Steve King Calls Obama's Aunt To Testify Before Congress On Asylum Deal

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) called Monday for Obama's aunt, Zeituni Onyango, to appear as the Republican witness in a House subcommittee hearing on the circumstances of her successful battle for asylum.

"I am concerned about the public perception that favoritism played a role in the grant of asylum to Ms. Onyango," King wrote in a letter to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. "In order to better determine whether favoritism played a role - especially because Ms. Onyango had been earlier turned down for asylum and ordered deported in 2004 before her nephew became president - the Subcommittee needs to hear from Ms. Onyango herself. Therefore, I will invite her as the Republican witness on the second panel at Thursday's hearing."

Though King says in the letter that he is aware of the confidential nature of asylum cases, he argues that "Ms. Onyango has made herself a public figure and should have no hesitation about appearing before the Subcommittee," because her attorney, Margaret Wong, has been open with the press.

In May, King expressed skepticism about the decision to grant asylum to Onyango, alleging that "favoritism or judicial bias" may have played a part in the eventual reversal of a previous ruling against her.

The Subcommittee Hearing is scheduled to take place this Thursday at 10:00 AM.

Comments

[KrisLK]

02:06 PM on 06/16/2010

Ms. Onyango was granted asylum in February 2010 becasue of possible persecution due to her tribal affilliation and recent inter-tribal violence in Kenya. Her first application for asylum was turned down in 2004 (4 yrs before Pres. Obama was in the Senate or ran for the Presidency). President Obama's only mention of her was in his book discribing his last visit with her. She re-applied in 2008 and recently granted asylum. Leaving aside that Rep. King is himself a closeted bigot and racist, think of what could of resulted IF Ms. Onyango was returned to Kenya...possibly harmed or killed due to her cultural affilliations with warring groups, or held as a political hostage because now the whole world knows of her relationship with the President of the United States. For this reason alone, I have no problem with her being granted asylum. What I do have a problem with is Rep. King's vile racist use of an elderly woman's circumstance, her relationship to our president in an attempt to embarrass the president for political reasons. If you remember, this is not the first time King has insulted our president racially...last week he called Obama a racist, and just prior to the election King stated that if Obama won the presidency, radical islamists would be dancing in the streets. Racism can't be demonstrated any clearer than this.

[sistahfriend]

03:20 PM on 06/16/2010

A voice of reason.

[nola87]

01:59 PM on 06/16/2010

Doesn't Steve King have better things to do, like tell victims of terrorisim that it's their fault?

[b-dob]

02:41 PM on 06/16/2010

No, that's what liberals do. Look who Obama surrounds himself with.

[tompoe]

05:01 PM on 06/16/2010

Aahh, a Steve King supporter. Making stupid statements. Have you asked the racist, bigoted, zealot for his autograph?

[PathofTotality]

01:37 PM on 06/16/2010

"Ms. Onyango has made herself a public figure and should have no hesitation about appearing before the Subcommittee,"

I don't watch every news clip or listen to every sound bite but this is the first time I have ever seen her picture or honestly, heard the name. To me, she is not a public figure. Now if Mr. King was thinking guilt by association then he should have said that. Plus, if Mr. King wants to investigate favoritism or bias then start with the person that signed the paperwork because they would be just as involved. Ms. Onyango would be the result of a problem not the cause.

Overall, there seems to be bigger issues to deal with than this Mr. King.

[Sinister Minister]

01:37 PM on 06/16/2010

The pot calling the kettle black.

[Rimser]

12:30 PM on 06/16/2010

Of all the issues this country is dealing with right now (catastrophe in the Gulf, two wars, economic havoc), this is what he chooses to focus on? Really? This boy seriously needs to rethink his priorities.

[picaman]

11:50 AM on 06/16/2010

Steve King is an insult and an embarrassment. Please Help us put him out of office.
Iowans Against Idiocy
http://www.actblue.com/page/iai

[DurangoSteve]

11:26 AM on 06/16/2010

Steve King looked so much better when he wore the white robe.

[Bude]

11:17 AM on 06/16/2010

He's the President and she's his aunt. Answer your own questions because you're talking to yourself.

[TruEngineHearing]

10:35 AM on 06/16/2010

This guy is so low he is barely far enough off the ground to be sanitary. He so enjoys being the downer.

[jk4]

10:15 AM on 06/16/2010

This guy is the poster boy for today's Republican Party. The GOP says it wants to reach out to minorities, but they are in their heart of hearts just some guys who would rather have white sheets only in their houses.

[Billar]

10:24 AM on 06/16/2010

Yes he is a shining example of the Rushpublican party.

Fanned

[b-dob]

02:42 PM on 06/16/2010

This has nothing to do with race, but surprisingly enough, the first thing a liberal sees is skin color. What a shock!

[Catfish1968]

04:19 AM on 06/18/2010

At least liberals can see people and not profits. Accusing them of racism is just silly

[houseofd]

06:16 PM on 06/20/2010

Well, let's be realistic, or at least try. The END goal is for this unimportant schmuck on wheels from a lower-tier state, whose claim to fame is an overabundance of a product most characterized as "high fructose," to lob molotov cocktails at the president from behind his cornfield. Destroying the Democratic Party is his goal. As for racism, considering his record against minorities, women's rights, gay rights, earthquake victim relief, etc, he's only racist in the context of the HUMAN race.

[Carlos Manuel]

10:12 AM on 06/16/2010

Steve does not have the cojones to go after Obama directly so he chooses to attack through an old lady; shameless!!

[agroman]

09:55 AM on 06/16/2010

deal with it...steve dung!.....she got her papers and she is free to roam even in arizona...maybe even visit her kenya

[Aurical]

09:46 AM on 06/16/2010

Looks like Steve wants a little attention. Rehashing old issues with PBO that have possible racial overtones to exploit, you have to do better than that. The attention and love on the right goes to the most outwardly insane. He needs to call for the equivalence of armed revolt, and then leave JUST enough legal wiggle room for deniability like his contemporaries are. That is how you get some attention Steve. Talking about PBO's beer summit is soooo last year!

[JoeTroll]

08:43 AM on 06/16/2010

Absolutely, this is issue #1 for the American people these days. Or at least the Republicans WISH it was.

[Aurical]

09:48 AM on 06/16/2010

This, Acorn and Rev. Wright are tops on most families lists of pressing concerns.

[Liberalforsure]

07:40 AM on 06/16/2010

Right, because with massive flooding, disasterous oil spill, 2 wars being fought and numerous catastrophes all over the world, one womans asylum must take top priority......