Cindy McCain's Sister Hurt that Cindy Portrays Herself as "Only Child"
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lebanonfan
Aug 18, 2008, 8:03:39 PM8/18/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Cindy McCain's Half Sister 'Angry' She's Hidden
Ted Robbins/NPR
Nicholas Portalski, whose mother is McCain's half sister, says it's
"very, very hurtful" that he and his mother haven't been recognized.
All Things Considered, August 18, 2008 ·
Last Tuesday, NPR broadcast a story about Cindy McCain's business and
charity work. In it, Ted Robbins described McCain as the only child of
Jim Hensley, a wealthy Arizona businessman. The next morning, NPR
received an e-mail from Nicholas Portalski of Phoenix, who heard the
story with his mother.
"We were listening to the piece about Cindy McCain on NPR, All Things
Considered, and it just struck us very hard," Portalski said.
His mother, Kathleen Hensley Portalski, is also Hensley's daughter.
The Portalski family is accustomed to hearing Cindy McCain described
as Hensley's only child.
She's been described that way by news organizations from The New
Yorker and The New York Times to Newsweek and ABC.
McCain herself routinely uses the phrase "only child," as she did on
CNN last month. "I grew up with my dad," she said then. "I'm an only
child. My father was a cowboy, and he really loved me very much, but I
think he wanted a son occasionally."
McCain's father was also a businessman — and twice a father.
"I'm upset," Kathleen Portalski says. "I'm angry. It makes me feel
like a nonperson, kind of."
Who Is Kathleen Hensley Portalski?
Documents show Kathleen Anne Hensley was born to Jim and Mary Jeanne
Hensley on Feb. 23, 1943. They had been married for six years when
Kathleen was born.
Jim Hensley was a bombardier on a B-17, flying over Europe during
World War II.
He was injured and sent to a facility in West Virginia to recuperate.
During that time, while still married to Mary Jeanne, Hensley met
another woman — Marguerite Smith. Jim divorced Mary Jeanne and married
Marguerite in 1945.
Cindy Lou Hensley was born nine years later, in 1954.
She may have grown up as an only child, but so did her half sister,
Kathleen, who was raised by a single parent.
Portalski says she did see her father and her half sister from time to
time.
"I saw him a few times a year," she says. "I saw him at Christmas and
birthdays, and he provided money for school clothes, and he called
occasionally."
Jim Hensley also provided credit cards and college tuition for his
grandchildren, as well as $10,000 gifts to Kathleen and her husband,
Stanley Portalski. That lasted a decade, they say. By then, Jim
Hensley had built Hensley and Co. into one of the largest beer
distributorships in the country. He was worth tens, if not hundreds,
of millions of dollars.
Sole Inheritor To Hensley's Estate
When Hensley died in 2000, his will named not only Portalski but also
a daughter of his wife Marguerite from her earlier marriage. So, Cindy
McCain may be the only product of Jim and Marguerite's marriage, but
she is not the only child of either.
She was, however, the sole inheritor of his considerable estate.
Kathleen Portalski was left $10,000, and her children were left
nothing. It's a fact Nicholas Portalski says his sister discovered the
hard way.
"What she found in town — on the day of or the day before or the day
after his funeral — was that the credit card didn't work anymore,"
Nick says.
The Portalskis live in a modest home in central Phoenix. Kathleen is
retired, as is her husband. Nicholas Portalski is a firefighter and
emergency medical technician looking for work.
They say it would have been nice if they were left some of the Hensley
fortune.
They also say they are Democrats, but Nicholas Portalski says he had
another reason for coming forward.
"The fact that we don't exist," he says. "The fact that we've never
been recognized, and then Cindy has to put such a fine point on it by
saying something that's not true. Recently, again and again. It's just
very, very hurtful."
Kathleen Portalski says she'd like an acknowledgment and an apology.
NPR asked the McCain campaign — specifically, Cindy McCain — to
comment or respond. Neither replied.
Pictures:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729
Ted Robbins/NPR
Nicholas Portalski, whose mother is McCain's half sister, says it's
"very, very hurtful" that he and his mother haven't been recognized.
All Things Considered, August 18, 2008 ·
Last Tuesday, NPR broadcast a story about Cindy McCain's business and
charity work. In it, Ted Robbins described McCain as the only child of
Jim Hensley, a wealthy Arizona businessman. The next morning, NPR
received an e-mail from Nicholas Portalski of Phoenix, who heard the
story with his mother.
"We were listening to the piece about Cindy McCain on NPR, All Things
Considered, and it just struck us very hard," Portalski said.
His mother, Kathleen Hensley Portalski, is also Hensley's daughter.
The Portalski family is accustomed to hearing Cindy McCain described
as Hensley's only child.
She's been described that way by news organizations from The New
Yorker and The New York Times to Newsweek and ABC.
McCain herself routinely uses the phrase "only child," as she did on
CNN last month. "I grew up with my dad," she said then. "I'm an only
child. My father was a cowboy, and he really loved me very much, but I
think he wanted a son occasionally."
McCain's father was also a businessman — and twice a father.
"I'm upset," Kathleen Portalski says. "I'm angry. It makes me feel
like a nonperson, kind of."
Who Is Kathleen Hensley Portalski?
Documents show Kathleen Anne Hensley was born to Jim and Mary Jeanne
Hensley on Feb. 23, 1943. They had been married for six years when
Kathleen was born.
Jim Hensley was a bombardier on a B-17, flying over Europe during
World War II.
He was injured and sent to a facility in West Virginia to recuperate.
During that time, while still married to Mary Jeanne, Hensley met
another woman — Marguerite Smith. Jim divorced Mary Jeanne and married
Marguerite in 1945.
Cindy Lou Hensley was born nine years later, in 1954.
She may have grown up as an only child, but so did her half sister,
Kathleen, who was raised by a single parent.
Portalski says she did see her father and her half sister from time to
time.
"I saw him a few times a year," she says. "I saw him at Christmas and
birthdays, and he provided money for school clothes, and he called
occasionally."
Jim Hensley also provided credit cards and college tuition for his
grandchildren, as well as $10,000 gifts to Kathleen and her husband,
Stanley Portalski. That lasted a decade, they say. By then, Jim
Hensley had built Hensley and Co. into one of the largest beer
distributorships in the country. He was worth tens, if not hundreds,
of millions of dollars.
Sole Inheritor To Hensley's Estate
When Hensley died in 2000, his will named not only Portalski but also
a daughter of his wife Marguerite from her earlier marriage. So, Cindy
McCain may be the only product of Jim and Marguerite's marriage, but
she is not the only child of either.
She was, however, the sole inheritor of his considerable estate.
Kathleen Portalski was left $10,000, and her children were left
nothing. It's a fact Nicholas Portalski says his sister discovered the
hard way.
"What she found in town — on the day of or the day before or the day
after his funeral — was that the credit card didn't work anymore,"
Nick says.
The Portalskis live in a modest home in central Phoenix. Kathleen is
retired, as is her husband. Nicholas Portalski is a firefighter and
emergency medical technician looking for work.
They say it would have been nice if they were left some of the Hensley
fortune.
They also say they are Democrats, but Nicholas Portalski says he had
another reason for coming forward.
"The fact that we don't exist," he says. "The fact that we've never
been recognized, and then Cindy has to put such a fine point on it by
saying something that's not true. Recently, again and again. It's just
very, very hurtful."
Kathleen Portalski says she'd like an acknowledgment and an apology.
NPR asked the McCain campaign — specifically, Cindy McCain — to
comment or respond. Neither replied.
Pictures:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729
KY Hooligan
Aug 19, 2008, 8:01:04 AM8/19/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Hoo boy the Liberals are panicing since McCain mopped the floor with
Obama at Saddleback. Oh I know they say McCain was rehearsed, but
honestly his answers were from his core beliefs and experience. He
didn't have to hem and haw like Obama (uhhh .. ahh...) to keep from
offending a voting base Obama is after.
Anyway to the story at hand....
When you read that the only child between Jim and Marguerite was Cindy
then she is technically correct. There is no mention of any contact
between Cindy and the others while growing up. If there was no
contact then what does she owe them?
Nicholas said the credit card didn't work after Jim died. Obviously
then it was in Jim's name and not Kathleen's, what do they expect?
(wonder who PAID the bills charged to that card?)
"They say it would have been nice if they were left some of the
Hensley fortune."
Jim made the decisions as to who got what so they should be blaming
him not Cindy. Sounds like some greed envy here.
Them being Democrats is another clue. So it appears some liberals got
a hold of them and are using this as an excuse to slime McCain which
really has nothing to do with McCain himself.
The second pathetic slime is the flap over McCain telling about the
cross, and his allegedly "plagiarising Wikipedia". Well, duh...Many
people knew about the cross long before Wikipedia came along, long
before Bill Clinton found rocks forming a cross on a beach that never
had any rocks.
HOWEVER, LF, have you read anything in the media about Obama, at
Saddleback, lying in his reply about his Abortion stance in Chicago
(and I won't count it being above his pay grade)? It was an outright
lie.
http://tinyurl.com/56gwed
Do you think the wife of a Candidate ignoring children she never grew
up with, nor has any responsibility for, is worse than an actual
Candidate lying?
Which should have the headlines? You know had it been McCain it would
have been major headlines and the lead story on network news. But
your wonderful media isn't biased, right?
.
Obama at Saddleback. Oh I know they say McCain was rehearsed, but
honestly his answers were from his core beliefs and experience. He
didn't have to hem and haw like Obama (uhhh .. ahh...) to keep from
offending a voting base Obama is after.
Anyway to the story at hand....
When you read that the only child between Jim and Marguerite was Cindy
then she is technically correct. There is no mention of any contact
between Cindy and the others while growing up. If there was no
contact then what does she owe them?
Nicholas said the credit card didn't work after Jim died. Obviously
then it was in Jim's name and not Kathleen's, what do they expect?
(wonder who PAID the bills charged to that card?)
"They say it would have been nice if they were left some of the
Hensley fortune."
him not Cindy. Sounds like some greed envy here.
Them being Democrats is another clue. So it appears some liberals got
a hold of them and are using this as an excuse to slime McCain which
really has nothing to do with McCain himself.
The second pathetic slime is the flap over McCain telling about the
cross, and his allegedly "plagiarising Wikipedia". Well, duh...Many
people knew about the cross long before Wikipedia came along, long
before Bill Clinton found rocks forming a cross on a beach that never
had any rocks.
HOWEVER, LF, have you read anything in the media about Obama, at
Saddleback, lying in his reply about his Abortion stance in Chicago
(and I won't count it being above his pay grade)? It was an outright
lie.
http://tinyurl.com/56gwed
Do you think the wife of a Candidate ignoring children she never grew
up with, nor has any responsibility for, is worse than an actual
Candidate lying?
Which should have the headlines? You know had it been McCain it would
have been major headlines and the lead story on network news. But
your wonderful media isn't biased, right?
.
Taylorcofan
Aug 19, 2008, 9:11:28 AM8/19/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
I was surprised at how much the 2 sisters looked alike.
lebanonfan
Aug 19, 2008, 10:00:15 PM8/19/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
On Aug 19, 8:01 am, KY Hooligan <Swiftboat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> HOWEVER, LF, have you read anything in the media about Obama, at
> Saddleback, lying in his reply about his Abortion stance in Chicago
> (and I won't count it being above his pay grade)? It was an outright
> lie.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/56gwed
>
> Do you think the wife of a Candidate ignoring children she never grew
> up with, nor has any responsibility for, is worse than an actual
> Candidate lying?
>
> Which should have the headlines? You know had it been McCain it would
> have been major headlines and the lead story on network news. But
> your wonderful media isn't biased, right?
____
> HOWEVER, LF, have you read anything in the media about Obama, at
> Saddleback, lying in his reply about his Abortion stance in Chicago
> (and I won't count it being above his pay grade)? It was an outright
> lie.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/56gwed
>
> Do you think the wife of a Candidate ignoring children she never grew
> up with, nor has any responsibility for, is worse than an actual
> Candidate lying?
>
> Which should have the headlines? You know had it been McCain it would
> have been major headlines and the lead story on network news. But
> your wonderful media isn't biased, right?
KH, I haven't read your posted url yet. I put up the article about
Cindy McCain's sister simply because I thought it interesting.
If you want to nit pick though, I'll play along.
On the one hand, family values candidate John McCain and wife Cindy
have close blood family they don't know or claim, but McCain claims as
a confidant John Lewis, a black congressman and civil rights hero,
whom he doesn't even really know.
At Saddleback he was one of McCain's named "three wisest people" he
would "rely heavily on". They've been in congress together 22 years
now, but according to Lewis, McCain's never consulted with him so far.
Kind of ironic.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/08/9293_john_mccain_john_lewis_wise_man.html
___
John McCain says he plans to consult with Democratic Rep. John Lewis
when he's president. That's news to Lewis.
During Saturday's presidential forum at Rick Warren's California
megachurch, John McCain was asked to name the "three wisest people" he
would "rely heavily on" if elected president. He didn't cite close
confidantes Phil Gramm and Randy Scheunemann, possibly because they
have gotten McCain into trouble politically. Instead McCain chose Gen.
David Petraeus; former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, one of his economic
advisers; and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a leading figure in the civil
rights movement.
This is not the first time McCain has invoked Lewis' name on the
campaign trail. Earlier this year, in Selma, Alabama, he told the
story of civil rights marchers trying to cross the Edmund Pettus
Bridge in a 1965 march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery.
Waiting at the crest of the bridge were a brigade of police and state
troopers who meted out an attacks so violent that the day is known
today as Bloody Sunday.
Central in McCain's telling was John Lewis, a man of just 25 who was
at the front of the march and absorbed the first blow. Millions of
Americans, McCain noted, "watched brave John Lewis fall."
But even though McCain has now repeatedly cited Lewis as a role model
and potential adviser, McCain has not established a relationship with
the Georgia Democrat in the 22 years they have served in Congress
together. At the time of McCain's Selma speech, a Lewis associate told
my colleague David Corn that McCain has never been close to Lewis.
Lewis was not told about McCain's speech in Selma in advance, nor was
he invited to attend.
In response to McCain's latest invocation of his name, Rep. Lewis said
in a statement requested by Mother Jones, "I cannot stop one human
being, even a presidential candidate, from admiring the courage and
sacrifice of peaceful protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge or making
comments about it." But, he added, "Sen. McCain and I are colleagues
in the US Congress, not confidantes. He does not consult me. And I do
not consult him."
It took McCain years to fully embrace the goals that Lewis was
fighting for on Bloody Sunday. In 1983, McCain voted against making
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, in opposition to
most members of Congress, including many of his Republican colleagues.
In 1987, the governor of Arizona repealed the state's recognition of
King; McCain supported the move. It was only in 1990, 25 years after
Lewis marched in Alabama, when Arizona reversed its decision that
McCain changed his own stance on the issue.
And there are, of course, the fundamental differences between John
McCain's political philosophy and the goals of Lewis and his fellow
marchers. Lewis hoped that the federal government would use its
influence to protect the rights of disenfranchised individuals; he
sought an expanded role for government because of what he believed was
government's power to do good. It explains, in part, why Lewis is a
Democrat today and supports Barack Obama for president. McCain, on the
other hand, is a fanatical enemy of government spending and has said,
"I've found over time that less government involvement is better."
It's a philosophy that would have left Lewis and his cohorts out in
the cold.
So why does John McCain promise to consult a man who he is not close
to and has never consulted before? I put the question to the McCain
campaign. If and when they respond, I'll update the post.
rwhi...@elkcreek.net
Aug 19, 2008, 10:11:57 PM8/19/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
jsb
Aug 20, 2008, 10:23:52 AM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
How come Obama doesn't help out his brother? I'm sorry half brother.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2590614/Barack-Obamas-lost-brother-found-in-Kenya.html
On Aug 19, 10:11 pm, "rwhitl...@elkcreek.net" <rwhitl...@elkcreek.net>
wrote:
> > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2590614/Barack-Obamas-lost-brother-found-in-Kenya.html
On Aug 19, 10:11 pm, "rwhitl...@elkcreek.net" <rwhitl...@elkcreek.net>
wrote:
>
> - Show quoted text -
lebanonfan
Aug 20, 2008, 1:23:17 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Oooo - that's interesting, too!
On Aug 20, 10:23 am, jsb <bvmmgi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> How come Obama doesn't help out his brother? I'm sorry half brother.
>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama...
> > > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729-Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
On Aug 20, 10:23 am, jsb <bvmmgi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> How come Obama doesn't help out his brother? I'm sorry half brother.
>
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
cheshirecatldy
Aug 20, 2008, 2:06:57 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
yes exactly
doesnt he have another long lost sibling too
> > > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729-Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
doesnt he have another long lost sibling too
> How come Obama doesn't help out his brother? I'm sorry half brother.
>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama...
>
>
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
rwhi...@elkcreek.net
Aug 20, 2008, 3:59:17 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
I don't know...Could it be.....SATAN????
> > > > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729-Hidequoted text -
cheshirecatldy
Aug 20, 2008, 4:01:04 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
i dont know, could it be????
you smarty arty
On Aug 20, 3:59 pm, "rwhitl...@elkcreek.net" <rwhitl...@elkcreek.net>
wrote:
> > > > > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729-Hidequotedtext -
you smarty arty
On Aug 20, 3:59 pm, "rwhitl...@elkcreek.net" <rwhitl...@elkcreek.net>
wrote:
cheshirecatldy
Aug 20, 2008, 4:04:42 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
was that the church lady that used to say that off of snl?
> > > > > >http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93708729-Hidequotedtext -
KY Hooligan
Aug 20, 2008, 4:45:14 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Oh my LF, you don't read the link, can't discuss it intelligently and,
like some other, change the subject. What does Lewis have to do with
Family?
It is the Liberals who are nitpicking, not me. The article is obvious
to the intelligent.
Here is some real meat for you. Boy "under the bus" is getting
crowded.
http://tinyurl.com/6oq5qv
(I use Tinyurl because some links are extremely long).
> http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/08/9293_john_mccain...
like some other, change the subject. What does Lewis have to do with
Family?
It is the Liberals who are nitpicking, not me. The article is obvious
to the intelligent.
Here is some real meat for you. Boy "under the bus" is getting
crowded.
http://tinyurl.com/6oq5qv
(I use Tinyurl because some links are extremely long).
Message has been deleted
lebanonfan
Aug 20, 2008, 6:50:33 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Sorry it bothered you, KY Hooligan, that I only responded in part to
the questions in your post last night.
As to your link about Obama and abortion, I feel McCain has that issue
sewn up with his answer at Saddleback. Nothing short of the answer he
gave would have satisfied the audience there and in many parts of the
country (including here); McCain is against abortion even in cases of
rape, incest, and without regard to the mother's life and health.
Those are votes Obama will never get, and it's a large block. Obama
complicates what many see as a simple issue.
As for your question about what Lewis has to do with all this, go back
and read it and if you still have questions, by all means let me know.
> > campaign. If and when they respond, I'll update the post.- Hide quoted text -
the questions in your post last night.
As to your link about Obama and abortion, I feel McCain has that issue
sewn up with his answer at Saddleback. Nothing short of the answer he
gave would have satisfied the audience there and in many parts of the
country (including here); McCain is against abortion even in cases of
rape, incest, and without regard to the mother's life and health.
Those are votes Obama will never get, and it's a large block. Obama
complicates what many see as a simple issue.
As for your question about what Lewis has to do with all this, go back
and read it and if you still have questions, by all means let me know.
KY Hooligan
Aug 20, 2008, 8:02:14 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
LF, you said "As for your question about what Lewis has to do with all
Lewis, or even if McCain admires him. This is apples and oranges.
I am sure we all have people we admire yet have never met or consulted
with them.
I'm sure Obama has some skeletons with his Father, Step Father,
Grandmother, and the family in Africa (my second link above) that
have yet to be made fully public.
I just don't think people should talk about one candidate's family
problems without considering the other candidate's family problems.
If they want to expose one then they should expose the families of
both. Otherwise both sides should stick to the issues of the day.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
this, go back
and read it and if you still have questions, by all means let me know.
"
I am not sure how you can relate Cindy McCain's family with John
and read it and if you still have questions, by all means let me know.
"
Lewis, or even if McCain admires him. This is apples and oranges.
I am sure we all have people we admire yet have never met or consulted
with them.
I'm sure Obama has some skeletons with his Father, Step Father,
Grandmother, and the family in Africa (my second link above) that
have yet to be made fully public.
I just don't think people should talk about one candidate's family
problems without considering the other candidate's family problems.
If they want to expose one then they should expose the families of
both. Otherwise both sides should stick to the issues of the day.
lebanonfan
Aug 20, 2008, 8:14:22 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
Can't argue with that. No doubt there are skeletons everywhere.
Probably the only difference is that Obama never claimed to be an only
child.
Probably the only difference is that Obama never claimed to be an only
child.
cheshirecatldy
Aug 20, 2008, 9:20:37 PM8/20/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
that is right, he just FORGOT all about em.
KY Hooligan
Aug 23, 2008, 1:57:34 AM8/23/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
So that excuses Obama for allowing his step brother to live on a
dollar a month and break the promises to the other family members in
Kenya?
You are pickin nits now. If Cindy grew up alone she can say she was
an only child of that couple. Isn't funny how, after all the years
the McCains have been married, this group has suddenly come out of the
woodwork? why didn't they protest when the father died? He had his
Will, it was executed and that was that. They don't have a leg to
stand on. He may have reasons we don't know about as to why he
favored Cindy and not the other children. So why beat up on Cindy?
dollar a month and break the promises to the other family members in
Kenya?
You are pickin nits now. If Cindy grew up alone she can say she was
an only child of that couple. Isn't funny how, after all the years
the McCains have been married, this group has suddenly come out of the
woodwork? why didn't they protest when the father died? He had his
Will, it was executed and that was that. They don't have a leg to
stand on. He may have reasons we don't know about as to why he
favored Cindy and not the other children. So why beat up on Cindy?
lebanonfan
Aug 23, 2008, 2:31:47 AM8/23/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
As I said before: skeletons are everywhere.
cheshirecatldy
Aug 23, 2008, 8:50:14 AM8/23/08
to Talk Marion County 24/7
yes they are and I bet more and more are going to start marching out
of their closets.
of their closets.
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