SUB-ROSA NEWS
Some of the News
That may be True
ANCESTOR WORSHIP
The Baltimore Sun reports that it appears that forebears of Barack Obama's white mother owned slaves, according to genealogical research and census records. This is somewhat of an odd counterbalance to the news that the great-grandfather of Rev. Al Sharpton had been a slave owned by a relative of Strom Thurmond.
On learning of his connection to Strom Thurmond, Mr. Sharpton had said only that he had always wondered why he had nightmares about Senator Thurmond. On the other hand, Senator Obama's headquarters released documents and data showing that the brother of the Senator's father had been held for eight years as slave to an Arab family.
Not to be left behind, several other politicians released information regarding their lineage.
Mitt Romney released a statement that his great-grandfather had been a good friend of William Lloyd Garrison.
In an interview, Hillary Clinton remarked that one member of her Rodham family in Chicago had been involved in the St. Valentines's day massacre. She added that, of course, Bill's ancestors had all been sharecroppers.
Senator Trent Lott announced that, indeed, his great-grandfather had owned slaves but that he had freed all 35 of them before the Emancipation Proclamation.
John McCain advised David Letterman that in years past the McCains had kept slaves and slaveowners out of Arizona by using fences and vigilantes.
President Bush said that in the 1800's, prior owners of the Crawford property had used slaves to clear brush. Now, he does it all himself. Mr. Bush also noted that neither his father nor his grandfather had used slaves on their Connecticut and Maine properties.
John Edwards said that his father had been a mill worker.
Some of the News
That may be True
ANCESTOR WORSHIP
The Baltimore Sun reports that it appears that forebears of Barack Obama's white mother owned slaves, according to genealogical research and census records. This is somewhat of an odd counterbalance to the news that the great-grandfather of Rev. Al Sharpton had been a slave owned by a relative of Strom Thurmond.
On learning of his connection to Strom Thurmond, Mr. Sharpton had said only that he had always wondered why he had nightmares about Senator Thurmond. On the other hand, Senator Obama's headquarters released documents and data showing that the brother of the Senator's father had been held for eight years as slave to an Arab family.
Not to be left behind, several other politicians released information regarding their lineage.
Mitt Romney released a statement that his great-grandfather had been a good friend of William Lloyd Garrison.
In an interview, Hillary Clinton remarked that one member of her Rodham family in Chicago had been involved in the St. Valentines's day massacre. She added that, of course, Bill's ancestors had all been sharecroppers.
Senator Trent Lott announced that, indeed, his great-grandfather had owned slaves but that he had freed all 35 of them before the Emancipation Proclamation.
John McCain advised David Letterman that in years past the McCains had kept slaves and slaveowners out of Arizona by using fences and vigilantes.
President Bush said that in the 1800's, prior owners of the Crawford property had used slaves to clear brush. Now, he does it all himself. Mr. Bush also noted that neither his father nor his grandfather had used slaves on their Connecticut and Maine properties.
John Edwards said that his father had been a mill worker.
