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‘the “born in Kenya” appears to be an error on account of it not being part of something warranting close checking.’

Now you’re just being funny. The agency prominently marketed Obama as being born in Kenya, but couldn’t be bothered to ascertain whether or not this was true? Are you here all week? Should I try the veal?

One thing I will grant you. Something changed between Journeys in Black and White and Dreams. Journeys was advertised as telling the story of a person born in Kenya, and Dreams tells an entirely different story.

What happened?

One of two things. Either Obama had aspired for the Oval Office all along but had no idea his Kenyan birth would be an issue, and by the time of Dreams’ writing he was informed otherwise.

The other possibility is that the Punahou choomer/coke snorter had not previously seen himself as POTUS material. But someone, perhaps Ayers, realized he had a shot. Thus the narrative was changed accordingly.

Obama always had the option of going either way. His birth was registered in HI, likely as a result of Granny Dunham’s machinations. So he could claim in truth a Kenyan birth, as he did with Acton & Dystel, or he could claim a HI birth, as he did whenever that was more beneficial. However, from the time of Dreams onward, he had to leave his Kenyan beginnings behind. The birth narrative coalesces from that point onward.

The agency prominently marketed Obama as being born in Kenya, but couldn’t be bothered to ascertain whether or not this was true?

If the agency had directly asked Obama -- you know, the same Obama that the year prior had obviously told the Times, Post and Tribune that he was born in Hawaii -- then the bio would not have ended up saying "born in Kenya."

(Are you ever going to acknowledge those national media reports happened? Your denial by silence technique is long past the silly stage.)

Should I try the veal?

I suggest crow instead.

I've already covered this. Insofar as anyone at the agency envisioned a "born in Kenya" book, vision confronted reality and Obama's prior reporting he was born in Hawaii meant that book didn't (and couldn't) get written.

Here we observe the difference in our arguments: my argument rests on national media reports that DID get published; your argument rests on a supposed book in a form that DIDN't get written or published.

One of two things. Either Obama had aspired for the Oval Office all along but had no idea his Kenyan birth would be an issue, and by the time of Dreams’ writing he was informed otherwise.

The other possibility is that the Punahou choomer/coke snorter had not previously seen himself as POTUS material. But someone, perhaps Ayers, realized he had a shot. Thus the narrative was changed accordingly.

Or how about choice C) the one where Obama says "while 'born in Kenya' has a nice exotic ring to it, as I told the newspapers last year, I actually was born in Hawaii."

Sound the bells! We have a winner!! It's C.