Just in time to pack your beach bag with some good summer reading, President Obama’s aunt has penned a book sure to connect with a wide swath of Americans.
Zeituni Onyango’s new memoir “Tears of Abuse” was released quietly in late March.
The Boston Herald’s Howie Carr brought national attention to it Friday in a tongue-in-cheek column based on a fresh press release for the book. According to Carr, Onyango’s book deals with her supposed victimization in America while living off the taxpayer’s dime.
“Auntie” Zeituni Onyango indentifies herself as “an advocate for peace and a writer” on her personal website. “She is also known for being the Aunt of the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama,” the website says. “She is referred to as ‘Aunti Zeituni’ in Obama’s memoir ‘Dreams from My Father.'”
Onyango moved from Kenya to the United States in 2000 but was rejected asylum status in 2002. She remained the country illegally, ignoring a 2004 removal order, and taking full advantage of subsidized public housing.
Obama’s aunt was granted asylum in 2010. her illegal status gained public notice in 2008, just before Obama’s election.
Selling for $19.99 (plus shipping and handling) Onyongo’s book is a story about her struggles through “abuse in all forms.”
Her website summarizes the tale:
Zeituni tells from her personal experience;
• The role of an African woman in Luo culture
• Lineage and why a woman needs male offspring
• Her relationship with Barack Obama Sr, the president’s father and her step brother
• Teen parenting and bitter divorce consequences
• Consequences of choices in one’s life and the courage to move beyond them
Carr — who has admittedly not read the book — boiled its story down to what he sees as the book’s essence.
“Auntie Zeituni was victimized in Kenya but, believe it or not, ‘she was later victimized in the U.S,’” Carr wrote, quoting Zeituni’s press release. “Talk about victimization — do you realize, you actually have to go down to the welfare office to apply for the dole? The welfare office doesn’t make house calls. Not yet anyway. Her nephew hasn’t been re-elected.”
Zeituni Onyango is the sister of Onyango Obama, who remains in the country illegally and was arrested last year for drunk driving. He is currently appealing a deportation order dating back to 1992.