Obama's aunt living here illegally

[Jeannie]

Will America care?

She was denied asylum five years ago and didn't leave. Supposedly this is a civil matter, not a criminal one.
She's been living in public housing even though as an illegal alien she is not eligible for it
She donated in $260 to Obama's campaign and as an illegal alien that's not allowed.

Does this all reflect badly on Obama? What should he have done? Made his aunt leave the U.S.? Tried to use his influence as a U.S. Senator to get her a green card? (I could just imagine the outcry over that.) Found her an apartment? (And faced charges of assisting an illegal alien.) Returned her campaign contributions? (If he even knew about them.) He now says he didn't know. Is he to blame for not knowing?

I get that this is embarrassing. But I think Obama was placed in a bad situation he didn't have a lot of control over. Lots of presidents have had embarrassing relatives who broke the law, Carter had his brother, Clinton had his brother, Bush had his brother. This is an aunt. I am curious if others see this as a big deal.

[psilverman]

My guess is that those who want it to be a big deal..

...will see it as a big deal. And those of us who don't, won't. I really think we have bigger issues to worry about and, frankly, if his family is anything like MINE on my dad's side, I wouldn't know where half of them were living. If he was aware of it, I think it says volumes that he did NOT use his influence to get her a green card -- I'm sure he could have.

[frits]

I don't condone her living here illegally, and getting public assistance on top ++

Will America care?

She was denied asylum five years ago and didn't leave. Supposedly this is a civil matter, not a criminal one.
She's been living in public housing even though as an illegal alien she is not eligible for it
She donated in $260 to Obama's campaign and as an illegal alien that's not allowed.

Does this all reflect badly on Obama? What should he have done? Made his aunt leave the U.S.? Tried to use his influence as a U.S. Senator to get her a green card? (I could just imagine the outcry over that.) Found her an apartment? (And faced charges of assisting an illegal alien.) Returned her campaign contributions? (If he even knew about them.) He now says he didn't know. Is he to blame for not knowing?

I get that this is embarrassing. But I think Obama was placed in a bad situation he didn't have a lot of control over. Lots of presidents have had embarrassing relatives who broke the law, Carter had his brother, Clinton had his brother, Bush had his brother. This is an aunt. I am curious if others see this as a big deal.

of that, but I for sure don't see how Obama could "make her leave the U.S.". Clearly she doesn't want to go, and so even if he believes it's wrong for her to be here (as I do), where does *her* responsibility for her own situation end, and *his* responsibility for her situation begin?

I don't think that any illegal alien should be living in public housing or getting public assistance in terms of $$, but I don't feel I have any personal responsibility to go rout them out, either.

[Jeannie]

It does highlight a huge problem. 10 million people are living here illegally, paying no taxes, using up resources from social programs, driving illegally, working illegally.

[julied]

It's certainly not an October surprise...but I don't think it'll make a difference in the election. It sounds like he discussed her in one of his books...not sure in what context or how much of a role model she was supposed to have played in his life (if at all), but if he discusses her at length, it does seem like he would've (or should've) known her situation and in that respect.....seems like a bit of a stretch to say he knew nothing about it (which doesn't mean he's to blame, just that he lied). But - maybe she was very quiet about her personal matters and he legitmiately didn't know. An embarassment - yes, any game changer? No.

[SueW]

so what?

is Obama responsible for his half-aunt? Did he sponsor her or even know about her situation? You know, my retirement fund dropped 30%. My wrist/arm surgery was denied coverage by bcbs - $17,000. people and businesses are leaving town. I don't give a rats ass about someone's deadbeat aunt right now.

Sue

[frits]

nt

It's certainly not an October surprise...but I don't think it'll make a difference in the election. It sounds like he discussed her in one of his books...not sure in what context or how much of a role model she was supposed to have played in his life (if at all), but if he discusses her at length, it does seem like he would've (or should've) known her situation and in that respect.....seems like a bit of a stretch to say he knew nothing about it (which doesn't mean he's to blame, just that he lied). But - maybe she was very quiet about her personal matters and he legitmiately didn't know. An embarassment - yes, any game changer? No.

nt

[twinks]

It does bring up the illegal immigrant issue

I don't think it reflects badly on Obama. What could the man do?

However, I think our nation needs to start taking illegal immigration more seriously. People in our country illegally aredepleting resources funded by our tax dollars. Illegals living in public housing? Completely unacceptable. In some states, Illegals are overrunning our public schools and as a result, increasing classroom sizes. They require ELS classes, which takes away money that is desperately needed elsewhere in the schools. Don't even get me started on the healthcare issue. There are 12 million illegals in our country. If we impliment universal healthcare, who do you think is going to be at the front of the line? That's right ... non-citizens will be using the healthcare system provided by our tax dollars.

We have a huge illegal immigrant problem and someone has to address this.

[julied]

Oh, what does that mean? Were you going to go off on me? I thought I gave a very non-partisan answer

[augie]

. . .

We have a huge illegal immigrant problem and someone has to address this.

Unfortunately, if/when McCain is elected I'm afraid I won't be happy with how he addresses this issue.

[julied]

True....

This is a tricky issue - I'm totally against supporting so many illegals on our tax dollars when they don't pay a cent into the system.....I believe it's really negatively impacted us in healthcare, education, the value placed on many jobs, homland security, etc....but I can understand the complexity involved with what to do with 12 million immigrants (if that's the right number)....it's not so simple just to "round them up" like cattle and send them back home - that's not realistic (or humane since they're people who have now developed relationships and planted roots, etc). Not sure what the answer is, but we certainly NEED to stop allowing the border crossings to continue. At least stop the source right now...especially when it comes to those from Mexico, they fight to come over here instead of fighting to rid their gov't of the corruption that has taken over. I say go FIGHT for your country and the freedoms you deserve over there....if the people would rise up...

[RachelK]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081101/...pTGYN27jes0NUE

Obama claims that he doesn't even know that she was living here illegally and she's someone he barely ever sees or talks to.

For anyone who is truly interested in the issue of illegal immigration and wants to learn something I suggest the book "Coyotes" by Ted Conover. This is the least of my concerns.

[frits]

Not your fault ... mine entirely! I misread part of your post and so responded inappropriately.

It wasn't you, it was all me! lol

[SueW]

but then who would....

True....

This is a tricky issue - I'm totally against supporting so many illegals on our tax dollars when they don't pay a cent into the system.....I believe it's really negatively impacted us in healthcare, education, the value placed on many jobs, homland security, etc....but I can understand the complexity involved with what to do with 12 million immigrants (if that's the right number)....it's not so simple just to "round them up" like cattle and send them back home - that's not realistic (or humane since they're people who have now developed relationships and planted roots, etc). Not sure what the answer is, but we certainly NEED to stop allowing the border crossings to continue. At least stop the source right now...especially when it comes to those from Mexico, they fight to come over here instead of fighting to rid their gov't of the corruption that has taken over. I say go FIGHT for your country and the freedoms you deserve over there....if the people would rise up...

if we didn't have these workers, who would plant, tend and harvest our crops, clean our homes and care for our children, drive our taxis, process our fish and meat, or work at Walmart? I'd like to see a guest worker program developed, because our economy relies on illegal workers to do the low-wage work that American's won't.

I'm sure this is a biased, myopic view, so set me straight (I know you will!), but there is spme truth to my opinion, eh?

Sue

[julied]

There's definitely truth to your opinion...

if we didn't have these workers, who would plant, tend and harvest our crops, clean our homes and care for our children, drive our taxis, process our fish and meat, or work at Walmart? I'd like to see a guest worker program developed, because our economy relies on illegal workers to do the low-wage work that American's won't.

I'm sure this is a biased, myopic view, so set me straight (I know you will!), but there is spme truth to my opinion, eh?

Sue

At least this one, anyway (J/K!!!).

No, this is one of the complexities of how to approach it. There's a price for everything...garbagemen make about $60K or more because no one wants to do it. But at that price, you start finding people willing to do it. So I feel like this would be the same with these other industries - money talks. Of course the flip side is that then the business has to pay so much more for the same work that prices will certainly increase - and it could possibly make a service or item too cost prohibitive to produce. It's also possible even more things would be farmed out to other countries for cheaper labor rates. I suppose strawberries could end up costing $6/lb or more. Probably lots of things would cost more....certainly if it all happened at once, it would be a huge impact. But if we had never gotten into the "habit" of hiring illegal immigrants, we might not have noticed the difference - that it costs a lot to get your house cleaned by someone and you pay the price to have those CA strawberries. Probably only the wealthy would get their house cleaned and not just the dual-working families (heck, my neighbor who is a SAHM with 3 kids in school all day pays to get her house cleaned - she has the time, she doesn't want to do it - and for $50, she can get it done).

So I do agree that realistically there probably has to be some sort of guest worker program...but then there needs to be some wage garnishment or something to cover some of the education and healthcare costs that these workers and their families enjoy.

And finally, we've made these jobs to seem so low-life that only a migrant worker or illegal immigrant would be willing to do, but if we Americans didn't have this sense of entitlement, and we really needed a job, maybe we'd go out there and clean some homes and pick some strawberries. It seems now there's so many people sitting around collecting unemployment because they're "too good" to work for that kind of pay. I wonder if people felt that way back in the 1700's...sometimes you do what you need to do to make some money.

This whole post may open a can of worms....I by no means am trying to claim "expert" on this one....but growing up in AZ, now living in TX, it really is a huge drain on the system. Don't get me wrong...I do believe Mexican workers are very hardworking individuals....they are out there in extreme conditions not making a whole lot (although it's a lot of money compared to Mexico's economy and oftentimes they send it home to family)...but not paying any taxes and overcrowding the schools and healthcare systems really affects US as Americans - our children aren't getting educated as well and of course our healthcare is a mess - this doesn't help the situation.

SOMETHING needs to be done - we can't just keep sitting around watching it happen...I don't think Amnesty is the answer, however.

OK...I've rambled....