Obama Arrives in Hawaii to Visit Ailing Grandmother

[oberliner]

Source: NY Times

HONOLULU -- On a whirlwind trip back to Hawaii, Senator Barack Obama spent more than an hour visiting his ailing grandmother late Thursday and is set to return to her bedside on Friday morning after arriving here on a nine-hour flight from the Midwestern battleground of the presidential campaign.

As soon as he arrived on the island of Oahu, Mr. Obama went to the Punahou Circle Apartments, where his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, lies gravely ill. She is to turn 86 on Sunday, but aides to Mr. Obama said doctors advised him not to delay his visit.

It was an unusual departure from the tug-of-war of the presidential campaign, with 11 days remaining in the race. But it was a trip that advisers said he told them was not negotiable. He missed his mother’s death here in 1995, a mistake he said he did not intend to repeat with his grandmother, who has been a stalwart in his life.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/us/politics/25obama.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. If I don't type this fast enough I'm going to start sobbing.

Stay strong, Barack, and may your constant message of peace and hope give comfort to your Grandma. I know she's certain of your fate, as are we.

[FailureToCommunicate]

21. Grab your Kleenex to go and canvas while

you tear up.
Man, between the photo of Obama's shoes, his video on plans to strengthen aid to people with disabilities, and then
his answer to Couric "when did you last cry?" on YouTube, I HAVE used a few tissues!
But press on we must.
A Nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Barack, and we send
good wishes of strength to Hawaii and your Grandmother.

[hisownpetard]

24. And btw, btw - welcome to DU!!

[4lbs]

2. May everything turn out for the best.

n/t

[KewlKat]

3. May Mrs Dunham live long enough to hear that her grandson

was elected POTUS. I'm happy to read that she's received such an outpouring of support. It must do her heart good to know that he is thought of in such high regard and that she helped form the young man into an inspirational leader. Barack has said she is his rock and I know that when she passes it will strike him hard. He will get through this through the support of his Wife and children but the hole she will leave will be hard to fill. All the Obamas are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Losing the person who raised you is incredibly hard......

My heart goes out to them both

[jennied]

5. I wouldn't be able to stay away... I would want to stay by the bed side.

It must be SOOOOOOOOOOO hard.

Best wishes for them all.

[jb5150]

6. My prayers

are with them....

[MonteLukast]

7. I hope that she...

... lives at least a few weeks after the election, so Obama can go back afterwards and spend some more time by her side. The timing of her illness couldn't have been worse (even though you can't time these things)

[Triana]

10. If he's not busy contesting what Republicans will surely call a "stolen" election if he wins...

...but he could and should still go back if she's still around.

I feel so badly for Barack and Mrs. Dunham and their family. Sending them lots of love and prayers.

[groovedaddy]

16. They know a thing or two about stolen elections. They're trying on this one too. n.t

[cullen2382]

8. I heard Neal Boortz claiming

that Obama was going back to destroy his birth certificate so no one would know he wasn't a citizen. That pissed me off so bad.

[jennied]

11. Yeah, I've been hearing that on different message boards.

[Triana]

12. Pfft! Bullshit. They've already released it. What the hell planet do these twits

LIVE on? I wish they'd get off this one or shut their pie-holes.

[MonteLukast]

36. No words.

:grr:

:nuke:

[nradisic]

9. Our prayesr are with you.....

Barack - best wishes to you and your family. You certainly have your priorities in the right place. God Bless Mrs. Dunham...

[Botany]

13. Come on hang on for just a little more Ms. Dunham

Barack has come home to help w/ the chores. You rest easy now Ms. Dunham
we will do Barack's chores over here so he can stay w/ you.

"I want to give her a kiss and a hug," Obama told Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview for
"Good Morning America" before heading for Hawaii to see his 85-year-old grandmother,
Madelyn Dunham, the woman who largely raised him.

"And then we're going to find out what chores I can do, because I'm sure there's been some
stuff that's been left undone," he said.


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2008/story?id=6100765&pag...


:cry:

Family values = Obama

[comtec]

14. I was the last person to have a long talk with my grandmother

it was shortly before I came to Europe many years ago.
She raised me after my parents got divorced and I went to live with my dad for a couple years.
We fought, but I loved her. She taught me much, wives tales, cooking old skool, and random stuff she learned during the depression and raising 3 boys, 2 girls, and assorted extended family.

It happened so fast, she had a stroke a few days after I arrived in Holland, and she was gone. no brain activity. Her will stated no heroic measures, as she was 92, and had a pace maker, and lord knows how much assorted damage from being hit in the chest with a water cannon from a airplane grade fire truck. -Did I mention my family can be very hard to kill, esp this old bird :) *sniff* -
Her job was done, and the lord took her up. At least that's how she would see it, so in her honor that's how I see it.
She was a very practical woman, and her spirituality was the same.
She took over 3 days to die. well SHE had left probably immediately, but her body, that tough old body took 3 or so days. It's a horrible way to go - starvation - but we weren't allowed to give her body enough either or anything so it could die in peace.

I know my grandmother watches over me. I miss her wisdom so much some times...

My heart goes out to President Obama, The pain in his heart must be great, and I shed a few tears for him, because I understand that pain rather well.

I recorded that last conversation. it's two MiniDiscs long. We used to do that, because grandma's wisdom was so valuable, we all have assorted tapes of her stories over the years.

Neither me or my dad has listened to those discs. Even now it's too painful. I can't (yet) imagine how hard it is for dad. I don't know what I'll do when my parents die. I imagine I'll be a puddle of useless goo, so I can really feel for our dear President to be.

God be with you Mr President, And may god take your grandmother AFTER you've won... so she can hear the historic news.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

20. My husband travels to Phoenix every couple of months to visit his

86 year old mother. She always has a list of things for him to do, wash the windows, trim the bushes, ect.
Regardless of how frail she's become. those things must always get done and are important to her. I
know exactly what Obama is talking about. My husband always feels better knowing he got those chores
done for her.

Peace to Obama, his family and especially his Grandmother.

[onecent]

15. I pray she lives to hear he has been declared the President of

the United States.

He has a large battle ahead of him. I pray for him and his family. I feel he is our only hope.

Bless you Obama and your family.

[LynneSin]

17. We need a big karma push for Barack's grandmother - to see her thru election day

I think she would love to be here to see him announced as president.

She's done a great job with raising him.

[Parche]

32. This Has Been A Sh*tty Year With illness and 'Death'

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Hopefully she can hold on, I know what its like when doctors say drop everything, you need to get here.......
:hi:

[poverlay]

18. This is breaking my heart. He deserves to have her with him when he wins. SHE deserves to be there

more than anyone. This is so terribly sad. He's a stronger person than I.

[hisownpetard]

28. I truly hope she gets to have that pleasure. She deserves it, and so does he.

It makes me immeasurably sad to think otherwise, because - as Obama said - "She's the last one left."

Let's all concentrate on getting her through this. I'm sure that will be Obama's first phone call, when/when
he's declared the winner.

[goclark]

19. I know exactly how he feels, I miss my Grandma every day

and she died in 1970. Lcry:

[Citizen_Penn]

23. My grandmother died two years ago this month, and

nothing could have kept me from her.

In fact, she was awaiting the transfer to hospice - and in a coma. Ten minutes after I arrived and told her goodbye, she died. I'm certain she waited for me.

[hamsterjill]

22. Wishing them both peace

May they have peace from this visit. I wish Mrs. Dunham well and thank her for her contribution to the world by having raised her grandson to be the man he is.

[FightingIrish]

25. We owe that woman so much for what she has given us.

The best way to show that gratitude is a landslide victory for her grandson.

[hisownpetard]

29. Amen to that!

[byronius]

26. That one has his priorities absolutely straight.

Judgment. That's his real middle name, goddamit.

[hisownpetard]

30. Absolutely. It's the only time I've heard Obama say, "This is non-negotiable."

What a bunch of wonderful people in that family!

[demo dutch]

27. Too sad that she may not live to see him in the WH

[Twinguard]

31. my heart goes out to the Dunham/Obamas

I know how incredibly difficult this is for Barack. Just over a year ago, my dad was visiting me and my family when he got a phone call from the nursing home my mom was in. She had Alzheimer's disease, and her caregivers called to say that she had taken a turn for the worse. Dad rushed home, and I followed the next day. It was unbelievably difficult to watch my mom die slowly like that, but the final visit was the toughest of all. So tough, in fact, that dad and I were the only people to visit in her final days. It broke my heart, but a few days later when she passed, I had a sense of peace/calm. I knew her suffering was over, and as devistated as I was, I was thankful that we were given some warning so that I could see her and tell her that I love her and say goodbye.

That said, I know what Barack is dealing with today. I understand the inner strength and focus that is required of him. My heart goes out to his whole family, and I hope he focuses his emotions into the remaining week and a half of this campaign to win this thing, and I hope grandma hangs on long enough to see him win!

[Crunchy Frog]

33. He's going back to stop her from revealing the truth...

That his real father is Darth Vader.

[BrklynLiberal]

34. He has his priorities straight....

[KamaAina]

35. Was it necessary for the NYT to name the apartment building?

That's right up the street from my place, as it happens. It must be a zoo over there!

It is also two short blocks from where I waited for a couple of hours to caucus for her grandson, and where I will go the Tuesday after next (!) to vote for him. Just think. It's probably her polling place, too! If she weren't so ill, she might have been right in front of me in line! :(

edit: hope she voted absentee...

[machI]

37. Kick