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The White House acknowledged Thursday that President Barack Obama lived briefly years
ago with a Kenyan uncle previously targeted for deportation — after initially insisting
there was no evidence they had ever met.
Why the stark turnaround? "Nobody spoke to the president" when the question first arose
in 2011, press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily briefing.
Instead, staff appear to have relied on one of the president's autobiographical books.
"Back when this arose, folks looked at the record, including the president's book, and
there was no evidence that they had met, there was — and that was what was conveyed," Carney
explained.
That appeared to be a reference to "Dreams From My Father," which famously includes the
warning that some people in the book are composites.
Carney also denied any improper White House meddling in the deportation procedures against
the elder Obama, whom he described as "his father's half brother." The uncle, who has
lived in the United States for 50 years, won his fight against deportation this week.