Breaking News: Senator Obama Calls Off his Campaign

[BabyPiNK_FL]

His grandmother may be dying. I highly doubt that being concerned and pausing will be a huge blow. There aren't many people who would react differently in his position. And if they did, I probably wouldn't vote for them.

In fact, I'm surprised he doesn't just go now. He's doing a huge rally in Miami, but I'd really hate for him to not be there for her just in case.

[UGAalum94]

If anything, I think it helps. It makes him seem compassionate and shows his love for his family.

Pragmatically, if you are ahead, it might be better to be kind of remote so you don't say anything to alienate anyone. Visiting a sick family member is probably one of the best things one could do since you get to be out of the public eye and be sympathetic.

ETA: anyone else love the way they left off "the one he accused of being racist and a typical white person" when the article noted Obama mentioning her in a speech about race?

I realize that it doesn't seem appropriate, but you know they'd do it if it was John McCain or Sarah Palin. Or even if Cindy McCain went to visit her half-sister; it'd be the half-sister that Cindy McCain has frequently failed to note existed. Some folks can't win with the media and others can't lose.

[pinksirfidel]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

ETA: anyone else love the way they left off "the one he accused of being racist and a typical white person" when the article noted Obama mentioning her in a speech about race? I realize that it doesn't seem appropriate, but you know they'd do it if it was John McCain or Sarah Palin.

What good would that do him to mention that? His grandmother is sick.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by pinksirfidel

What good would that do him to mention that? His grandmother is sick.

It wouldn't do good HIM any good. And that's my point.

My criticism is about framing a story so it's most sympathetic to him, without the constant criticism that anyone associated with McCain gets.

ETA: think about it. Why do any of us know anything about the grandmother and what did we know about her before tonight? One of the main things was what he said about her in that speech.

EATA: I'm just cranky because I want to go to Hawaii. I have living grandmother and Hawaii trip envy. (My grandparents all died before I was twenty. He is very fortunate to have his grandmother in his life this long.) PS. I was trying to be bring a little levity to my own comments here; in hindsight, it seems sick. Sorry.

[pinksirfidel]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

It wouldn't do good HIM any good. And that's my point.

My criticism is about framing a story so it's most sympathetic to him, without the constant criticism that anyone associated with McCain gets.

ETA: think about it. Why do any of us know anything about the grandmother and what did we know about her before tonight? One of the main things was what he said about her in that speech.

Tru, when it comes to knowing who his grandmother is. The story did mention Obama's comments about her.

Usually when someone is on their deathbed, their loved ones mention the positives about the person--Not the negatives. You can disagree with your family members, but that doesn't mean you love them any less.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by pinksirfidel

Tru, when it comes to knowing who his grandmother is. The story did mention Obama's comments about her.

Usually when someone is on their deathbed, their loved ones mention the positives about the person--Not the negatives. You can disagree with your family members, but that doesn't mean you love them any less.

Right, but Obama didn't write the article so it shouldn't reflect his view particularly, and the article mentioned that he had referred to her but elected not to remind us what he had said.

I find that worthy of a small footnote on media bias. It is because I wholeheartedly believe that if it were McCain, we'd have a reprint of his comments in their entirety.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Right, but Obama didn't write the article so it shouldn't reflect his view particularly, and the article mentioned that he had referred to her but elected not to remind us what he had said.

I find that worthy of a small footnote on media bias. It is because I wholeheartedly believe that if it were McCain, we'd have a reprint of his comments in their entirety.

Here you go, happy? http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/...ipt/index.html

And I assume this is the "offensive" paragraph/statement you keep referring to?

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother -- a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

Even out of context, this doesn't even approach what you're trying to interpret his comments as saying.

[AGDee]

I guess God cut Obama a break on his grandmother since his mother died at age 52. His grandmother was a key figure in raising him. I will keep them in my prayers.

I daresay, the media is generally very kind when it comes to someone passing away. All those tributes to Nixon...

I will keep Obama's family in my prayers. It sounds like they need them.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I guess God cut Obama a break on his grandmother since his mother died at age 52. His grandmother was a key figure in raising him. I will keep them in my prayers.

I daresay, the media is generally very kind when it comes to someone passing away. All those tributes to Nixon...

I will keep Obama's family in my prayers. It sounds like they need them.

Yeah. I'd like to note that my criticism is directed my perception of what gets mentioned and omitted by the media. Certainly, I hope the best for the Obama family.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

EATA: I'm just cranky because I want to go to Hawaii. I have living grandmother and Hawaii trip envy. (My grandparents all died before I was twenty. He is very fortunate to have his grandmother in his life this long.) PS. I was trying to be bring a little levity to my own comments here; in hindsight, it seems sick. Sorry.

You know...you really could have kept that part to yourself...

I mean think....going to HAWAII when a loved one is dying?

How much 'fun' is that??

oh...and let's not forget he lived part of his life there BTW....

Hell I wanna go to Hawaii too but not at the expense of possibly having to bury a loved one.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I realize that it doesn't seem appropriate, but you know they'd do it if it was John McCain or Sarah Palin. Or even if Cindy McCain went to visit her half-sister; it'd be the half-sister that Cindy McCain has frequently failed to note existed. Some folks can't win with the media and others can't lose.

Really? Because you'd think if they did that, they'd also mention that John McCain is an adulterer who claims to protect the sanctity of family values yet breaks his marriage vows and calls his wife a cunt in every article. But you're right, some folks just can't win and some folks get a free pass on some pretty egregious behavior.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Really? Because you'd think if they did that, they'd also mention that John McCain is an adulterer who claims to protect the sanctity of family values yet breaks his marriage vows and calls his wife a cunt in every article. But you're right, some folks just can't win and some folks get a free pass on some pretty egregious behavior.

While they may not do it in every article, they have done it. And they don't even limit the allegations to things they can substantiate. Did you miss the New York Times article about McCain's affair with a lobbyist? Did you see the article on Cindy this week? Did you see the New Yorker article on her in the last few weeks?

[CrackerBarrel]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Really? Because you'd think if they did that, they'd also mention that John McCain is an adulterer who claims to protect the sanctity of family values yet breaks his marriage vows and calls his wife a cunt in every article. But you're right, some folks just can't win and some folks get a free pass on some pretty egregious behavior.

I think the issue wasn't with not bringing it up, it was with the disingenuous way it was mentioned.

She's also the "white grandmother" he referred to in a speech on race.

To go with your comparison, that would be like, in an article about McCain's ex-wife, saying:

She's also the "wife" he referred to in an off-the-cuff comment about his wife.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

I think the issue wasn't with not bringing it up, it was with the disingenuous way it was mentioned.



To go with your comparison, that would be like, in an article about McCain's ex-wife, saying:

Thanks for understanding this.

I really had in mind a brief snark about the media and not a big derailing.

Why mention the speech but not acknowledge what was said?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

ETA: anyone else love the way they left off "the one he accused of being racist and a typical white person" when the article noted Obama mentioning her in a speech about race?

I realize that it doesn't seem appropriate, but you know they'd do it if it was John McCain or Sarah Palin. Or even if Cindy McCain went to visit her half-sister; it'd be the half-sister that Cindy McCain has frequently failed to note existed. Some folks can't win with the media and others can't lose.

Seriously?