The Obama-Carter Parallel
We’ve had some serious discussions about how Obama ran Jimmy Carter’s campaign and how Obama’s foreign policy seems like the Carter years all over again. But I hadn’t realized that there were other similarities
NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) — George Obama, the half brother of U.S. President Barack Obama, has been arrested by Kenyan police on a charge of possession of marijuana, police said Saturday.
Inspector Augustine Mutembei, the officer in charge, said Obama was arrested on charges of possession of cannabis, known in Kenya as Bhang, and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Mutembei said.
He is being held at Huruma police post in the capital of Nairobi.
CNN Correspondent David McKenzie talked with George Obama at the jail where he is being held. Speaking from behind bars, Obama denied the allegations.
“They took me from my home,” he said, “I don’t know why they are charging me.”
Do you remember Billy Carter?
The photo is President Carter’s brother, Billy. He was a self-described “red neck”. And he came out with Billy Beer (which was just awful) during the Carter years. George Obama needs to figure out how to capitalize on his brother’s success. I’m not kidding.
This is the wikipedia description of Billy Carter, a fun reminder of the good old days:
Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter attended Emory University in the Atlanta area but did not complete a degree. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps, then returned to Plains to work with his brother in the family business of growing peanuts. In 1955, he married Sybil Spires (born 1938), also of Plains, Georgia. They were the parents of six: Kim, Jana, William “Buddy”, Marle, Mandy and Earl, who was just 12 years old when his father died.
Billy Carter ran for mayor of Plains in 1976, but lost the election.
In 1977, he endorsed Billy Beer capitalizing upon his colorful image as a beer-drinking Southern boy that had developed in the press when his brother ran for President. Carter’s name was occasionally used as a gag answer for a Washington, D.C., trouble-maker on 1970s episodes of The Match Game. Carter was known for his outlandish public behavior. For example, he once urinated on an airport runway in full view of the press and dignitaries.
But there is a darker side to this tale:
In late 1978 and early 1979, Billy Carter visited Libya three times with a contingent from Georgia. He eventually registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received a $220,000 loan. This led to a Senate hearing over alleged influence peddling which some in the press dubbed “Billygate.” A Senate sub-committee was called To Investigate Activities of Individuals Representing Interests of Foreign Governments (Billy Carter-Libya Investigation).
After the failure of Billy Beer, Carter sold his house to settle back taxes with the IRS.
That’s interesting because Jimmy Carter is also fascinated with rogue Arab entities, such as Hamas, and with various Arab governments. Perhaps George could get his act together and become a lobbyist?
- Aggie