FameCrawler

Who Is Barack Obama? 50 Things You Didn't Know

Posted by trix

 

Now that Barack Obama is the President elect we want to know everything we can about him. I found this great list on Huffington Post and had to share.

So without further ado:

• He collects Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian comics
• He was known as "O'Bomber" at high school for his skill at basketball
• His name means "one who is blessed" in Swahili
• His favourite meal is wife Michelle's shrimp linguini
• He won a Grammy in 2006 for the audio version of his memoir, Dreams From My Father
• He is left-handed – the sixth post-war president to be left-handed
• He has read every Harry Potter book
• He owns a set of red boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali
• He worked in a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop as a teenager and now can't stand ice cream
• His favourite snacks are chocolate-peanut protein bars
• He ate dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia
• He can speak Spanish
• While on the campaign trail he refused to watch CNN and had sports channels on instead
• His favourite drink is black forest berry iced tea
• He promised Michelle he would quit smoking before running for president – he didn't
• He kept a pet ape called Tata while in Indonesia
• He can bench press an impressive 200lbs
• He was known as Barry until university when he asked to be addressed by his full name
• His favourite book is Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
• He visited Wokingham, Berks, in 1996 for the stag party of his half-sister's fiancé, but left when a stripper arrived
• His desk in his Senate office once belonged to Robert Kennedy
• He and Michelle made $4.2 million (£2.7 million) last year, with much coming from sales of his books
• His favourite films are Casablanca and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• He carries a tiny Madonna and child statue and a bracelet belonging to a soldier in Iraq for good luck
• He applied to appear in a black pin-up calendar while at Harvard but was rejected by the all-female committee.
• His favourite music includes Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Bach and The Fugees
• He took Michelle to see the Spike Lee film Do The Right Thing on their first date
• He enjoys playing Scrabble and poker
• He doesn't drink coffee and rarely drinks alcohol
• He would have liked to have been an architect if he were not a politician
• As a teenager he took drugs including marijuana and cocaine
• His daughters' ambitions are to go to Yale before becoming an actress (Malia, 10) and to sing and dance (Sasha, 7)
• He hates the youth trend for trousers which sag beneath the backside
• He repaid his student loan only four years ago after signing his book deal
• His house in Chicago has four fire places
• Daughter Malia's godmother is Jesse Jackson's daughter Santita
• He says his worst habit is constantly checking his BlackBerry
• He uses an Apple Mac laptop
• He drives a Ford Escape Hybrid, having ditched his gas-guzzling Chrysler 300
• He wears $1,500 (£952) Hart Schaffner Marx suits
• He owns four identical pairs of black size 11 shoes
• He has his hair cut once a week by his Chicago barber, Zariff, who charges $21 (£13)
• His favourite fictional television programmes are Mash and The Wire
• He was given the code name "Renegade" by his Secret Service handlers
• He was nicknamed "Bear" by his late grandmother
• He plans to install a basketball court in the White House grounds
• His favourite artist is Pablo Picasso
• His speciality as a cook is chilli
• He has said many of his friends in Indonesia were "street urchins"
• He keeps on his desk a carving of a wooden hand holding an egg, a Kenyan symbol of the fragility of life
• His late father was a senior economist for the Kenyan government 

Related:

Colbert, Stewart and Obama: The Tears of a Clown(s)

Will.I.Am: It's a New Day (Video)

 

Source| Photo


+ DIGG + STUMBLE

Comments

 

Bobby Blaine said:

What about the part about him being a MUSLIM!  Haha, jaykay.

November 11, 2008 4:07 PM
 

Ben Copeland said:

At last we have our first Geek/Jock regular dude as our president. His lucrative book deals are recent so he is new money as apposed to being born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He knows what it is like to pay off student loans. He is truly one of us.

It is important to know however the majority of white folks voted against him, but that does not mean he won't represent us all. I have a very strong feeling he will be among the most loved and popular presidents this country has ever seen.

November 11, 2008 4:54 PM
 

hmmm said:

I wouldn't agree that "the majority of white folks voted against him." For one thing, it was a slim majority, and for another, that slim majority voted as republicans, not specifically against him. I assume no one would make the claim that the majority of white folks voted against Kerry or Gore. However, if you compare the numbers for Kerry or Gore with Obama's numbers of white voters, you will see that they are almost identical. It seems to me that this has more to do with membership in the republican vs. democratic party. I know plenty of people that might be classified as "white" (although this is a very shaky category and becoming less meaningful all the time) who were thrilled to vote for Obama, including myself. I hope passionately that his presidency will be successful and realize all of our hopes for the future as Americans.

November 11, 2008 6:38 PM
 

MAtt3046 said:

It should be interesting to see where a

president, who is not Euro centric, (or at least as much) goes with foreign policy.

He seems like a good guy.

Any way it is  done deal we all just need to support him.

It really is our only choice.

Besides how bad can a President screw it up anyway?

November 11, 2008 8:01 PM
 

JAMAL DARNELL said:

HAHA U STUPID CRACKA WHITES. U WERE RITE IT BE A TRAP BUT MOST YALL NEVA SAW NO NOTHIN COMIN. NOW US PROUD BLACK MUSLIM MEN WITH SWINGIN DICKS GON BE ALL UP IN YO FACE N BUSINESS AND U CANT DO NO NOTHIN BOUT IT SEPT NEEL DOWN N KISS ROUND BLACK BUTIFUL ISLAMIC MAN ASS. HAHA U DONE FSHO HONKEY TONK GREYMEATS. DID YALL SEE THE EMAIL WENT OUT FROM BARACK HUSSEIN EMAIL ADDRESS TO US BLACKS TUESDAY NIGHT. BETTA RECKONIZE.

Microsoft Mail Internet Headers Version 2.0

Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary

Priority: Urgent

Importance: high

From: "Barack Hussein" <Barack.Hussein@blackpower. org>

To:{list::secret_black_list_fo r_victory_speech_4nov2008}

Bcc: "Jamal Darnell" <JamalGonFuqUrWiteWife@tnb. com>

Subject: The Moment Has Come...

Dearest Black Friends,

The moment has come, as I have secretly been assuring you that it would, all along. Our time has come, my Black friends. I want to take a moment to thank Allah for our victory today, and also to thank all of you, my Black supporters, who spent your time and money convincing white Americans to vote for me. As you have seen tonight, it has worked beautifully.

As you are no doubt aware, there is a rude awakening in store for them on life's horizon. On January 20, after being sworn in on my copy of the Quar'an, as first action of the High Mullah of the American Nation, I will issue the following executive orders:

1. All flags will be replaced with the Black Power Fist flag

2. All personal property and land of white Republicans will be forfeit to the state.

3. All churches, pictures of Jesus Christ, and religious iconography will be destroyed immediately. All mentions of the Christian religion will be punishable by death.

4. All whites must wear a turban at all times and pray to Mecca 12 times a day.

5. Arabic will now be the official United States language. Whites will speak only when spoken to, and only in either Arabic or Ebonics. The word "Black" must always be capitalized.

6. The country will be renamed to The Islamic Communist Republic of Ameristan. White children shall be taught that Black Muslim men founded this country, and that the whites are slaves.

7. All white people must issue public apologies to Black Men for former misdeeds of their race. The jobs and money of whites will be offered to Black Muslims as punishment.

8. White women will be offered as brides to Black Muslim men who get first priority of choosing up to ten wives.

9. All straight whites must issue public apologies to gays and lesbians. In order to increase sensitivity, the whites will be incarcerated for one month with a homosexual Black member of the same sex who is allowed to use them as seen fit

10.(The secret big one) This one you already are aware of.

It's Black O'Clock, and time to get to work!

Your New Black Muslim President,

Barack Hussein

PS - Please don't share this email with any whites before January 21, when these policies will go into effect. They may try to stop us by invoking Rule 9A. After January 21, feel free to show it to them and remind them that we had been planning this all along (it will add to their humiliation).

November 11, 2008 8:13 PM
 

Billy Rageguy said:

Fun Obama Fac t#51: He loves black people.

unlike

this

guy:

www.entertonement.com/.../George-Bush-Doesn%27t-Care-About-Black-People

November 11, 2008 8:32 PM
 

Chamberlin said:

@Jamal Darnell:  Fuck you, cocksucker.  You're an embarrassment and don't deserve to live in this country.  We got enough of that garbage during the election.  Give that race baiting bullshit a rest so we can repair the country, you Bush-voting, ignorant jackass.

November 11, 2008 8:35 PM
 

Jonathan the Bellboy said:

Does he prefer Ditko or Romita drawing Spidey?

November 11, 2008 8:41 PM
 

Dude said:

Who is Jamal Darnell?  Two Things You Didn't Know...

1.  He's a (probably) white, Republican douchebag who's posting inflammatory garbage in the comment section of an article about the most popular President-elect in decades.

2.  People like him are going to keep the Republicans in the political wilderness for decades because any Republican candidate is now going to have to satisfy his ignorant ass.  To do this, he or she (Palin) will engage in race-baiting/severe demagoguery thus pissing off 55% of the electorate.

November 11, 2008 8:49 PM
 

Susannah said:

@ Chamberlin.... don't give freaks like Jamal Darnell the satisfaction ... besides, he posted that and will never return to see your anger. Focus on the good, not the dumb. :)

@hmmm ... white chic here... I voted for him too. I really don't think that color played a whole lot into this election... it was more a choice of "good" vs "bad" or "smart" vs "dumber than a bag of hammers".

November 11, 2008 8:55 PM
 

change said:

jesus jamal, get a life. in the nicest way possible, that just makes you sound like a fucking moron and everyone hates you for it. its just sad that at such an incredible time like this, there are still dipshits like you that can see no farther than what your parents taught you; or else are so sickeningly stupid the only defense you have against people you dont like is hate. it's pathetic.

November 11, 2008 9:05 PM
 

Whit Honea said:

I never considered ethnicity at all during the election, but enthusiastically appreciated the magnitude of the moment once the goal was realized.

I only see good things, difficult as they may be, from Mr. Obama- even if he doesn't drink coffee, which let's face it, is just plain weird.

November 11, 2008 9:18 PM
 

yobaba said:

As always on sites like this, the comment section is often much more interesting and educational than whatever article comes first, and although this is a kicky kind of list, the comment section certainly dies not "disappoint" - even though it seems whatever moderator is assigned here is out to lunch.  It really is a shame that people cannot have intelligent discourse without having to put up with the juvenile I-want-my-15-seconds-of-fame crap we find here.  Troubling but sadly not surprising. I agree that people like this are the ones who 'lost' the election for the Republicans in '06 and again this year - and will likely keep the GOP out of serious contention for several years to come.  Yay.

November 11, 2008 9:20 PM
 

Nicolas Coursey said:

Jamal Darnell is obviously not a real person, and if (he) is, he makes other black men look bad. He is a prime example of where stereotypes come from. Some say blacks are ignorant. I don't agree with that, but when you have someone like him make comments like that, and post them in battered English (if you can even call it English), people begin to portray the whole race as ignorant.

Fact Check : If you look up Nigger in the dictionary, nowhere does it say anything about a black person. It may mention it to be a derogatory term for African Americans, but the definition of Nigger is (not verbatim sorry) an ignorant person. With that being said, a Nigger could be black or white.

I voted for Barack Obama. People associate "Barack" with Islam, or Muslim religon. But in one of the fifty things you didn't know, Barack is a Swahili word meaning "Blessed". Can you tell me where the Swahili language has any association with Muslim beliefs?

Fact Check: Obama's father was Kenyan, and his mother Hawaiian. His name is more than likely father's choice. His Father left him and his mother in Hawaii to return to Kenyan  to try to better the country. His mother couldn't handle the distance, and lack of communication. She moved Obama and his siblings to Indonesia, where she married an Indonesian man. Obama lived most of his early childhood in Indonesia, eventually returning to Hawaii, where he lived with his grandmother. Obama is also a Christian. He never once said he was going to swear in on the Quar'an, The Muslim holy book.

America is the land of the free. I fight for those rights. I am an American Airman in the United States Air Force. All of the things that Obama "said" in the false email could never happen. The President can write up a bill, but ultimately Congress and the Senate have the ultimate power on deciding what will become a Law. Those things posted would never make it.  Freedom of Religion is another right we have as Americans. So number 3 of the "email" would never happen either. I think i've said my peace.

Thank You,

Nicolas Coursey

USAF

November 11, 2008 9:22 PM
 

jon said:

Thanks for the list! It would be great if you provided citations, just for further information, not because of any doubts.

Cheers!

November 11, 2008 9:52 PM
 

Fact Nazi said:

@ Nicolas Coursey: Just a friendly reminder to research before you make a statement (not that I disagree with your sentiments but here's my chance to be a pretentious prick on the interwebz :P) The Swahili language arose out of the mingling of Bantu speaking Africans with Arabs, along with a few other groups such as the Portuguese. The Swahili culture was likewise a fusion of African and Arabic elements and spread hand in hand with Islam along the east African coast. So the two are related, quite intimately as a matter of fact.

And now back to your regularly scheduled flame wars.

PS Darnell IS a moron.

November 11, 2008 10:00 PM
 

Dave U said:

WOW, "Jamal Darnell" is a most definitely a while trash republican red neck. He's speaking their language (racism, hatred, intolerance, ignorance)...

Please sir, get a life or take your own. Thanks.

November 11, 2008 10:20 PM
 

Geoff said:

Darnell can't be a black man.  To be sure, he very well could be an ignorant democrat.  Republican does NOT equal racist.  Unfortunately, the "Darnell" character can't even feign Ebonics.

I wouldn't vote for Obama based on the fact his world view is completely different than my own.  I think he's inexperienced, and ill-equipped to lead the country.  I don't agree with his economic views.  I don't agree with his social views.  I don't agree with him on almost anything.  In many ways, he's just Bush's third term.  More disastrous policies from an inexperienced man who is at the whim of his advisers.  What's left after a big change?  The status quo.  I just hope the dems don't screw up the country too badly.  They talk a good populist game, but a good populist game is easy to agree with and terrible to implement.  It's okay, I'll get out my hammer and sickle, too.  Just tell me what I'm getting.  I'll sit on my ass for the next four years.

November 11, 2008 11:27 PM
 

Grady said:

lol Darnell was funny, so long as he was poking fun at what people like Sean Hannity think.

November 12, 2008 12:08 AM
 

JamesB said:

This article was stolen from the Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Barack-Obama-The-50-facts-you-might-not-know.html

Have you no shame?

November 12, 2008 12:40 AM
 

Tug said:

He spends way too much money on haircuts. :]

November 12, 2008 12:58 AM
 

Modvavet said:

I actually believe that Darnell's piece was, most likely, a rather excellent piece of satire.  After all, the best satire is the kind where a significant portion of the audience doesn't REALIZE that it's satire.  It might even be Colbert :P

November 12, 2008 1:22 AM
 

Grady said:

Agreed Modvavet.

November 12, 2008 1:45 AM
 

Sassmo said:

Actually, according to his book, "Audacity of Hope," his first date with Michelle was a picnic.

Also, I wish this list would have mentioned his penchant for tech and the Internet, beyond the quip about his Blackberry. I'm really excited to see the outcome of our nation's first Chief Technology Officer.

According to Change.gov, before it was edited for brevity and Biden's name was added, he had some pretty liberal views on Net Neutrality too. Hopefully he sees all those ideas to fruition.

November 12, 2008 3:05 AM
 

trix said:

James B.

I got this article from the Huffington post and state that in the opening sentence. The article in the Telegraph and Huffington Post are by the same author.

I was at dinner and enjoying all of your comments. I wasn't moderating, I was letting you all enjoy your right to your opinion.

November 12, 2008 3:06 AM
 

Kenny said:

ok are you guys blind? It is clear that Jamal Darnell is just posting a bit of satire that is poking fun at all of Fox News' insane fear mongering ideas. Obviously  all of the ideas in this letter are insane but thats why its funny, because its all stuff fox has said about Obama during the last couple of years. Chill out a little and let yourselves laugh.

The fact that none of you has seen this "letter" for what it is shows that you too have been paying way to much attention to the media. But heres a news flash: He won! So stop being so defensive and just enjoy that fact

November 12, 2008 6:06 AM
 

Bibi said:

Posetive Political Ambition!

Just like ask the Universe and belive in what you are asking for and you get it!Good for Him and his familly not forgeting his Wife has a head in her sholders,So send him good (Qi) or  energy to PERFORM AND ACT FOR THE BEST OF ALL OF US!

Remember Energy flows where Attention goes!

November 12, 2008 6:48 PM
 

Johnny said:

As a conservative I am, of course, disappointed in the outcome of the election. As I am sure you others would be if the outcome were reversed. As an American and a veteran, I will support our new President with all my might. I must pray that he has the strength, courage, and conviction to do what is necessary to carry our nation forward and do what is right for our future. The people I believe in are those who do not hate, but rather work together for a better America. Godspeed, Mr. President!

November 12, 2008 8:52 PM
 

Nicolas Coursey said:

@ Fact Nazi,

thanks for the info....i didnt know...which is why i said "can anyone tell me....

thanks again tho

November 12, 2008 10:25 PM
 

AMBER COURSEY said:

JAMAL DARNELL... your ignorant TRASH!

Especially to refer to WHITE PEOPLE AS "STUPID CRACKA WHITES"

Someone needs to slap you! I WOULD LOVE TO BE THAT PERSON!

Obama is going to be a great and needs the respect from American's regardless if they like him or not seeing as how he is going to be president anyways.

If your opinions on the election or anything to do with politics is based on race.... GO BACK TO YOUR MUSLIM COUNTRY!

& IF YOUR MUSLIM DICK IS HANGING THAT LOW SHOVE IT IN YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE YOUR BULLSHIT ISN'T WELCOME! you racist FUCK!

November 12, 2008 10:34 PM
 

Psydan said:

lol, who can't see that Jamal's comment was just satire, and even think it was just bad trolling?

"5. Arabic will now be the official United States language. Whites will speak only when spoken to, and only in either Arabic or Ebonics. The word "Black" must always be capitalized."

All whites must speak in Arabic or Ebonics? That's satire folks, come on. Can't blame people though, this is the internet, hard to convey proper sarcasm or satire.

November 13, 2008 5:31 PM
 

MANDii Bby said:

ok soo umm yea.

iloveBarackObama =]

hehe *

4m those facts i thinkk he is like the coolest president bcus hes been throuqh all of it and he knos how it feels .

finallyy !!

NO MORE BUShh!

YAY [[happyy dance]]

ok and the fact that hes qonna put a bball court in/outside of the white house is freshh!!

HEz SUPPER BADD!!

lOl

haha thts myy cmmnt *

yu like ??

dont answer

November 13, 2008 7:39 PM
 

kevin said:

there is already a b-ball court on the white house grounds.  half court, anyway

November 15, 2008 7:58 PM
 

nay nay said:

FUCKINg MOther FUCK HE HAD TO TELL ME THAT HED B THE PREZ ADANT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYy

November 17, 2008 6:00 AM
 

Mr. T Bowser said:

To the fake JAMAL DARNELL who posted that ignorant comment on this board.  

It is such a shame that one has to reduce themselves to such methods to make black people look ignorant.  Get a life because black people don't even talk like that.  The most hardened thug on the streets would be considered a wuss if he even dreamed of using that type of slang! It's really pathetic. We know what your agenda is and it didn't work.  

Go Barack Obama!!!!

November 17, 2008 4:50 PM
 

MBDH said:

Amen Mr. T Bowser!  I am still amazed by just how ignorant backwards people are in the 21st Century (people who aren't even smart enough to fake slang) and the levels they will sink to for their racist agendas.

Maybe they are just upset that the NEW president is better spoken, better educated, and a better human being over all...and that their white Texas idiot has got to step down as a dictator (or puppet dictator) and go back to the ranch.

News Flash y'all...the US has a higher ratio of ethnicity and women to white men.  The future is upon us and embrace it or be trampled by it...either way it will still save your pathetic racist cracker asses.  -M

November 18, 2008 9:59 AM
 

Gin789 said:

This man may have been elected but he will never be president and if he is he will never be my president.  This man was not born in this country and does not meet the requirments of the U.S. constitution.  All his records have been sealed.  Why?   If he was born in the United States  why not show a valid copy of his birth certificate.  He can not that is why.

November 22, 2008 5:09 PM

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