Obama's Grandmother Died.

[zeekyhbomb]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/ ... index.html

 

 

 

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(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died following a bout with cancer, Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said Monday. She was 86.

 

 

 

"She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility," their statement said.

 

 

 

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

 

 

 

Obama and Soetoro-Ng asked that donations be made for the search for a cure for cancer in lieu of flowers. A small private ceremony will be held "at a later date."

 

 

 

Dunham passed away peacefully at her home shortly before midnight Sunday night (5 a.m. ET), campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told CNN. She said Obama learned of her death around 8 a.m.

 

 

 

Obama's republican rival, Sen. John McCain, issued a statement Monday afternoon:

 

 

 

"We offer our deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives."

 

 

 

The Democratic presidential candidate left the campaign trail on October 23 and flew to Honolulu, Hawaii, to spend the day with Dunham, whose health deteriorated after she suffered a broken hip.

 

 

 

His wife, Michelle Obama, filled in for him at events in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, on October 24.

 

 

 

Obama said in an interview taped for that day's "Good Morning America" that Dunham had been "inundated" with flowers and messages from strangers who read about her in Obama's 1995 book, "Dreams From My Father."

 

 

 

"Maybe she is getting a sense of long-deserved recognition toward the end of her life," he said.

 

 

 

The candidate resumed his campaign on October 25.

 

 

 

Obama has spoken about his grandmother often on the stump, talking about what an integral figure she was in his youth and how she struggled against the glass ceiling in her career. He and his family traveled to Hawaii in August to visit her.

 

 

 

"She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life," he said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. "She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well."

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Seems like she had been fighting cancer for a while. Really ridiculous that she died right before the biggest day in the man's life.

[Skull]

Wow, that's too bad. I bet she would have liked to see her Grandson probably become president of the united states.

[Lenticular_J]

He did say, on Friday I think, that he didn't think she'd make it 'til the election.

[baalboy5]

Not to sound like a jerk(If this would even sound like that) but this just builds up his whole 'I want better health care' thing.

 

I mean, didn't his Mom go through the same thing? She was to busy paying bills then to fight cancer?

[evil_mumm_ra]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

[Skull]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

 

I think it's more the timing than anything.

[Ginger_Warrior]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

 

I think it's more the timing than anything.

 

Exactly. I mean, given how close the two of them were. It would be like my Dad dying the day before I graduate from university.

 

 

 

Can't imagine how bad that feels when you're a day away from winning the biggest job in the world.

[deloriagod]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

 

 

 

Let me know when someone you're very close to dies so I can make rude comments about the both of you. And I'm sure Obama is thinking, "Score! My grandma dies so now I can use this to get more votes! YES!"

[I_am_Geed]

wow thats absolutly horrible

 

 

 

horrible to say this but do you think this will attract sympathy votes?

[llcoolguy972]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, why is this news? Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Obama and his family, but I don't understand why the death of an 86 yr old with cancer warrants an article. I'm sure there are more pressing matters to report on.

[deloriagod]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, why is this news? Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Obama and his family, but I don't understand why the death of an 86 yr old with cancer warrants an article. I'm sure there are more pressing matters to report on.

 

 

 

Why was Obama's aunt who's living in the US illegally news? Why was Palin's $150,000 spent on clothing news?

[llcoolguy972]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, why is this news? Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Obama and his family, but I don't understand why the death of an 86 yr old with cancer warrants an article. I'm sure there are more pressing matters to report on.

 

 

 

Why was Obama's aunt who's living in the US illegally news? Why was Palin's $150,000 spent on clothing news?

 

I agree with you. I think the media needs to stop reporting stuff that is completely unnecessary. Unless they found that Obama had helped his aunt sneak into the country, they should've abandoned the story. Most 'news' that's reported is pure [cabbage] and I'm tired of it.

[baalboy5]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, why is this news? Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Obama and his family, but I don't understand why the death of an 86 yr old with cancer warrants an article. I'm sure there are more pressing matters to report on.

 

 

 

Why was Obama's aunt who's living in the US illegally news? Why was Palin's $150,000 spent on clothing news?

 

Because everyone would write anything about anyone during Politic season.

[RichieMcD]

Wow, dieing the day before seeing your Grandson becoming president of the most powerful country of the world. Funny how all these little coincidences happen :|

 

 

 

At the risk of sounding insensitive, why is this news? Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for Obama and his family, but I don't understand why the death of an 86 yr old with cancer warrants an article. I'm sure there are more pressing matters to report on.

 

 

 

Why was Obama's aunt who's living in the US illegally news? Why was Palin's $150,000 spent on clothing news?

 

I agree with you. I think the media needs to stop reporting stuff that is completely unnecessary. Unless they found that Obama had helped his aunt sneak into the country, they should've abandoned the story. Most 'news' that's reported is pure [cabbage] and I'm tired of it.

 

 

 

Yes, and usually when it isn't [cabbage] it's completely biased against one side.

[Dizzle229]

That's really too bad :cry:

 

Really terrible timing.

[chinesrat]

I dont think this is going to get him any sympathy votes. Like it really matters who america thinks is going to be president. We could all vote for Obama and Mcain could still win, the electoral college is the real people voting, and they dont care if their family member's die they are looking at who is going to do the best for our country. America's vote doesn't matter at all, they didn't trust us when the Revolutionary War ended and america became free so they did that. well america is going to have sympathy and vote, But does it really matter?

[Kill_Thomas9]

What great timing. Now Obama not only has the sympathy vote, but also has yet another argument for his "better healthcare" notion.

[llcoolguy972]

I dont think this is going to get him any sympathy votes. Like it really matters who america thinks is going to be president. We could all vote for Obama and Mcain could still win, the electoral college is the real people voting, and they dont care if their family member's die they are looking at who is going to do the best for our country. America's vote doesn't matter at all, they didn't trust us when the Revolutionary War ended and america became free so they did that. well america is going to have sympathy and vote, But does it really matter?

 

You're right, the college's votes are the only ones that actually elect the president, but they have always voted the way their state has.

[Lenticular_J]

I wouldn't doubt if the advantages for him would pop into his mind. Happens to me when someone I know dies. It feels terrible, but it happens. Doesn't make him bad, just human.

 

 

 

And blessed by the gods of timing.

 

 

 

The electoral college in most states works by how the people vote - thus, that area's representative gives the same vote. So, even though not all states do that, I know Texas, California, New York, and Florida do. They are the four states with the highest population. If every single person voted for Obama in those states...He'd probably win.

[Dizzle229]

I dont think this is going to get him any sympathy votes. Like it really matters who america thinks is going to be president. We could all vote for Obama and Mcain could still win, the electoral college is the real people voting, and they dont care if their family member's die they are looking at who is going to do the best for our country. America's vote doesn't matter at all, they didn't trust us when the Revolutionary War ended and america became free so they did that. well america is going to have sympathy and vote, But does it really matter?

 

You're right, the college's votes are the only ones that actually elect the president, but they have always voted the way their state has.

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly, they really have no choice. Each state is worth a certain amount of electoral votes (I think based on population, but I could be wrong) and if a candidate wins in a state, he/she gets those electoral votes. IF 8th grade history is to be believed.

[Adam007]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

 

Nobody said it matters politically. We just have a system, many of us like to call the news, that keeps us informed about going-ons in the world. It's called a human interest story.

 

It's the biggest day of his life, and unfortunate this happened to his family right now and that his grandmother couldn't live to see the day.

[runescapeloser22]

Speaking of bad timing, my friends dad died 3 days before his Bar Mitzvah. They had to postpone it until 6 months later. It really sucked.

[llcoolguy972]

I dont think this is going to get him any sympathy votes. Like it really matters who america thinks is going to be president. We could all vote for Obama and Mcain could still win, the electoral college is the real people voting, and they dont care if their family member's die they are looking at who is going to do the best for our country. America's vote doesn't matter at all, they didn't trust us when the Revolutionary War ended and america became free so they did that. well america is going to have sympathy and vote, But does it really matter?

 

You're right, the college's votes are the only ones that actually elect the president, but they have always voted the way their state has.

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly, they really have no choice. Each state is worth a certain amount of electoral votes (I think based on population, but I could be wrong) and if a candidate wins in a state, he/she gets those electoral votes. IF 8th grade history is to be believed.

 

They actually do have a choice. There's nothing in the Constitution (and I don't think any laws) that forbids them from voting for another nominee, but no Electors have voted against their states. And you're right, the number of electoral votes a state has is based on population.

[Kriegsmier]

oh no, let's all feel sorry for obama and vote for him.

 

i don't really see why it matters that his grandma died, it's no different than someone else who is famous having a relative dying.

 

 

 

SO TRUE. Did she drop any phat lewt?

 

 

 

QQ More NOBAMA.

[PoorLepRecon]

It's sad that she died the day before the election, she will never know if he won or lost know. Too bad she could not have held out for one more day.