Posts Tagged ‘Election 2008’
Obama leaving campaign trail to visit grandmother
Associated Press Writer
This undated photo released by Obama for America shows Barack Obama with his grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham in New York City, during a visit with Obama, who was a student at Columbia University. Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday, Oct. 23 and 24, 2008 to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly ill 86-year-old grandmother. (AP Photo/Obama for America)
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly gravely ill 85-year-old grandmother, a spokesman said.
Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Obama’s plane that Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise Obama, was released from the hospital late last week. But he said her health had deteriorated “to the point where her situation is very serious.”
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. On Friday, Obama’s wife, Michelle, will sub for Obama at rallies in Akron and Columbus, in Ohio, said campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki. Obama was expected to resume campaigning on Saturday, at an undecided location in the West, she said.
“Sen. 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.” Dunham turns 86 on Sunday.
It could be a momentous one in 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 he had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.
___
“The real one? Bye!”- Tina Fey in SNL
This week has been a big week in politics It started with the last debate of the election season, The Chicago Tribune endorsing Barack Obama the first democrat they have ever endorced for president of The United States. You can read my thoughts on the debate below. Barack Obama and Sarah Palin had a good weekend, Sarah Palin was on Saturday Night Live. She did two sketches and I thought she did very good. The first one is here, http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/gov-palin-cold-open/773761/ and the second one is here, http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-palin-rap/773781/. Although these aren’t election videos I also liked these videos,
- Mark Wahlberg and Andy Sandburg- http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/mark-wahlberg-backstage/773862/
- Surprise engagement- http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/engagement-surprise/773901
Some people were giving mixed reviews about the Sarah Palin apperance here are some of them-
- “The funniest thing about this sketch is the Abraham Lincoln in the background behind Palin, parking a llama’s [butt] right behind her, then walking away while Vegas-style showgirls prance around in the hallway. Is it just me or was that a very funny, intentional part of the sketch??” –girlsgottareason
- “WOW! Sarah Palin is just awesome! What a great sport! I think she is one sharp (and cool) lady. Man, does she look fabulous for age 41. She has a great future in politics even if the McCain-Palin ticket doesn’t win. Saturday Night Live just got alot more interesting!” –browneyedladyLS
- “Ok, so while I am NOT a Palin fan, I must give her credit for standing up and showing up to do SNL. I understand the positive ramifications that her appearance may have for their ticket, but, it had to have been a bit uncomfortable. What a marevick-ish way to go! :)” –Lifrunner
So basically people thought the sketch was good and I also too have to agree. Obama had a good Sunday morning watching Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw. Today’s specials guest was Colin Powell a Republican who was Bush’s Secretary of State before Rice. Here is the story from AP-
Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama for president
Associated Press Writer
Colin Powell, a Republican who was President Bush’s first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain’s campaign.
- In this Oct. 10, 2008 file photo former Secretary of State Colin Powell leaves federal court in Washington. Powell, a Republican who was President Bush’s first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain’s campaign. Powell said both Obama and McCain are qualified to be commander in chief, but that Obama is better suited to handle the nation’s economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Powell said both Obama and Republican John McCain are qualified to be commander in chief. But he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation’s economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world.
“It isn’t easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that,” Powell, interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said of his longtime friend, the Arizona senator.
“But I firmly believe that at this point in America’s history, we need a president that will not just continue, even with a new face and with the changes and with some maverick aspects, who will not just continue basically the policies that we have been following in recent years,” Powell said.
“I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that’s why I’m supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain.”
Powell’s endorsement has been much anticipated because he is a Republican with impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama is weak. At the same time, he is a black man and Obama would be the nation’s first black president.
Powell said he was cognizant of the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision. If it was, he said, he would have made the endorsement months ago.
Powell also expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain’s campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate and McCain’s and Palin’s decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama’s ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers.
He said McCain’s choice of Palin raised questions about judgment.
“I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States,” Powell said.
Powell, as secretary of state, helped make the case before the United Nations for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, launched in March 2003. A retired general, he also was the nation’s top military commander, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the first Gulf war under President George H.W. Bush.
McCain disagreed with Powell’s decision and said he has been endorsed by four other former secretaries of state, all veterans of Republican administrations: Henry Kissinger, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander Haig.
- In this April 4, 2002, file photo Secretary of State Colin Powell looks on as President Bush makes a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House. Powell, a Republican who was President Bush’s first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain’s campaign. (AP Photo/Doug Mills,File)
“Well, I’ve always admired and respected Gen. Powell. We’re longtime friends. This doesn’t come as a surprise,” McCain said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Asked whether Powell’s endorsement would undercut his campaign’s assertion that Obama is not ready to lead, McCain said: “Well, again, we have a very, we have a respectful disagreement, and I think the American people will pay close attention to our message for the future and keeping America secure.”
Powell said he does not plan to campaign for Obama.
© 2008 Associated Press. Displayed by permission. All rights reserved.
The Video link is http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27265490#27265490
By the way many people ask me if I post illegal stories. I use ICopyright which allows me to have a free blog post. The only think I can’t do is embed the HTML code because WordPress won’t let me so I usually copy and paste the article. I also would like to ask you to participate in my poll which I will post above this article. Remember I will have a live webshow on November 4th at 6:30 EST live from Washington D.C. To view it click on ElectionTV above.
Life as a Kid Reporter 