Breaking News: Senator Obama Calls Off his Campaign

pinksirfidel · #1 10-20-2008, 09:48 PM

Well... for two days!

Will there be any consequences?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27287222/

Quote:

Obama to take break to see sick grandmother
He is scheduled to fly to Hawaii Thursday and Friday to visit her

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly ill 85-year-old grandmother, his spokesman said. Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday that Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise him, was released from the hospital late last week. But he said her health had deteriorated "to the point where her situation is very serious."
Obama was expected to resume campaigning on Saturday, though Gibbs was unsure where.

Obama events originally planned for Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday will be replaced with one in Indianapolis before he makes the long flight to Hawaii.
Gibbs said it was still being decided whether surrogates would fill in for Obama. His wife, Michelle, for instance, was not accompanying him to Hawaii.

"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life, along with his mother and his grandfather," Gibbs said. "Recently his grandmother has become ill and in the last few weeks her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Sen. Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her."

Citing the family's desire for privacy, Gibbs would not discuss the nature of Dunham's illness. It seemed likely that she was close to death, as Gibbs said that "everyone understands the decision that Sen. Obama is making."

It could be a momentous one for his bid for the White House against Republican John McCain, with Election Day just two weeks away on Nov. 4.

In a campaign ad this year, Obama described his Dunham as the daughter of a Midwest oil company clerk who "taught me values straight from the Kansas heartland" — things like "accountability and self-reliance. Love of country. Working hard without making excuses. Treating your neighbor as you'd like to be treated."

She's also the "white grandmother" he referred to in a speech on race.
Obama last visited Hawaii in August, when he spent a week on vacation after clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.

ETA: oops...moderator, please move thread! Sorry

BabyPiNK_FL · #2 10-20-2008, 09:53 PM

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 · #3 10-20-2008, 10:08 PM

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 · #4 10-20-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

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 · #5 10-20-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

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 · #6 10-20-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

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.

nittanyalum · #7 10-20-2008, 10:39 PM

Oh my god, UGA, give it a freaking rest. His Mom died at 53 and her Mom, who helped raise him, is now probably dying. Get off the bitter wagon about how unfair everything is for poor Mac & Sarah and at least give credence to the fact that he may be having to deal with a real family tragedy in the midst of probably one of the most stressful periods of his life with just weeks to go before the election. And by the way, please don't brush off that speech of his and misrepresent what he said by putting those words in his mouth. He probably gave one of the most honest and upfront speeches about real race relations in the country and is in a unique position to "see both sides", even though he is mainly only seen as being on one side by most people. I predict a long 4 years (hopefully 8) ahead for you, sister.

UGAalum94 · #8 10-20-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

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.

AGDee · #9 10-20-2008, 10:42 PM

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 · #10 10-20-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Oh my god, UGA, give it a freaking rest. His Mom died at 53 and her Mom, who helped raise him, is now probably dying. Get off the bitter wagon about how unfair everything is for poor Mac & Sarah and at least give credence to the fact that he may be having to deal with a real family tragedy in the midst of probably one of the most stressful periods of his life with just weeks to go before the election. And by the way, please don't brush off that speech of his and misrepresent what he said by putting those words in his mouth. He probably gave one of the most honest and upfront speeches about real race relations in the country and is in a unique position to "see both sides", even though he is mainly only seen as being on one side by most people. I predict a long 4 years (hopefully 8) ahead for you, sister.

He referred to her as a typical white person in one interview and said in the speech about race: "I can no more disown [Wright] than I can disown 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 her by on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

I think there's a reason they didn't note the whole comment. I don't think it puts his regard for her in the best possible light.

ETA: and interestingly, I don't think I'm going to mind his presidency if Obama gets elected. I don't have any bad feelings about him really other than thinking he's been a political lightweight with seriously liberal leanings, which aren't my own. I don't find him hard to watch or listen to. The media just disgusts me, and their partisanship matters in the race.

Do you really think they hold Obama to the same standard?

EATA: It's also worth noting that he disowned Wright a few weeks later, but I'm sure his regard for his grandmother is sincere.

nittanyalum · #11 10-20-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

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?

Quote:

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.

UGAalum94 · #12 10-20-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

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.

UGAalum94 · #13 10-20-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

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?

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

Yeah, that's pretty much what I quoted.

He called his beloved grandmother out for her racism but indicated that he loved her anyway. I don't dispute his regard for her. I find the media's not mentioning what the comments were telling about them. That is all.

UGAalum94 · #14 10-20-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

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?

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

I didn't refer to an "offensive" paragraph. And I wonder if you would find "racist" an appropriate word to describe someone who is afraid of black men and utters ethnic and racist stereotypes. I might, but I probably wouldn't refer to such a person an a typical white person.

I'm sincerely sorry for hi-jacking this in this direction. I don't think I would have even thought of it had the story not mentioned the speech but then omitted the nature of how he used her as an illustration.

nittanyalum · #15 10-20-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I didn't refer to an "offensive" paragraph. And I wonder if you would find "racist" an appropriate word to describe someone who is afraid of black men and utters ethnic and racist stereotypes. I might, but I probably wouldn't refer to such a person an a typical white person.

Yeah, I didn't "hear" that interview, would love a link.