Obama revealed: A Childhood of Privilege
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 4:45 pm
Millions of oil dollars
Economic elites
Exclusive neighborhoods
Beautiful parks
Cozy streets
Luxurious housing
Banking VP
Prestigious private schools
Island elites
These are the things Obama grew up with. What a life! No wonder he turned to chooming. He had nothing else to do or worry about.
Economic elites
Exclusive neighborhoods
Beautiful parks
Cozy streets
Luxurious housing
Banking VP
Prestigious private schools
Island elites
These are the things Obama grew up with. What a life! No wonder he turned to chooming. He had nothing else to do or worry about.
In Indonesia, the family's circumstances improved dramatically. According to Obama in his autobiography "Dreams from My Father," Lolo's brother-in-law was "making millions as a high official in the national oil company." It was through this brother-in-law that Obama's stepfather got a coveted job as a government relations officer with the Union Oil Co.
The family then moved to Menteng, then and now the most exclusive neighborhood of Jakarta, where bureaucrats, diplomats and economic elites reside.
A popular Indonesia travel site describes Menteng: "Designed by the Dutch Colonial Government in 1920s, Menteng still retains its graceful existence with its beautiful parks, cozy street cafes and luxurious housing complexes."
In 1971, his mother sent young Obama back to Hawaii, where his grandmother, Madelyn, known as Toots, would become one of the first female vice presidents of a Honolulu bank. His grandfather was in sales.
Obama's grandparents moved the same year into Punahou Circle Apartments, a sleek new 10-story apartment building just five blocks from the private Punahou School, which Obama would attend from 1971 to 1979.
Obama explains in "Dreams from My Father" that his admission to Punahou began "the start of something grand, an elevation in the family status that they took great pains to let everyone know."
To his credit, Obama did not downplay Punahou's upscale status, noting in his autobiography that it "had grown into a prestigious preparation school, an incubator for island elites. Its reputation had helped sway my mother in her decision to send me back to the States."
http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama#.UFtGNFH4LKq
http://washingtonexaminer.com/chapter-i-a-childhood-of-privilege-not-hardship/article/2508416#.UFtGRFH4LKo