This story is pi**ing me off the more I think about it (And not just because it reeks of a nasty smear).

I know families like Obamas may be unusual to some folks, but think about it:
This man is not Obama's brother.

At a certain point, in these situations, you start developing cognitive strategies to deal with the expected emotional turmoil from the unexpected.

The mates I grew up with . . . who have been with me over the years through the shit and the good times . . . who have put themselves up for liabilities in the hundreds of thousands of dollars when my family needed it . . . they are my brothers.

Someone who turns up one day, saying they are my brother, who is a total stranger really . . . but who happen to share some genetic material because of my irresponsible father . . . is not my brother.

Just 2 Points:

First, I agree with sh0ter: there IS something fishy about this story.

It reeks of something that was handed to VF all neatly wrapped up with a tied ribbon. It would be interesting – albeit unlikely – if the MSM looked into the origins of this story. Was it shopped to Vanity Fair? By who?

Second, speaking as someone who comes from a family background structurally very similar to Obama's, I don't think this reflects on him whatsover.

This is his father's (ir)responsibility.

For my part, I would not be surprised that when I turn sixty or seventy there will be half-brothers and sisters turning up all over the place. A truly messy and emotionally conflicted business on so many levels.

As Dr. E brilliantly put it . . .we are “digging out” for years and years.

Altho I am not an Obama supporter, I can well relate to his family experience in this regard.

I do not judge Obama in any way for this . . . and I hope that no one else does!

Just a guess of course..

Which then makes me wonder if that is the real damage that this story might cause- reminding a lot of Americans of how different Obama's life story is than our own. Intellectually I don't think that's a reason to vote against him, but I think most of us are dishonest if we don't admit that our gut feelings do influence our support or opposition to candidates.

The Obama brothers' father was an educated man who seems to have not been able to 'stay' with the families he fathered. He appears to have left many dependent people in the breach over his lifetime.

The picture of George is very heart-rending. I hope he can avail himself to the help given in his country by various humanitairan and religious groups. There is much there. It is not what some people call “a dark continent” in that way. There are people to help. Hopefully the Vanity Fair people with their vast resources for gaining entry and contacts will have told George about additional ways and means.

I was just thinking as I read Jazz's post, a good many children, as we know, no matter which country, when abandoned or neglected by the father, are left with at least one corner of what one would hope to be a stable family architecture, collapsed on top of the family. It is a long road to digging out.

The protector of the family that is recognized (feared/respected) by other men, predatory, and otherwise, is then missing for the sons in particular, but also for the daughters. They are on their own, then in the world and are vulnerable to being pulled into all mannner of activities to survive.

I think this situation belongs to the father in the first water. I do know that people in foster-, step, half-sibling families tend to one another through common interests and relationships most often, not by mere blood.

I also see that how one far more well off sometimes helps those of the extended family who are not, is by footing the bill for education.

But again, this is something the Obama brothers' father would normally have seen to.

dr.e