The ascent of Barack Obama, Mr Charisma

[Drunken Irishman]

The ascent of Barack Obama, Mr Charisma

He has burst out of obscurity to make a bid for the White House. David James Smith traces the roots of Barack Obama’s ambition

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3582291.ece

Tony Peterson was visiting his younger brother, Keith, in Boulder, Colorado, in the late 1990s. They were in a bookshop together when Keith plucked a paperback out of the remainder bin and said: “I’m buying this, do you want one?” Tony looked at the book, which was called Dreams from My Father. It meant nothing to him, but his brother said: “Well, look who wrote it.” The author’s name was Barack Obama. “That’s Barry!” said Keith.


SNIP

He was bright, Tony recalled, but not especially charismatic, so Tony was amazed later to see how magnetic his friend had become, watching him on TV. They talked about girls and about race. Would the white and Asian girls date them, those black boys? (They would.) Why was a young black man with a book perceived to be “acting white”? Would there ever be a black president of the United States? Not in their lifetime, they concluded. They couldn’t imagine it.

SNIP

Loretta sat with Yvonne and Margaret at the wedding and watched as Michelle and Barack worked their way round the room, greeting their guests. He was the same that day, 15 or more years ago, aged 31, as he was when she first knew him; the same as he is now, as far as Loretta was concerned. He was as considerate as ever, asking if everything was okay and if they needed anything. Loretta looked at him and said, not right now, but if you become the first black president we want to be at the inauguration ball… “We want to be there!” Barack laughed. “You’ve got it,” he said.

[Scurrilous]

1. Great article.

K & R :thumbsup:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Obama is an amazing man nt