Obama’s half-brother
I remember writing about this half-brother of Obama’s a while back. He seemed to be a really decent, straight-up kind of guy—not narcissistic, very different from his brother. Also very smart; a degree in physics from Brown and a Master’s in physics from Stanford.
He didn’t know Obama before the president became famous. His mother was Obama Senior’s third wife, and Ndesandjo grew up in Kenya. Now he’s written a book, and he’s got some interesting things to say while pitching it:
“Barack thought I was too white and I thought he was too black,” Ndesandjo said. “He was an American searching for his African roots, I was a Kenyan, I’m an American but I was living in Kenya, searching for my white roots.”…The 500-page book includes an appendix listing a number of alleged factual errors in Obama’s 1995 memoir, “Dreams from my Father,” such as quotes incorrectly attributed to Ndesandjo’s mother.
“It’s a correction. A lot of the stuff that Barack wrote is wrong in that book and I can understand that because to me for him the book was a tool for fashioning an identity and he was using composites,” Ndesandjo said.
“A tool”—yes. And this especially caught my eye:
When asked how he would describe his relationship with his brother, he said, “Right now it’s cold and I think part of the reason is because of my writing. My writing has alienated some people in my family.”
I can tell you one thing: in any discrepancy between what Obama wrote and what Ndesandjo wrote, my money would be on Ndesandjo.
“. . . in any discrepancy between what Obama wrote and what Ndesandjo wrote, my money would be on Ndesandjo.”
That would be the smart money!
Proof that in the endless discrepency between myth and reality, confidence man and genuine man, the papers (MSM), historians (hagiographers), the elite (beau monde), and the entire Lib/Prog/Soc parade will always opt for the reverie. The discrepancy between Barack and Ndesandjo? One’s a tool, the other a man.
Between blackouts and White-Out… and his ghost editor… Dreams is closer to the Red Book and Mein Kampf… being a pastiche of said narcissistic deep reflections.
My number one take away from Dreams: he was so in love with himself that he couldn’t fall for anyone else.
Walter Mitty as poltroon-in-chief?
Perhaps.
I can tell you one thing: in any discrepancy between what Obama wrote and what Ndesandjo wrote, my money would be on Ndesandjo.
Neo, you aren’t the only one who would place your money on Ndesandjo.
Interesting that half brother Ndesandjo says the POTUS used composites in portraying his African side of the family, Others have already pointed out that the POTUS used composites in portraying Chicago activists he worked with from 1986-1988 and also regarding some alleged girlfriends. [But then Obama warned us in the forward that he was doing that, so we can’t say we were not forewarned.]
That indicates to me that Ndesandjo is not BS-ing us.
I can see why Barack called in Bill Ayers to consolidate all his notes. Hard to keep a story straight when you aren’t telling a straight story. As a third party already well versed in concocting things up [the multiple identities when he was underground], Ayers would have a better nose for constructing narratives that would fall under the average reader’s BS meter.
A disinterest in the truth in favor of a narrative is a sure sign of purposeful deceit.
“for him [Obama] the book was a tool for fashioning an identity and he was using composites,” Ndesandjo said.” (my emphasis)
Fiction writers use composites, autobiographical memoirs such as “Dreams from my Father,” present themselves as nonfiction. But then, what else would one expect from a proven serial liar?
blert:
It should have been titled Dreams From Myself.
“We believe the next step is to use this as an opportunity for Phil to sit down with gay families in Louisiana and learn about their lives and the values they share,” the spokesman said.
“We believe the next step is to use this as an opportunity for Barak to sit down with his family in Kenya and learn about their lives and the values they share.”
They need the Ducks to show public proof that they have accepted their punishment and are Obeying Leftist Authority. For without that public obedience and show of proof, the torture and the confessions signed and written in blood, have no force in people’s imaginations.
It goes way beyond Ayers. If the truth is ever told we’ll learn of a veritable menagerie of socialist activists who helped groom Chauncey.
When “Dreams of My Wildly Successful Presidency” is published, it should be an interesting read, loaded with “composite” characters and achievements.
Too bad that Barry won’t be inviting anyone who knows something about his real family over for Christmas egg nog, to exchange composite memories of dear old dad.
” in any discrepancy between what Obama wrote and what Ndesandjo wrote, my money would be on Ndesandjo.”
Not trying to diss Ndesandjo who sounds like a stand-up guy, but you could say the same about Obama and Joe Isuzu.
I’m done with Obama and not interested in any further discussion about him. However, I would like to know what his brother is doing in Kenya. You’ve written about him. Do you have any suggested links?
Dreams of How I Slaughtered Americans and got Millions out of it, by Hussein
G Joubert, remember when they called Bush a puppet of one guy or another?
neo: “Also very smart; a degree in physics from Brown and a Master’s in physics from Stanford.”
That he’s smart is beyond question. What I question is why a graduate physics major is earning his living as an artist and foundation manager. STEM degrees are supposed to be much in demand here, and yet he’s living in China doing nothing that has to do with his education. I remarked on your previous post about him that I sensed he was a con man. Certainly his father and half brother were/are con men. Why would Mark break the mold? I don’t claim to be a good reader of people, but Barack was easy to read and his brother gives off the same vibes. Does Mark hope to gain recognition now that the luster around Barack is dimming? Stay tuned.
J.J.:
I don’t get a con man vibe from Mark at all. I get a sincere, somewhat artistic vibe. I also think he had a very difficult upbringing.
It’s also not unheard of for people to not be using very high degrees they earned, because they realize later on they are not suited for that profession. I’m one of those people, actually.
JJ
What I question is why a graduate physics major is earning his living as an artist and foundation manager. STEM degrees are supposed to be much in demand here, and yet he’s living in China doing nothing that has to do with his education.
Apparently you are not aware of the vicissitudes of the STEM market. I have an engineering degree, but am working in databases- a skill which I didn’t learn in college. What a STEM degree shows is an ability to think and to solve problems in a systematic way. How this translates into the job market is that in the event of a job loss, that problem-solving ability can be transferred to other fields.
Recall what has been said a number of times. While 50 years, it was not unusual for a professional to work in the same job, company or field until retirement, today a professional may work 4-5 different jobs/fields until retirement.
Of my fellow graduates in my engineering class, a fair number are not working in engineering today.
Engineering covers a wide area of fields. It’s more of a demand and supply system than academics.
neo: “It’s also not unheard of for people to not be using very high degrees they earned, because they realize later on they are not suited for that profession. I’m one of those people, actually.”
Yes, so am I. I was trained as an oil geologist, but through the needs of the Navy, found myself in flight training. Flying seemed more my cup of tea. So, I guess I’m the pot calling the kettle black . 🙂
I did say I’m not that great at reading people. However, in addition to steering away from his education, I find him expressing his desire to help people. My first question is, why? My second question is, how? He has a “foundation” for helping people. Is it legit and where does he go for money? He seems so reasonable and smooooth in his presentation. His half brother also expresses that desire to help people (through government power) and is smooooth. Very similar. Just my impression. I could be wrong. 🙁 Only time will tell.
I knew a woman who was a con artist. She set up bogus charities and was very smooth and believable. (Yes, I gave some money to one of her causes. 🙁 ) She’d never been prosecuted because she’d not stolen huge amounts and she folded her tent at the first sign of trouble. That type of person can be hard to detect because they seem so nice and earnest. That past experience makes me wary of those who want to “help people.” Yeah, I’m a skeptical old curmudgeon.