Kenya to deport Jerome Corsi, author of anti-Obama book
Corsi was in Kenya to promote 'Obama Nation.' Authorities say his visa was not in order, but his publicist says the government 'didn't want to be seen as condoning a smear campaign against Obama.'
Associated Press
NAIROBI, KENYA — The American author of a controversial book attacking Barack Obama was headed for deportation today by the other Obama nation.
Jerome Corsi, author of "The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality," was detained this morning by Kenyan authorities shortly before he planned to host a news conference to promote his book, which Obama's campaign has dismissed as a smear campaign riddled with falsehoods.
Obama, whose father was Kenyan and mother was American, is wildly popular in this East African nation, which embraces the Illinois senator as a native son.
Kenyan authorities accused Corsi of failing to obtain the proper visa needed to work in the country.
"His papers were not in order," said Immigration Ministry spokesman Elias Njeru. "He came in with a tourist visa, but had to do business. So his papers were on the wrong side of the law."
Corsi could not be reached for comment today. Airport officials told the Associated Press that he was expected to be deported late this evening.
Peter Mbae, Corsi's Kenyan publicist, said the author arrived in the country last week and had been "researching connections between Obama and [Kenyan Prime Minister Raila] Odinga."
Corsi was also planning a publicity event in which he would give $1,000 to one of Obama's impoverished relatives. He was detained at a downtown hotel by immigration officials shortly before the news conference was set to start.
"The bottom line is that the Kenyan government didn't want him addressing the press," Mbae said. "They didn't want to be seen as condoning a smear campaign against Obama."
He said Corsi was taken to the airport during the afternoon. The author had been planning to leave the country in any event this evening or Wednesday morning, he said.
Corsi, who wrote a book attacking 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry, repeats false claims that Obama was raised as a Muslim. His book also claims Obama gave Odinga $1 million for the Kenyan's 2007 presidential campaign. Both Obama and Odinga camps have dismissed the rumor, which was based on a bogus e-mail circulated earlier this year.
Corsi's troubles are likely to fuel sales, though many Kenyans are reacting negatively to the book.
Said one Nairobi book vendor, "I've sold a few copies, but for us as Kenyans, I guess it's a bit sensitive."
edmund.sanders@latimes.com
