Glimmer of Obama's Character as He Visits Grandma - ABC News

[steve2470]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Politics/story?id=6080508&page=1

Sen. Barack Obama has made the very personal decision to leave the campaign trail for two days to visit his ailing 85-year-old grandmother in Hawaii. But with 14 days left in the campaign, observers say, even the personal becomes political.

Although a candidate has never before stopped campaigning this close to Election Day, Obama's running mate and surrogates will remain on the trail, and more important, his ads will continue to run. Obama decided Monday night to cancel campaign stops on Thursday and Friday and fly to Hawaii to see his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, the woman he affectionately calls "Toot," short for the Hawaiian word "tutu" for grandparent. Dunham, who pretty much raised Obama, has been ailing lately and her brother, Charles Payne, told The Associated Press, she recently fell and broke her hip.

Obama will skip scheduled rallies in Wisconsin and Iowa. His weekend rallies have been monster events. Last weekend Obama drew 75,000 at a Kansas City rally and 100,000 at St. Louis rally later on the same day. Obama returns to the campaign trail Saturday.

Those crowds will have to wait, however, as Obama flies to see the woman that he has suggested in speeches and books was the most influential person in his life as he grew up.

"That part of me that's hardheaded, I get from her. She's tough as nails," Obama recently told ABC News' Diane Sawyer.

more at link above


You totally rock, Obama !

[hamsterjill]

1. The right thing for him to do!

Obama exemplifies here those things that truly matter - like family, health and compassion.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his grandmother. She must be a magnificent woman if her influence contributed to him becoming the man he is.

[la la]

4. I so totally agree!

my grandparents raised me and when they were very elderly and not well, i went back to be with them----while they still knew me and i could see and be with them before their passing.
it's the right thing to do, and i admire barack obama for doing it.

[ellacott]

7. This is what I think he's doing which is so sad

He's going to see her while she still knows him. It's a very hard thing to do.

[Bread and Circus]

2. That's a really nice video at the link.

[tilsammans]

3. Beautiful tribute!

What a wonderful bond they have.

:hug:

[kestrel91316]

5. That lady has MOXIE!

Oh, and BTW, OT, Moxie actually still exists:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxie

[Median Democrat]

6. Still Think It Is Intrusive How They Tracked Down His Grandma's Brother...

To get info on his grandmother's medical condition after Obama's campaign declined to disclosed this information for his grandmother's privacy reasons. Oh well, at least it puts to rest any notion that his grandmother is not suffering from a serious ailment, because a broken hip at the age is very serious.

[SeattleGirl]

15. In fairness, though, her brother didn't have to talk to the press.

:)

[me b zola]

19. I agree, on all counts

Anything that puts a person of her age in bed with limited mobility is potentially life-threatening. The most common life-threatening side-effect is pneumonia/fluids building in the lungs.

[BklynChick]

8. that man never ceases to amaze me.

[dennis4868]

9. Obama always does the right thing....

family first, especially grandma....gotta love it....

[LiberadorHugo]

10. Kiss my ass Lingle...

The man was born in Hawaii, has a Hawaiian pet name for grandma, yet he's not a real Hawaiian. Why does that airhead have a 71% approval rating?

[Cha]

11. Rec'd~ This is part of who Obama

is and it's only providence that it's an offshoot of the "campaign trail"..

Toot's strong but she needs to see Obama as part of her recovery.

[scheming daemons]

12. I think it is very cool that his kids were able to see her for a week in August....

[Skidmore]

13. One of Obama's traits which appeals to me most is the

steadfast sincerity with which he loves the women in his life. You can't fake that kind of thing. You can try but you really can't fake it.

[AnneD]

17. It is the steadfast sincerity ....

born out of genuine respect-can't fake that. That is why you leave a campaign, not to 'help the economy'.:eyes:
You can't phone this in. I know I did the right thing by voting for a person like Obama.

[starroute]

18. Men who don't respect women are not real men

It's just that simple and that universal. I don't usually make sweeping generalizations, but I'll defend this one against all comers.

[debbierlus]

14. I love your penguin picture :)

:)

[Shine]

16. He's exemplifying REAL "family values".

:thumbsup:

[beachmom]

20. Thank you for pointing out this lovely article.

[Doremus]

21. I love the way he talks about the iconic image of his grandmother.

Coming home from work, taking off her girdle and putting on a mumu, and getting a drink and a cigarette.

Real people, folks. Nice for a change. :thumbsup: