By Marcia Scott Harrison (AFP)

BOSTON, Massachusetts — President Barack Obama’s aunt, an illegal immigrant from Kenya, pleaded for political asylum before a Boston court Thursday in a case that risks embarrassing the embattled president.

Zeituni Onyango, 57, arrived at the Boston federal immigration court in her second attempt to secure asylum after ignoring a 2004 deportation order.

Defense attorney Margaret Wong said Onyango would “testify and there will be two other witnesses,” both doctors.

“They’re probably going to try to prevent the deportation because of medical issues,” Wong said. “But we have more than one ground.”

Wong said that Onyango would plead to be allowed to stay in the United States citing “tribal violence” in Kenya.

It was not clear whether Judge Leonard Shapiro would make a ruling at Thursday’s closed-door hearing.

Wong said that Onyango would appeal if ordered deported. The US government also has the right of appeal.

The case puts Obama in a delicate position at a time when he is reeling from his Democratic party’s failure to pass health care reform legislation and a surge in momentum for the opposition Republicans.

Although there is no suggestion of favoritism or intervention by the White House, the issue could provide an unwelcome distraction as the year-old Obama presidency struggles to impose itself, as well as fueling right-wing conspiracy theories about Obama’s exotic family background.

Despite having lived illegally for years in Massachusetts, Onyango was unearthed by the US media in 2008 only days before Obama’s November election.

The White House said the president was unaware of her illegal status and that the appropriate laws should be followed.

The publicity could also affect how Onyango is treated, both here and back in her homeland, lawyers say.

“She’s the aunt of the president of the United States — the most famous man in the world,” Mike Rogers, spokesman for the Ohio law firm defending Onyango, told the Boston Herald.

The newspaper reported that Onyango has requested the case be heard before a closed session, though that is not unusual in immigration hearings.

“The immigration judge will hear the merits of the case from both parties,” said Lauren Alder Reid of the US Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, which speaks for the court. “The judge may make a ruling from the bench, but there’s no guarantee.”

Onyango has said she never asked Obama for help and that she cut off any ties to the president. It remains unclear who is paying for her legal representation, since Onyango has been living in public housing and has no know funds of her own.

She is the half-sister of Obama’s late father, who was Kenyan and married a white American, who gave birth to Obama in Hawaii.

Onyango moved to the United States in 2000 and applied for political asylum two years later, but was turned down. She was ordered deported in 2004.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j4kxbvhxedyuaoLL3T8ZHwganBuA

JanH –

Thank you so much for posting Hillary’s amazing speech. And people said this woman is not inspiring? She’s got Obie beats hands dowbn.

Mrs. Smith: it could be that the market for Obama paraphernalia has simply moved-
~~~~~~~~~

No doubt you are right, wbb-

What I get from Morris is, when Bush screwed up and his deficit was huge and growing Morris calls it recession related expenses and a depressed market. When the democrats are overdrawn, they are breaking the country and are marxist, communist, socialist, porkers that want to take care of the world’s poor and make us pay for it.

I just love this, our country is on the verge of capsizing and we are still name calling. Its time to quit calling each other whores and go to church and clean up our act. Both sides have done enough damage that calling each other out is counterproductive. THey need to grow up and get to work and save this country. I think the tea party people (grownups) know this.

Sarah Palin versus Rush Limbaugh!

Palin believes Limbaugh’s repeated use of the word “retard” yesterday was “crude and demeaning,” her spokesperson emails.

In the wake of Palin’s demand that Rahm Emanuel be fired for saying the liberal activist strategy on health care was “f–king retarded,” a bunch of people have been asking how she’d react to Limbaugh’s tirade on the air yesterday.

“Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards,” Rush said, adding that Rahm’s meeting yesterday with advocates for the mentally handicapped was a “retard summit at the White House.”

I asked Palin spokesperson Meghan Stapleton for comment on Rush’s rant, and she emailed me this:

“Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful.”

It hardly has the passion of her response to Rahm, and there’s no call for him to step down. But given Rush’s stature among conservatives, it’s pretty interesting that she went this far, denouncing his on-air rant as “crude and demeaning name-calling.”

That statement is who he is–a sociopath. See: http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.htm

If you review the symptoms you will find he is a classic case. i.e.

1 Glibness and Superficial Charm

2 Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

3. Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”

4. Pathological Lying

Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

5. Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

6. Shallow Emotions

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

7. Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation. Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.

That statement is who he is–a sociopath.

If you review the symptoms you will find he is a classic case. i.e.

1 Glibness and Superficial Charm

2 Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

3. Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”

4. Pathological Lying

Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

5. Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

6. Shallow Emotions

When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

7. Incapacity for Love

Need for Stimulation. Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.