Posted by Jed Lewison on Sat Nov 1, 2008 at 3:22 AM Pacific

Leave Her Alone

Not surprisingly, Matt the Drudge is pushing the story about a distant aunt of Barack Obama who is living the U.S. despite the rejection of her asylum request. No doubt FOX will soon flog the living daylights out of it too.

I'm not worried about it though, because Barack Obama has an easy response to any political attacks on this.

First, he can make it clear that he does not expect his aunt to receive any special favors as she appeals the decision.

Second, he can underscore the fact that he was neither aware of her status, nor did he have anything to do with it.

And finally, he can ask the media to respect the his aunt's privacy, not because she's a member of his extended family, but because she is a private individual who has nothing to do with this presidential campaign.

She never asked to be in the spotlight, and it's clear her case has made its way towards the public eye thanks solely to the efforts of anti-Obama political operatives working both inside and outside government.

For these operatives to suddenly try to thrust this woman's situation into the middle of a presidential campaign goes against every principle that this country stands for. John McCain and his campaign should summon the decency to leave this woman alone. It's the American thing to do.

Leave Her Alone

Not surprisingly, Matt the Drudge is pushing the story about a distant aunt of Barack Obama who is living the U.S. despite the rejection of her asylum request. No doubt FOX will soon flog the living daylights out of it too.

I'm not worried about it though, because Barack Obama has an easy response to any political attacks on this.

First, he can make it clear that he does not expect his aunt to receive any special favors as she appeals the decision.

Second, he can underscore the fact that he was neither aware of her status, nor did he have anything to do with it.

And finally, he can ask the media to respect the his aunt's privacy, not because she's a member of his extended family, but because she is a private individual who has nothing to do with this presidential campaign.

She never asked to be in the spotlight, and it's clear her case has made its way towards the public eye thanks solely to the efforts of anti-Obama political operatives working both inside and outside government.

For these operatives to suddenly try to thrust this woman's situation into the middle of a presidential campaign goes against every principle that this country stands for. John McCain and his campaign should summon the decency to leave this woman alone. It's the American thing to do.

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