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COLUMNISTS
TODAY'S STORIES
05.02.2008
Photo of the Day


From Getty: Grandmother of US Presidential candidate and US Senator Barack Obama, Sarah Obama Onyango sits in her home in the Kogelo Community in western Kenya on February 4, 2008. As they wave machetes with gleaming blades, rioters in Kenya's sprawling slums say they have two things on their minds: protesting Kenya's presidential election and Barack Obama. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)

--Michael Crowley

Posted: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:00 AM with 11 comment(s)

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EricWitte said:

If Obama can sew up the nomination soon (not that I'm counting on it this month), he should hop on a plane to Kenya and use his popularity there to shame Kibaki and Odinga into taking a constructive course to ending the violence.

February 5, 2008 8:55 AM

epicciuto said:

Either you or Getty spelled "Barack" wrong.

February 5, 2008 9:08 AM

blackton said:

I think he should hop on a plane and get his grandmother out of there, at least until the violence dies down.

February 5, 2008 10:25 AM

bcbaird said:

Well said, blackton.  I'm surprised she's still THERE.  She must be really stubborn?

February 5, 2008 10:42 AM

bdespain1 said:

Grandmothers tend to be stubborn. One of mine is 100 and still living independently despite our pleas to move in with one of the kids. She did relent and allowed us to hire someone to help her. At that age people get very fixed in their ways.

February 5, 2008 11:53 AM

huntlib said:

Wow. Great photo.

February 5, 2008 12:20 PM

wkwami said:

As an African immigrant, I had to laugh at the comment about getting his grandmother out of there. Are you kidding? Do you understand the symbolism of a matriach or patriach "abandoning" the family home?

That aside, I can assure you that Grandma has nothing to fear. The powers that be will ensure her safety.

February 5, 2008 12:52 PM

ChanRobt said:

I hope wkwami is right.  Certainly the Secret Service must be worrying now.  The lady would seem to be a prime candidate for kidnapping or worse.

February 5, 2008 1:02 PM

blackton said:

wkwami, what powers? You mean the ones that are trying to kill each other? I understand the notion of the symbolism of "abandoning" the family home, but this is the grandmother of the man who may be the next President of the United States. Just present it as having her "visit" her family in the states, and when the violence dies down then let her go back.

February 5, 2008 1:15 PM

wkwami said:

blackton said:

"wkwami, what powers? You mean the ones that are trying to kill each other?"

Easy there... buddy. Let's not display unnecessary ignorance. Grandma lives in Kogelo, in rural western Kenya in the Luo heartland, where life there is as calm and uneventful as it was before the current political violence.

"I understand the notion of the symbolism of "abandoning" the family home, but this is the grandmother of the man who may be the next President of the United States."

With all due respect, I don't think you fully grasp my point. Let's just say that Grandma's security was assured the moment Barack became a viable presidential candidate. The powers that be are well aware of the potential threat of the likes of Al-Queda operatives kidnapping the grandmother of a US presidential candidate. I do also believe that should there be any imminent threats to her safety, grandma will be swiftly removed from harm's way.

By the way, here's a link to a Barack picture I think you'll all enjoy:

liveu-s-58.vo.llnwd.net/.../LiveLeak-dot-com-138637-obama.jpg

February 5, 2008 2:40 PM

blackton said:

yeah, thanks I saw that picture before, that was when Obama went to visit his dads gravesite. Well, I hope you are right about her safety. Still in all, it would be a powerful symbol if she did go to America and showed up at a few of his events.

February 5, 2008 5:09 PM