Hillarack Oblinton, Meet Brangelina

The Associated Press is reporting that Barack Obama is related to Brad Pitt, while Hillary Clinton is related to Angelina Jolie, an interesting bit of symmetry:

BOSTON - This could make for one odd family reunion: Barack Obama is a distant cousin of actor Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is related to Pitt's girlfriend, Angelina Jolie.

Researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society found some remarkable family connections for the three presidential candidates - Democratic rivals Obama and Clinton, and Republican John McCain.

With the Democratic Primary race beginning to resemble an episode of "Tom & Jerry" without the instant healing, a fluffy bit of trivia like this is a welcome relief. The report goes on to highlight several other fascinating links, including one between Obama and George W. Bush:

Obama and President Bush are 10th cousins, once removed, linked by Samuel Hinkley of Cape Cod, who died in 1662.

The article doesn't say whether Hinkley and John McCain were high school chums.


John McCain, it turns out, is a sixth cousin of Laura Bush. If you think that makes for an awkward barbecue, check out Barack's family reunion:

Obama has a prolific presidential lineage that features Democrats and Republicans. His distant cousins include President George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S. Truman and James Madison. Other Obama cousins include Vice President Dick Cheney, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Civil War General Robert E. Lee.

Now, that's a party I'd go to.

Hillary Clinton's family tree includes several popular singers, prompting Clinton adviser Philippe Reines to quip, "You'd think with all that singing talent in the family she'd be able to carry a tune..."

This story shows that, despite all of the political wrangling going on now, we really are all family. Hopefully, come November, we can start acting like it.