# Obama's Aunt Will Have to Stay in America **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699 "2008-11-02T08:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/1 "2008-11-02T08:32:37Z")
I can’t see the US deporting her now. She’ll be a terrorist target in Kenya. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/2 "2008-11-02T11:40:01Z")
Maybe we ought to grant her asylum or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/3 "2008-11-02T12:22:39Z")
Obama has a number of relatives in Kenya including [Uncles and his Grandmother](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/01/12/2008-01-12_barack_obamas_kenyan_relatives_cheer_his.html) and are [well known to Kenyans](http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/3524) and the world and not hiding. I am not sure why this Aunt would be more of a target than any of the others. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/4 "2008-11-02T19:02:54Z")
> [@jimmmy](#): > > Obama has a number of relatives in Kenya including [Uncles and his Grandmother](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/01/12/2008-01-12_barack_obamas_kenyan_relatives_cheer_his.html) and are [well known to Kenyans](http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/3524) and the world and not hiding. > > I am not sure why this Aunt would be more of a target than any of the others. Well they probably will be. They are easy targets and they’ll have good reason to claim asylum in the US. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/5 "2008-11-02T19:25:50Z")
I agree here with **The Flying Dutchman** , we also have to consider the changing situation. If Obama becomes president, all his relatives in Africa will likely become targets for all the pirates and warlords of the area that make money with kidnapping and ransom. I can foresee a quick change on how the immigration office considers her case and the cases of other relatives if they seek protection. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/6 "2008-11-02T19:42:47Z")
I actually think that as soon as Obama is elected, the state department should make moves to implore his relatives to come to the States and facilitate the move. An international incident that will make headlines around the world, and occupy the president’s mind in a personal life and death crisis is unthinkable. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/7 "2008-11-02T20:02:44Z")
I think her biggest threat will be from the relatives themselves! For being a negative story and _possibly_ costing Obama the election. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/8 "2008-11-02T20:17:21Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > If Obama becomes president, all his relatives in Africa will likely become targets for all the pirates and warlords of the area that make money with kidnapping and ransom. Good point. I guess we probably shouldn’t vote for him then, to keep those poor innocent people safe. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/9 "2008-11-02T20:28:42Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > Good point. I guess we probably shouldn’t vote for him then, to keep those poor innocent people safe. Weak attempt at humor notwithstanding, most of those innocent are in favor of him becoming president, I think they know the risks and they support him still. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/10 "2008-11-02T22:12:30Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I agree here with **The Flying Dutchman** , we also have to consider the changing situation. > > If Obama becomes president, all his relatives in Africa will likely become targets for all the pirates and warlords of the area that make money with kidnapping and ransom. I can foresee a quick change on how the immigration office considers her case and the cases of other relatives if they seek protection. Warlords? Come on, we’re talking about Kenya not Somalia. If you’re worried about general crime, yeah, I think it’s a possibility. Here’s another way of looking at it. Do you think America is dangerously exposed by having a president who has close relatives in a politically unstable African nation? What about another question, would they even want to come over to the US? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/11 "2008-11-02T22:32:12Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Warlords? Come on, we’re talking about Kenya not Somalia. If you’re worried about general crime, yeah, I think it’s a possibility. Kenya had to deal recently with corruption and warlords, currently the country is not so stable due to election violence. So criminals can move around with less worries. > [@](#): > > Here’s another way of looking at it. Do you think America is dangerously exposed by having a president who has close relatives in a politically unstable African nation? I think it is only a danger for the relatives, not much for the future president or to America. I trust that only if American interests are at stake in Africa or that there is genocide going on that we will see Obama doing something about it. > [@](#): > > What about another question, would they even want to come over to the US? It will ultimately depend on what they do decide, somehow I have the hunch ( 🙂 ) that the aunt wants to stay in America. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/12 "2008-11-02T22:48:45Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Kenya had to deal recently with corruption and warlords, currently the country is not so stable due to election violence. So criminals can move around with less worries. > I think it is only a danger for the relatives, not much for the future president or to America. I trust that only if American interests are at stake in Africa or that there is genocide going on that we will see Obama doing something about it. > It will ultimately depend on what they do decide, somehow I have the hunch ( 🙂 ) that the aunt wants to stay in America. Warlords? No, ethnic strife and corruption, yes. You’re confusing Kenya with Somalia. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/13 "2008-11-02T22:54:54Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Warlords? Come on, we’re talking about Kenya not Somalia. If you’re worried about general crime, yeah, I think it’s a possibility. Here’s a quote from an [Australian gov’t travel advisory](http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/Kenya) bolding mine > [@](#): > > We continue to receive reports that **terrorists** are planning attacks against a range of targets, such as places frequented by foreigners including Australians. Foreign embassies, hotels and commercial airlines in Kenya have been targeted by **terrorists** in the past and remain potential targets. In December 2007, Kenyan authorities arrested **terrorism** suspects in the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh…We strongly advise you not to travel to the border regions with Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia because of the extremely dangerous security situation. Cross border violence occurs, including **kidnapping** , armed banditry,\*\* and violent tribal and clan disputes\*\*. Kenya’s border with Somalia is closed due to increased instability in Somalia. > [@](#): > > Here’s another way of looking at it. Do you think America is dangerously exposed by having a president who has close relatives in a politically unstable African nation? Not any more than when Iran held 52 hostages. But it sure affect the Carter presidency negatively as he was perceived as a hostage in the white house himself. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/14 "2008-11-02T22:56:42Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Warlords? > > No, ethnic strife and corruption, yes. > > You’re confusing Kenya with Somalia. Not only that but he’s jumped to Genocide, which tells me that he is now confusing Kenya with Sudan. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/15 "2008-11-02T23:00:03Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Warlords? > > No, ethnic strife and corruption, yes. > > You’re confusing Kenya with Somalia. You are missing that Kenya recently had to remove warlords from their territory, not a strong force now, but the unrest happening in neighboring nations and the recent Kenya violence means that the warlords are not too far away as **The Flying Dutchman** reported. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/16 "2008-11-02T23:02:14Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Here’s a quote from an [Australian gov’t travel advisory](http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/advice/Kenya) > bolding mine > > Not any more than when Iran held 52 hostages. But it sure affect the Carter presidency negatively as he was perceived as a hostage in the white house himself. I am reading what you’re citing, but I see no comments about warlords. Crime, yes; but no warlords. You do know that Kenya has a strong centralized government. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/17 "2008-11-02T23:05:34Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Not only that but he’s jumped to Genocide, which tells me that he is now confusing Kenya with Sudan. 😕 :rolleyes: Read again, the genocide remark refers to Africa. The genocide was mentioned to deal with the assumption that just because of family concerns Obama would intervene in Africa; nonsense, only if genocide or American interests in Africa are threatened I expect Obama to intervene. Therefore, stop worrying about Obama going into Kenya, now, being more active in Darfur… ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/18 "2008-11-02T23:11:12Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > I am reading what you’re citing, but I see no comments about warlords. Crime, yes; but no warlords. You do know that Kenya has a strong centralized government. You do know that they are having election unrest and political gridlock that can turn even more violent? The strong central government can come back, but right now saying that it is strong is an exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/19 "2008-11-02T23:14:39Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Read again, the genocide remark refers to Africa. The genocide was mentioned to deal with the assumption that just because of family concerns Obama would intervene in Africa; nonsense, only if genocide or American interests in Africa are threatened I expect Obama to intervene. > > Therefore, stop worrying about Obama going into Kenya, now, being more active in Darfur… It seems that I am wrong. I re-read your comment and you were clearly referring to some future possible genocide in Africa not a genocide in Kenya. However you are clearly wrong in your Warlord/Kenya comment. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699/20 "2008-11-02T23:24:10Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Kenya had to deal recently with corruption and warlords, currently the country is not so stable due to election violence. So criminals can move around with less worries. Then it should be easy for you to show me an example of a Kenyan warlord. > [@](#): > > I think it is only a danger for the relatives, not much for the future president or to America. I trust that only if American interests are at stake in Africa or that there is genocide going on that we will see Obama doing something about it. I think Obama will not touch most controversial issues that involve Africa due to a fear of Right wing attacks. However, I don’t think Obama is one to shy away from controversial issues. > [@](#): > > It will ultimately depend on what they do decide, somehow I have the hunch ( 🙂 ) that the aunt wants to stay in America. The Aunt might, however I had a feeling you were talking about any other member of his family [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-aunt-will-have-to-stay-in-america/470699.md?page=2)