The same CBS report revealed that Bush is also seventh cousin, five times removed of Abraham Lincoln; 11th cousin, twice removed of Princess Diana; and ninth cousin, three times removed to Marilyn Monroe.
Now, in an Anglo-Celtic Connections exclusive, I can reveal that the same resource used for Obama and Bush, ancestry.com, shows Harper has similarly notable relatives. The link is through his great-great grandfather Bedford Harper's mother, Susan Crane.
In Canada Harper is related to Prime Ministers Robert L Borden and Richard B Bennett, all three Conservatives.
In the USA Harper is related to President Millard Fillmore, who served for the Whig party, forerunner of the Republicans; and Republicans James Garfield and Gerald Ford.
Is this right leaning tendency coincidence or genetic? A genetic basis may not be so far fetched an idea. If homosexuality can be genetic, as some believe, why not conservatism?
If Harper took a Y-DNA test maybe he'd find he shares the profile associated with descendants of Genghis Khan. Or perhaps there's a connection though his Harper line which goes back to the county of Yorkshire in England. He may descend from marauding Viking raiders.

Awww, John. The "same resource" leads you to a Stephen Harper revelation? Are you citing U.S. journalists or Ancestry.com or DNA or what? (you know there are citation nuts among us ...). Can we stretch "marauding Viking invaders" to the Balkan mountains? If Halloween is on your mind, suggest you prepare your Dracula costume and tackle 24 Sussex yourself. Lorene will probably give you a candy apple. And a kitten.
ReplyDeleteSmile!
Brenda