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Democratic candidate Barack Obama will suspend his campaign later this week to visit his 85-year-old grandmother, who had recently been in the hospital, in Hawaii.
Obama campaign communications directors Robert Gibbs said, "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. 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."
Obama is canceling Thursday events in Wisconsin and Iowa, replacing them with one in Indianapolis before heading to Hawaii. Michelle Obama will take his place at rallies in Ohio and he will resume campaigning on Saturday.
The NY Times reports that there's an "element of risk" with Obama's decision to leave the trail: "Mr. Obama is running ahead in every national poll, but his lead in some recent polls is not large. But Mr. Obama has little family left. His father and mother are dead, along with his grandfather, Stanley Dunham. His grandmother raised him for many years, while his mother lived in Indonesia." Earlier this year, Obama mentioned his grandmother in his speech about race and USA Today said she was a trailblazer in her own right.
Photograph of Barack Obama, at his high school graduation in 1979, with his grandparents Madelyn and Stanley Dunham
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If my grandson threw me under a bus I'd probably end up in the hospital, too.
Obama has a lot of heart or a lot of brains. This will make people think of McCain's BS campaign suspension and generate sympathy for Mr "Cool" Obama. If this is calculated, it's brilliant PR.
This is crazy! He's not in Hawaii! You know he's sojourning in the Tangiers for his final briefing on how he will assassinate the President of the United States of America...
I referenced this article in a blog post discussing Barack's return to visit his grandmother.
http://objectors.us/
"If my grandson threw me under a bus I'd probably end up in the hospital, too."
Huh? What are you talking about???
Geez...
Saying your grandmother expressed a fear of black men is not "throwing her under a bus" (this is what the first commentor whose name I won't type because I think it's so offensive, is referring to.)
He was referring to the fact that there was racial tension even in his own, loving and supportive household. He was right to point out that everyone -- EVERYONE -- is subject to those kinds of fears of The Other, whether the Other is black, hispanic, muslim, or racist a-hole.
"If my grandson threw me under a bus I'd probably end up in the hospital, too."
cold.
but somewhat true.
Just another scumbag politician (yes, I know it is redundant sine all politicians are scumbags) taking advantage of people.
That's right, a scumbag politician who leaves the campaign trail to visit his sick and maybe dying grandmother who helped raise him, and only two weeks before the most important day of his life.
What a piece of shit.
If you believe all that is put out on the internet and Fox News, then you would not be voting for McCain now. Just a thought.
www.day-life.net
This will gain him votes in the heartland, that family, a sickly grandmother, was a priority. He isn't president (yet), we are not a nation at war, and this is the right thing to do.
I'm glad he's going to see his grandmother, but... we are not a nation at war?
You know, Toby, studies show that people who dismiss all politicians as "lying scumbags" are typically found to have no concrete understanding of issues, governmental powers, or civil participation.
But that wouldn't include you, would it?
noble.
Oooo, stop making me luv you Obama! Stop! Stop! Stop!
Too late... I'mma in luv!
same grandma he insults/denies by referring to himself as black, and not mixed? i know, political pandering and expediency are all he's really got going for him, might as well exploit it.
It would be sad if she doesn't make it to see him become president.
i hope she is around to watch her hard work and love come to fruition at obama's swearing in.
I dunno, looks like his grandma loved him in that picture.
another great corrupt chicago pol pots, commie, red chinee post by tvm. how old are you by the way, you sure like to use terms from the jim crow era.
Did you see that kickass picture of Obama on CNN used for this story. Obama had these sunglasses that made him look like the black james bond
Lets' victimize the racist for the sake of hate.
How Pro american!
Seriously, I cannot stand these armchair jackasses who want to characterize Obama's relationship with his grandmother without bothering to read the damn book. He's totally respectful and grateful towards her (and his grandfather) - he gives them plenty of credit for raising him.
Really, it just goes to show how thoroughly rotten some conservatives are. During Dubya's hapless reign the right has coopted a victimology shtick, pointing towards "haters" on the left. But, just wait until Obama is in, then you'll really see some serious hate pour out. These people supposedly "love America," but they don't love their fellow man.
If his black grandparents were alive today, I'm sure they would be very proud.
People read what they want to read:
Obama has implyied that racism has been something he has to witness from very close people around him: his grandma.With this he ment racial identities, and in some cases animosities, is something that is part of american culture...-Like soembody can say IT IS NOT?
some people read (mmmwhat a surprise, republicans) not only that to say racism exist, and might exist close to you is worse than racism it self!
That is the type of judgments that suvbert values to the point of victimicing the racists
Obama is doing the right thing. Visiting his Grandmother, possibly for the last time. Family is sometimes all you have.
Judging from these comments, Republican "family values" mean you shouldn't value family too much.
in a way this is good, I like seeing Michelle stumping for her husband. she gets down to brass tacks much better than obama.
Perfectly planned by team Obama to gain sympathy among older white voters 2 weeks before the election. How else can Obama remind everyone that he has a white mommy? Nice move Obama but you'll still lose.
in a way this is good, I like seeing Michelle stumping for her husband. she gets down to brass tacks much better than obama.
Yes, Michelle has no compunction telling everyone how much she hates America. Let her get down to brass tacks!
"how much she hates America"...WHAT?
What America is the one republicans so easily throw into the hate state?
The one hijacked by the Nationalists Republicans?
That supremacist identity of the "true america" will be the beginning and end of the republican party by self segregation and "purification". Hail Palin!
The ugly face of nationalist populism is that all that are not with republicans are therefore anti-American! What a path!