1

http://www.newsweek.com/id/185286

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/opinion/21blow.html?_r=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_Every_Voice_and_Sing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month

"Say it Ain't So, Alex!"

Time flies, and when it does not, it is our nature to devise ever more creative ways to make it seem at though it does. After less than a month, CNN and others are in full-throat mode trumpeting President Obama’s “First One Hundred Days.” Of course, with the Country and much of the world watching his every move since November 4th, if you count back to the Election, it really has been 106 days.

To his credit, President Obama repeatedly reminded all who seemed inclined to forget, that we have only one President at a time, and his term did not begin until January 20th, or 29 days ago. In spite of how busy the President has been, keeping up with his much talked about BlackBerry, hosting his White House Super Bowl Party, fitting in hoops where he can, and oh yeah, shepherding historic legislation that he called, "the most sweeping economic recovery package in our history," through a prickly and reticent Congress, today’s conversation will be other-focused. Take a well deserved break Mr. President, from this page anyway.

No, this story is about baseball. Well, not exactly. To be more precise, it is really about Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, familiarly known as A-Rod. The 33 year-old is baseball’s highest paid player. In 2007, he signed a 10-year, $275 million contract that will add another $30 million if he breaks the all-time home run record of 762. His current contract, the richest in the history of baseball, breaks the previous record amount of $252 million, which he also held.

If you are a baseball fan, or especially an A-Rod fan, you know that Rodriguez is no stranger to controversy and media scrutiny. Obviously his salary draws major league attention. It also does not hurt his paparazzi appeal that he plays for the (love 'em or hate 'em) New York Yankees. Of course as an avid and life-long Dodger fan, I hate 'em!

Besides playing in New York, and earning nearly as much money as a small Country, A-Rod has gained notoriety for his stats (he is projected to break Barry Bonds’ home run record/more about that later). He is a 12-time All-Star, a 3-time American League MVP, and 2-time Golden Glove winner. However, with the Yankees, he has also garnered a reputation for less than stellar post-season play. Throughout his career, he has worn the nickname The Cooler, because teams have often played poorly (cooled of) when he was with them, only to get hot when he left.

In July 2007 Jose Conseco said he would publish a second book detailing drug use in Major League Baseball, and called Rodriguez a hypocrite. On February 7, 2009, just a few days before the start of spring training, Sports Illustrated reported that A-Rod had tested positive for two anabolic steroids, testosterone and Primobolan, during his 2003 season playing shortstop for the Texas Rangers. During that season he also won the American League Most Valuable Player award for the first time, hit his 300th career home run (47 that year), and earned one of his ten Silver Slugger Awards.

Two days later, February 9, in a widely view interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, A-Rod copped his ‘Roid use, blaming “an enormous amount of pressure to perform.” Yesterday, he called a press conference in Tampa, Florida, and discussed the matter with reporters, in front of many of his Yankee teammates.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is reviewing the situation to determine whether punishment will be forthcoming. While this is an unfortunate situation for one of baseball’s icons, it should be even more sobering for the sport of baseball itself. In just my fourth blog commentary, 513 days ago, I discussed briefly the Barry Bonds situation. But before Bonds came Jose Conseco, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa. Some allege Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are on the list that will be included in former Senator George Mitchell’s report on baseball players using performance enhancing drugs.

When I wrote about Bonds, he had just broken Hank Aaron’s longstanding Home Run record, 755, a couple of weeks earlier. As I noted earlier, A-Rod is on pace to break Bond’s record. Unfortunately, it may not matter. Apparently one of the actions the Commissioner is considering is invalidating Bonds' records, including the home run mark, and reinstating Aaron as the leader. Such a move would also likely have detrimental ramifications for A-Rod’s records chase, and possibly at least a portion of his career. The established precedent for players found to have used illegal performance enhancing drugs is a 50-game suspension.

Baseball was one my father’s passion, and his favorite sport. It was the first sport I was exposed to, and the only sport I played on an organized level. I still have fond memories of watching games with my dad, and of playing sand lot and Little League ball. I remember watching the transplanted (from Brooklyn) Los Angeles Dodgers play, declaring them my first official favorite team…one of the special treats I shared with my first role model, and visiting Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium).

That Field of Dreams was sown many years ago. The Dodgers are still my favorite Baseball team, but baseball is no longer my favorite sport, and has not been for quite sometime. Basketball holds that distinction now. Still, when I reflect on the memories etched across the canvas of my mind; a summer’s eve, my dad, me, and a Dodger’s game, Sandy Kofax or Don Drysdale working on another no-hitter, Maury Wills stealing home, first Walter Alston, then Tommy Lasorda, making the managerial calls, all I can think of to say is, “Say it Ain’t So, Alex!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/13/60minutes/main3617425.shtml

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/sports/baseball/18vecsey.html?_r=1&ref=sports

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/

http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/07/is-jose-canseco.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3894847

http://www.mndaily.com/2009/02/09/rod-steroids

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/the-inside-job/2009/2/9/a-rod-took-steroids-felt-under-pressure-to-perform.html

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/10/shaq.arod.ap/index.html?rss=true

http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/archives/2009/02/wait-arod-did-steroids-no-way.html

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sparod0208,0,5938733.story

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3153129

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maury_Wills

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Koufax

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Drysdale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Alston

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Lasorda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Bonds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_McGwire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Canseco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Sosa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Pettitte

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clemens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_J._Mitchell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Selig

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gammons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A1vez_Ravine

A Stimulus Plan We Can Believe In?

Call it a bailout, call it a recovery plan, call it a spending bill, call it pork-laden, or call it a stimulus plan; by any other name it will be as controversial. On that you can count!

Yesterday, the Senate approved an $838 billion economic stimulus plan. Loosely titled: “A bill making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes,” the plan will now go to a joint committee where Senate and House members will try to hammer out differences between the Senate Bill, and the $819 billion “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” passed by the House two weeks ago.

The stimulus bill has become the latest symbol for how things get done in Washington, or don’t. Throughout the post-election, pre-inauguration period, President Obama spoke of ending the partisan in-fighting that has so often paralyzed erstwhile good intentions in the past. He met with Republicans on several occasions, ostensibly to invest in normalizing inter-party relations, and stemming incidents of rank bickering between Democrats and the loyal opposition party.

Of course the world shifted on its axis January 20th; returned to normal that is. As a result, the House passed its bill January 28th, 244-188, with 11 dissenting Democrats, and more notably, without a single Republican vote. So much for Bi-partisanship; perhaps the Senate could deliver.

Well, in a manner of speaking it did. The Senate Bill passed by a vote of 61 to 37. Three moderate Republican Senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, Maine, and Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania, joined two Independents, Joe Lieberman, Connecticut, and Bernie Sanders, Vermont in voting with 56 Democrats. One seat, Minnesota, is currently vacant (Neither the incumbent, Norm Coleman, nor the challenger, Al Franken has been seated), and Republican Senator Judd Gregg, New Hampshire, has been nominated to be President Obama’s Commerce Secretary, and did not vote.

Immediately after yesterday’s Senate vote, a conservative PAC, The National Republican Trust, vowed to fight GOP Senators who supported the bill by backing primary challengers in their upcoming races. Senator Specter appears to be the most at-risk, as he is up for election in 2010. Senator Snowe does not face re-election until 2012, and Senator Collins was just re-elected in November, and does not run again until 2014. All three have indicated they may not vote for the final bill, if as anticipated, significant spending proposals are added.

Early polling by CNN indicates 54% of Americans favor the stimulus plan, while 45% oppose it. From Congress’ view, perhaps more importantly, the same poll shows 32% of Republicans favor the plan. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada, projected the committee could reach agreement as early as 24 hours. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, California, was more guarded, and suggested it could take as long as the end of the week. Meanwhile, Representative Steny Hoyer, Maryland, House Democratic leader, added he thought discussions could run into the middle of next week. In one National barometer for how the Plan was viewed, stocks tumbled 400 points after Secretary Geithner presented the revised plan for restructuring financial institutions; lower than at any time since November. The drop was widely attributed to the lack of specifics in how the plan would deal with a host of thorny issues such as mortgages, toxic assets, and thawing a frozen credit market.

While Republican members of Congress are solid in voicing and voting their opposition to the two Stimulus proposals, some key supporters are emerging from the States. Governor Charlie Crist, Florida, joined President Obama to promote the Stimulus Plan in Fort Myers, Florida, yesterday, while Monday President Obama delivered the message in Elkhart, Indiana, where unemployment is 15.3%. By making an appearance to introduce the President at the Florida stop, Governor Crist, who was once thought to be a possibility to serve as John McCain’s running mate, underscores the fact there is bi-partisan support for the package.

Governor Schwarzenegger, California, has joined a group of 18 other Governors (including the Virgin Islands) in sending a letter to President Obama, backing the Stimulus Plan. One of the distinctions that gubernatorial support will bring is the recognition that as you survey on the ground, closer to the people, there is recognition, or at least a belief, by some Republicans in key leadership positions that the Stimulus Plan is essential to any desired recovery.

One jaded view of what has taken place so far is that the sound and fury offered in the guise of the loyal opposition is merely obstructionism, cast as indignation over profuse spending and the lack of more tax cuts. Indeed, such a view would be a jaded. Surely no patriot, Country First, genuine article American would penalize fellow Countrymen, and jeopardize our National recovery to win a political point. Right?

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11web-stim.html?_r=1

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/u/united_states_economy/economic_stimulus/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/10/stimulus.gop.pac/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29obama.html?_r=1&fta=y

http://www.politicker.com/california/31287/schwarzenegger-other-governors-back-federal-stimulus-plan

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003916.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-stimulus_0211feb11,0,4267015.story

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-markets11-2009feb11,0,3970013.story

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/898189.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-10-obama-florida_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

"The First Family...You Never Knew!"

Three months ago I wrote about Madelyn Dunham, President Obama’s maternal grandmother. You may recall, she had just died, and virtually disappeared instantly as a news topic. Admittedly I found that somewhat troubling. Like hundreds of millions of Americans, and tens of billions of people around the world, I spend a great deal of time watching various aspects of the Inaugural ceremonies.

As the Obama Presidency enters its third week, there have been a plethora of news items from which to choose for highlighting. The Blagojevich imbroglio finally reached a head with his unanimous Impeachment by the Illinois State Senate, two Clinton…I mean Obama picks withdrew their names from consideration yesterday, due to tax-related scandals.

Nancy Killefer, appointed to the newly created position of Chief Performance Officer, and former Senator Tom Daschle, the President’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, would both have required Senate confirmation. Of course, Senator Bill Richardson withdrew earlier from being considered for the position of Secretary of Commerce, while Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and Attorney General Eric Holder had tough confirmation battles. The latest withdrawals, by Killefer and Daschle, prompted a contrite President Obama to confess, "I screwed up!" I am convinced this lapse in standards does not reflect the best our President has to offer; nor is it the embodiment of the Change We Believed In.

Nevertheless, I had already decided what I wanted to write about after Inauguration. Faced with technical difficulties last week, I knew other matters would arise, but I am going to stick with my gut, and take, as Frost did, “The Road Less Traveled By (Technically, The Road Not Taken).”

We have been introduced to Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, and their daughter, Stanley Ann, who is Barack’s mother. We know about her daughter, and Barack’s half-sister, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng. There have been countless stories about the First Mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, who will live in the White House, with the Obamas. We even know by now that First Brother-in-law, Craig Robinson coaches basketball at Oregon State University, even though most of us have no idea where Corvallis is located. Naturally we are familiar with First Lady Michelle, and the Obama children, Malia and Natasha (Sasha).

Of course you know in order for there to be a Barack, Jr., there must have been a Barack, Senior; but did you know…Barack Hussein Obama, Senior, fathered seven other children, six of whom are living? That’s right the President has five half-brothers, and another half-sister. They live in far-away places such as Kenya, Germany, and China, and not so far away places such as Atlanta. Two of them, one brother, and one sister are older than President Obama. Five of the six share the Obama surname, the sister, and four of the brothers.

One fleeting Inaugural moment peeked my interest in this compelling (to me anyway) bit of trivia. I saw a crowd shot in which a stately African woman, identified as Sarah Obama, was referred to as the President’s grandmother. Having heard many previous references to the passing of Mrs. Dunham being the last direct connection to the President’s forebearers, I wondered how this matter could have escaped the omniscient eye of an omnipresent media.

A little research led me to the answer, quickly. Mrs. Obama was married to Barack Obama, Senior’s father at some point, but was not his mother, and therefore, not the President’s grandmother. However, they do have a warm relationship, and he refers to her as his grandmother.

Following up briefly on the First Siblings, the President is reported to have said he is in regular contact with his sisters only, both of whom are Ph.D.’s incidentally. Although not as close with his brothers, there are documented records of their having met him, or at least commenting on his phenomenal rise to the epicenter of global power. One brother, Mark Ndesandjo, who has live in China for a number of years, is thought to have gone underground to escape an increasingly intrusive media. His brother David, who is the one deceased sibling, was killed in a motorcycle accident.

President Obama’s seven paternal half-siblings are:

• Malik Obama (Abongo, Roy), Half-brother, 1958
• Auma Obama, Half-sister, Circa 1960
• Abo Obama, Half-brother, 1968
• Bernard Obama, Half Brother, 1970
• Mark Ndesandjo, Half-brother
• David Ndesandjo (deceased), Half-brother
• George Hussein Onyango Obama, Half-brother, 1982

Over the weekend, CNN reported with great fanfare the President’s youngest half-brother, George Obama, was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, for possession of cannabis, and resisting arrest. A recent follow-up on the story, which was much less publicized, indicated Mr. Obama was released later in the day, and all charges were dropped. It appears, while he was picked up with people who had marijuana, but he did not. It turns out associating with people who have the drug is considered a petty offense. Who knew? Certainly not CNN; wink, wink!

Of course, when first seeing this story splashed across CNN, I was immediately reminded that there is rich legacy of First Familial notoriety, including Billy Carter, Ron Reagan, Jr., George W. Bush, Roger Clinton, and most recently Barbara and Jenna Bush. Then my prevailing notion was, welcome to the club, Mr. President. Now, it is less less certain this Commander-in-Chief will have family members joining that not so august crew. But if he does, they should be warmly received by an ample awaiting party.

In summary, there is nothing earth-shattering about anything in this story. Of course that’s the beauty of having a blog. You are empowered and free to write about what ever suits your own whimsical fancy. The essential point of this piece is from time to time, it is worthwhile to look beyond the front page, or CNN, or TVOne, or the Times, the Post, or the Journal, or wherever you get your news to find as Paul Harvey calls it, “The Rest of the Story!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link:
http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Sr.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/07/malia-obama-see-how-shes_n_141836.html

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/XmjjbIadA0a/Obama+Campaigns+Ahead+Indiana+North+Carolina/1H0KETkkawd/Natasha+Obama

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20253448,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Robinson_(basketball_coach)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545442,BSX-News-wotreedd09.stng

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/04/america/obama.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Dunham

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/citing-tax-troubles-an-obama-appointee-withdraws/?hp

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/03/daschle/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malia_Obama#Malia_and_Sasha_Obama

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545462,BSX-News-wotrees09.stng

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_are_Barack_Obama's_siblings

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/31/george.obama.arrest/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/02/02/kenya.george.obama/

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/22/bts.obama.brother/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/illinois/2004-10-26-obama-lifestyle_x.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Rmbfohq6Y

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127586/posts

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/familytree/545470,BSX-News-wotreez09.article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Soetoro-Ng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtztrMoIUDc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenna_Bush

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Pierce_Bush

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Clinton,_Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Carter

http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Politics/2004/08/Breakthrough-For-Non-Believers.aspx