by John McCormick
ANKENY, Iowa – Sen. Barack Obama continues to use one of his distant relatives as a punchline on the presidential campaign trail.
Talking about the nation's addiction to oil, the Illinois Democrat told several hundred gathered at a community college this morning that part of the blame falls on Vice President Dick Cheney.
"It doesn't help when you put my cousin, Dick Cheney, in charge of energy policy," Obama said. "We've been trying to hide this for a long time, by the way. Everybody's got a black sheep in the family."
Earlier this month, Lynne Cheney, the vice president's wife, made news when she talked about the relationship with Obama, who is an eighth or ninth cousin of Cheney's.
And in an interview with CNBC this week, Cheney called the senator "Cousin Barack.''
Obama first discussed the distant relationship at length during an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
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Comments
I BET HE HAS WORSE "BLACK SHEEP" IN HIS FAMILY CLOSER THAN 8th/9th COUSINS...
Posted by: HENRY | October 27, 2007 1:34 PM
Dick and Bama. These relatives always watch out for one another. The family reunions must be lots of fun.
Posted by: Cary Oka | October 27, 2007 2:02 PM
"It doesn't help when you put my cousin, Dick Cheney, in charge of energy policy," Obama said. "We've been trying to hide this for a long time, by the way. Everybody's got a black sheep in the family."
A black sheep or an old, crusty, corrupt dirtbag!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 27, 2007 2:29 PM
Henry,
Cap key.
P.S. Do you know Roger Morris?
Posted by: Doug Zook | October 28, 2007 7:46 AM
Obama's use of the term "black sheep" is ill-advised.
Why "black sheep"? Why not "white sheep"?
The use of the word "black" in this context tells us more about how we have been conditioned to think about black and white than anything else.
Obama unwittingly continues to perpetuate a stereotype for the sake of a few laughs and votes. What's next for this son of Illinois, a tap dance?
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | October 28, 2007 8:09 AM
Oh come on Bud - it was a joke! A light hearted comment based on a well-known saying. If he had said white sheep nobody would have known what the heck he was talking about.
Man - some of you guys get worked up over the littlest things.
Posted by: Mark Owen | October 28, 2007 9:40 AM
Amen, Mark. Overyly PC and supersensitive folks are destroying freedom of speech.
Newsflash to ole Barack though: This country has been thirsty for oil for decades and generations, loooooong before Dick Cheney became VP and "in charge of our energy policy."
Posted by: John D | October 29, 2007 10:50 AM
Bud,
Shut up.
Posted by: Will Romey | February 26, 2008 7:06 PM
I'd be wondering where this 'cousin Dick Cheney' reference came from and looked it up on Google today. I think it's hysterically funny and the 'black sheep' comment was funnier still. Nice to know the guy's got a sense of humor even after all the crap he's been through in the campaign. He's got my vote.
Posted by: Michael | March 18, 2008 8:37 AM