Art Imitates Life

August 20, 2008 7:29 AM

When art imitates life. The Onion once again.....
posted by djseafood (45 comments total)

I look forward to the calm, thoughtful discussions that will ensue.
posted by ardgedee at 7:33 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Babies are stupid.
posted by Debaser626 at 7:40 AM on August 20, 2008

While we're on half-siblings: Cindy McCain's forgotten half-sisters.
posted by ericb at 7:40 AM on August 20, 2008 [2 favorites]

Oh dear.

"Hello, McCain? Boy have I got something for you. Yeah, so Obama's younger brother is basically a hobo, lives on a buck a year or something, and Obama doesn't do anything to help him. Merry Christmas!"
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:42 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yeah. The dude's had a hard ass life in a hard ass place to make a life, no reason to mock him. The same goes for people in Appalachia, Idaho, New York City or anywhere else.
I like posting here so I'll keep my opinions on Alabamans to myself.
posted by Science! at 7:43 AM on August 20, 2008 [2 favorites]

I look forward to the calm, thoughtful discussions that will ensue.

So, how much responsibility to we have to our relatives, much less our half-relatives? I've known those who declare that you owe family nothing as you never chose to be related to them, while others say family is all you can count on in this world. A matter of cultural values, perhaps?
posted by cimbrog at 7:43 AM on August 20, 2008

the two lived together only for a brief period in 1981, shortly before Barack left to attend Columbia University and Cooter had to drop out of chicken-killing school because an air conditioner fell on his head.

That is actually funny.
posted by Science! at 7:45 AM on August 20, 2008 [3 favorites]

How much should you owe to other sons of a father who abandoned you as a child?
posted by anthill at 7:47 AM on August 20, 2008

I think it's unfair to draw parallels between this man's life and some charicature just for lulz, but sidestepping that altogether, an honest question: should Barack have done more to help his brother?

On preview, others are have similar questions, so I'll get back to lurking.
posted by preparat at 7:48 AM on August 20, 2008

It's clear that George doesn't want to have Barack in his life either.

However, if McCain makes a big deal about this, then George will appear in a suit and tie at a campaign rally. It will be creepy.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:49 AM on August 20, 2008

"No-one knows who I am," he told the magazine, before claiming: "I live here on less than a dollar a month. I live like a recluse, no-one knows I exist. If anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed."

posted by stbalbach at 7:50 AM on August 20, 2008

Hello, Obama? Boy have I got something for you. Yeah, so McCain's service brothers are basically hobos, live on a buck a year or something, and McCain doesn't cast any votes to help them. Merry Christmas!
posted by DU at 7:58 AM on August 20, 2008 [8 favorites]

One thing that I have wondered about Obama's Kenyan grandmother, and now maybe other relatives, is if they should somehow be protected, especially if Obama wins the election?
posted by R. Mutt at 8:28 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Are we ignoring the Jimmy Carter parody?
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:32 AM on August 20, 2008

> Are we ignoring the Jimmy Carter parody?

Have you not read The Onion link?
posted by ardgedee at 8:56 AM on August 20, 2008

"I have scars from defending myself with my fists. I am good with my fists."

Sounds like we found our VP.
posted by Eideteker at 9:06 AM on August 20, 2008

Imagined FOX News headline -

OBAMA'S BROTHER: "I'M GOOD WITH MY FISTS"
posted by naju at 9:07 AM on August 20, 2008

No, the FOX headline would be:

OBAMA'S BROTHER FOUND IN KENYA
Kenya Isn't America; Terrorist?
posted by DU at 9:10 AM on August 20, 2008 [5 favorites]

Today's Hannity & Colmes debate: TERRORIST OR GANGSTA?
posted by naju at 9:15 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Of their second meeting, George Obama said: "It was very brief, we spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."

Err, well, yeah. I mean, it's someone you've only met once before. Sibling or no, that kinda makes you strangers.

an honest question: should Barack have done more to help his brother?

Did his brother ever ask for help? Based on what I read, I would guess probably not.
posted by quin at 9:20 AM on August 20, 2008

Still not as embarrassing as Jeb.
posted by ColdChef at 9:23 AM on August 20, 2008 [2 favorites]

Still not as embarrassing as George is to Jeb.

FTFY
posted by DU at 9:25 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

an honest question: should Barack have done more to help his brother?

1) How do you know that he even knew where he was?
2) How do you know that help wasn't offered?
posted by R. Mutt at 9:36 AM on August 20, 2008

Embarrassed by his penury, he said that he does not does not mention his famous half-brother in conversation.

Ah so you do mention your famous half-brother in conversation!
posted by odinsdream at 9:37 AM on August 20, 2008

I think that should be "Life Imitates Art". For one that's where the irony comes from; two, check the dates on those articles; and three, the Onion writers are sharp, witty people who are highly unlikely to just copy a real story and gussy it up with gap teeth and a jug of moonshine. That would be Carlos Mencia level of humor, and he's not fit to wipe the asses of the folks at The Onion.
posted by Xoebe at 9:41 AM on August 20, 2008

Also: shouldn't this be life imitating art? Or am I confused?
posted by ColdChef at 9:44 AM on August 20, 2008

I was close to posting this on MeTa because of the brother named Cooter.

"Hey! Cooter! We've got one here! Or, we'll have one when we grow up!"

And second third "Life Imitates Art." Because that's what happened here, & that's the common phrase.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:46 AM on August 20, 2008

Flagged for mangling the art/life imitation order.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:56 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm seriously disappointed by the complete lack of self-righteous demagoguery in this thread. C'mon people!

OK, I'll start:
Obama is clearly trying keep his godless, terrorist, un-American family under wraps. He is a danger to freedom loving real Americans everywhere! We need to suspend the Constitution and appoint W as President for life!
posted by JeffK at 10:15 AM on August 20, 2008

Yeah, comparing this to the Onion story is kind of annoying, but maybe it needn't derail the thread.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:15 AM on August 20, 2008

Still not as embarrassing as Jeb.

Neil is much worse, I seriously think Jeb wouldn't have sucked as bad as George jr as President (not that one wants to find out for sure). Jeb would have probably been like George sr, simply lame, not a full blown catastrophe like GWB

also, I like the "good with my fist" part, the brother's certainly got bigger balls than David Axelrod, who seems to be great at branding and logos and typeface, not so good as not getting his guy buried under an avalanche of toxic shit.
posted by matteo at 10:34 AM on August 20, 2008

Sorry DU, that ain't gonna work.

There's no way to spin this. And it's not serious enough to warrant a response from either the Republicans or the Democrats without the Republicans looking petty or the Democrats drawing attention to it.
posted by sleslie at 11:09 AM on August 20, 2008

> it's not serious enough to warrant a response from either the Republicans or the Democrats without the Republicans looking petty or the Democrats drawing attention to it.

The Republicans got votes for Bush by comparing Kerry to beach sandals. I find it hard to believe anything is considered out of bounds in an election year.
posted by ardgedee at 11:29 AM on August 20, 2008

And it's not serious enough to warrant a response from either the Republicans

That's why their hired thugs (Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, etc) will keep it in the news, make it a talking point, spin it as best they can to make Obama look bad/dangerous to the country. But it's not the Republican party doing it, and they're (gasp) astounded someone would say such things.
posted by inigo2 at 11:31 AM on August 20, 2008 [3 favorites]

sleslie: There's no way to spin this.

I'm not so sure about that.

For one thing, someone who gets by on a dollar a month would seem to be an easy target. You could abduct him, for example. Maybe some of the corrupt Nairobi police officers could help with that. Then you could put pressure on a president Obama. That's a big fat security risk right there.
Of course, if BO says that he'll never cave in to the terrrists, then you have to ask yourself: What kind of man would not help his brother in such a situation? Is such a man ready to lead America?
posted by sour cream at 11:38 AM on August 20, 2008

Doesn't this strike anyone else as a BIG FAT LIE?
posted by cmoj at 12:27 PM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

sleslie: There's no way to spin this.

I disagree. This story really makes me appreciate Barack Obama's sensitivity to the paramount need for human dignity and self-reliance among peoples of the developing world. Sure, he could've offered a handout to his half-sibling, but he knows that a man has to stand on his own feet, and fight his own fights with his own fists. Sometimes those fists get scarred, but in the end, his brother is a better man for it.
posted by rusty at 12:42 PM on August 20, 2008

I can see the movie. Morgan Freeman and Damon Wayans IN... First Brother. The White House has never been so black!
posted by Eideteker at 12:47 PM on August 20, 2008 [3 favorites]

I suppose that could work. It would have to be clear that the brother never, ever, asked for help from Obama. Appreciating self reliance is one thing, but refusing to help someone when the rewards and losses between the parties are so glaringly different would be another.

Thankfully, it appears this is a more a wiltering relationship rather than an outright refusual to acknowledge a family member.

And about the sandals, that one didn't make it up here to Canada, thank god.
posted by sleslie at 4:07 PM on August 20, 2008

And when do we get to see the picture of Obama smoking?

That'll be a fun week for the talking heads. They have to be saving that one up.
posted by sleslie at 4:10 PM on August 20, 2008

sleslie: There's no way to spin this.

George Hussein Onyango Obama to come to Washington: seeks job at Murky Coffee.
posted by an egg at 4:44 PM on August 20, 2008

So Barack Obama's half-brother is Mike Huckabee?!?
posted by Guy Smiley at 4:56 PM on August 20, 2008

(er...the Onion one.)
posted by Guy Smiley at 4:57 PM on August 20, 2008

"I have scars from defending myself with my fists TERRORIST FIST JABBING."
posted by BrotherCaine at 6:47 PM on August 20, 2008

Flagged for mistaking the Onion as art
posted by mannequito at 11:54 PM on August 20, 2008