Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for October 28, 2008

I wonder – is he looking for Obama’s brother George?   Was he looking?   Will he find him?

OH, brilliant, Unca. Still trying to foist off the COMPLETELY DISCREDITED rumor that Senator Obama isn’t a citizen of the United States of America? He was born in Hawaii. Please check your facts before you spout stuff from Faux Noise.

His father is, I believe, still a citizen of Kenya. I find it perfectly believable that Mr. Barack Obama might be eligible for dual citizenship, but so what? I don’t think that disqualifies him from the presidency. It certainly doesn’t disqualify a lot of other people with dual citizenship from joining our armed forces, fighting and sometimes dying for this country.

I had planned to grit my teeth and vote for Hillary Clinton, but now I plan to grit my teeth and vote for Obama. I’m equally ready to vote him out in four years if he doesn’t at least try to keep his promises.

sappha1958 says:

OH, brilliant, Unca. Still trying to foist off the COMPLETELY DISCREDITED rumor that Senator Obama isn’t a citizen of the United States of America?   You call that “brilliant”? After making this “brilliant” deduction based on NOTHING WHATSOEVER THAT I SAID?   I said he has a BROTHER IN KENYA. That is ALL I said!   Yes, I’ve heard about the rumors that Obama’s birth certificate is phony. I’ve also heard the Hawaiian State authorities will vouch for it. So as far as I’m concerned, the issue of his citizenship can be laid to rest.   BUT HE DOES HAVE A HALF BROTHER IN KENYA. THIS IS PROVEN AND UNQUESTIONED FACT.   READING COMPREHENSION people. Read what’s in the print, don’t project your own biases into it.   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/26/MNCV13INNO.DTL http://www.modernghana.com/newsp/187475/1/pageNum1/obamas-brother-lives-in-a-kenyan-shack.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/back-in-kenya-granny-sarah-looks-forward-to-a-long-night-with-her-tv-974414.html

Actually, I believe that the comic is about our prejudices towards Africa. We are a very insular nation, and most of what we think about the continent comes from Tarzan movies and the life of Idi Amin.

Unca – My father is a compassionate, conservative Christian, and my Mother is a passionate liberal. I have a cousin who’s a gay liberal, one who is a conservative republican, one expat, and two who are holy rollers. And all that means is … nothing. The point is, why are you bringing up Obama’s brother? Unless you were trying to intimate something else?

BB, very good point. James I like yours as well.

Unca yours is the classic “cop out”.

James7344 says: Actually, I believe that the comic is about our prejudices towards >Africa. We are a very insular nation, and most of what we think about >the continent comes from Tarzan movies and the life of Idi Amin.

Yes - and we are watching an american abroad - the foibles and embarrassments of which have been written about since the 50’s - ‘The Ugly American’ could be emended to ‘The Ugly American From FOX’

BirishB says:

The point is, why are you bringing up Obama’s brother?   I’m just wondering why Trudeau has Rollie in Kenya, that’s all. We’re in the final stretch of a general election, and one of the candidates has relatives there, and you don’t suppose that’s a little more than mere coincidence? So I’m speculating. Wondering. Asking.   Unless you were trying to intimate something else?   I don’t “intimate”. If I have something to say, I say it.

HUMPHRIES says:

Unca yours is the classic “cop out”.   Why? Because I don’t appreciate getting hammered over something I didn’t say?   Don’t you think I get into enough trouble over the stuff I *do* say?

Opinions are like a**holes.Everybody has one and they all stink.

BirishB says:

unca – Sorry, I’m not buying whatever it is you are selling.   Your loss my friend. It’s a buyer’s market, and prices will never be this low again!   Here’s what I’m reading in the strip: it’s an examination of America’s subtle racism. Trudeau is using the reality of Obama’s family in Africa as a stepping off point to highlight our reliance on stereotypes (ebola), innuendo (the relevance of Obama’s brother) and fear (yesterday – it’s getting dark here) to make generalizations about race. The story arc is satirizing America’s fear of getting “browned out.”   Damn! You got all that from two strips on the subject!   So I ask again, why is that you brought up Obama’s brother?   Well, you’re the one who’s managed to pull the whole history of Racism in America out of two strips, including a reference to Obama’s family so, you tell me.   What’s the relevance to your agenda? (And don’t pretend you don’t have one – I’ve read your comments in the past)   To quote Freud, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” You read a possible link to Obama’s family, and I also read a possible link to Obama’s family. I asked. You [think you] answered. Your answer may be correct, we’ll see.   Now, I’m only speculating, but I think you were attempting a smarmy, subtle remark, but you kind of got your hand caught in the cookie jar.   You’re welcome to think anything you like of course, but I think you’d be better off if you’d try to be a little more careful in reading the entire body of English Literature out of Act I of Hamlet.   And since I don’t care to continue this stimulating back-and-forth, the last word is yours if you want it.   Translation: “I’ve run out of rational arguments, but I don’t want to be accused of using ad hominem, so I guess I’ll chill.”   Thank you so much for the last word, I believe I’ll take it.

Susan001 says:

Seems the only opinion that matters here is UncaAlby”s.   Hey, nobody’s stopping you from chiming in. Nobody’s forcing you read anything I write.   And anyone who disagrees or argues with him is lacking in “reading comprehension”.   No, that’s not true. I just ask that you please disagree with what I actually said. Not what you think a guy like me must have meant. You don’t even know what a “guy like me” is like, so most of your assumptions are probably wrong anyway.   So, when somebody quotes me, insults me, then argues against something I never said, well, sorry. I think I’m being generous calling it a reading comprehension problem.   Unc, why doncha go back to those “more important things” you were doing on Sunday?   Oh I’ve finished with that, thank you. So I’ve got time now to share with you good people, at least until next week-end.   Won’t we all have a grand time!