There Goes Camelot
30 March 2008 10:28 am by Taylor Marsh
Obama had to finally admit that when it comes to John F. Kenney and his father,
OOPS applies.
Contrary to Obama’s claims in speeches in January at American University
and in Selma last year, the Kennedy family did not provide the funding for
a September 1959 airlift of 81 Kenyan students to the United States that included
Obama’s father. According to historical records and interviews with participants,
the Kennedys were first approached for support for the program nearly a year
later, in July 1960. The family responded with a $100,000 donation, most of
which went to pay for a second airlift in September 1960.Obama spokesman Bill Burton acknowledged yesterday that the senator from
Illinois had erred in crediting the Kennedy family with a role in his father’s
arrival in the United States. He said the Kennedy involvement in the Kenya
student program apparently “started 48 years ago, not 49 years ago as
Obama has mistakenly suggested in the past.” … ..Obama’s Selma speech offers a very confused chronology of both the Kenya
student program and the civil rights movement. Relating the story of how his
parents met, Obama said: “There was something stirring across the country
because of what happened in Selma, Alabama, because some folks are willing
to march across a bridge. So they got together and Barack Obama Junior was
born. So don’t tell me I don’t have a claim on Selma, Alabama.” … ..
Mistakes happen. So maybe the Obama team will cool it when thinking Clinton
is the only one who ever makes a biographical mistake. I’m sure the media and
the Obama blogs will jump right on this one. Oh, and speaking of Obama blogs, check
out BTD today. He takes one to the cleaners in Obama To Blame If The
Dem Contest Goes To The Convention.
