Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell: Words Matter
PHOTO: Can You Spot An Obama?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - 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, his communications director said.Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise Obama, has been one of the most important people in his life, along with his mother and grandfather. All hail from Kansas. Obama has been consistently outspoken about his love for his mother and grandparents and Dunham's illness appears to be an unexpected blow.
Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Obama's plane that Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise him, was released from the hospital late last week. But he said her health had deteriorated "to the point where her situation is very serious. " ...
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."
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.
There are comment threads wishing Senator Obama and his family well all over the web. Feel free to leave well wishes here, too.
Comments: (74)
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By: The Celtic Warrior on 10/24/2008 6:45AM
May the Gods protect her to at least long enough to see her grandson in office and to be proud of the fact that she had a hand in crafting that man. Let us all pray to your Gods or God (depending on your religion)that she lives to see that joyous day when she can be so proud Barack Obama. I hope that Barack is elected without any sort of incident that would put a damper on the day when he wins the presidential elections.
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By: Jill Adams on 10/24/2008 8:38AM
Like everyone else, my heart goes out to you, Senator Obama and your family, and to the wonderful Madelyn Dunham, and I'm praying for a miracle. I saw it with my father, who died five years ago, but there were many times in his 15 year battle with cancer when they thought it was the end, but somehow, he bounced back. (He used to call himself the Eveready Bunny).
He was a lot like you, which is why I've become so involved in campaigning here in London.
I've read that you've received emails - a card would take too long from here - does anyone know what email address I could send a message to? It's all a bit like sending a message in a bottle, isn't it?
Or a prayer.
Madelyn Dunham, I've felt like I've known you for a long time, from reading your grandson's words of love for you. You are an extraordinary woman, and yet you're no different from any grandmother anywhere in the world, who loves her grandchild so much, and believes in him or her so much, that anything is possible: they could even become President of the United States.
And that you would do anything in the world to make that happen. And you did.
God grant you the strength to hang in there, get well, and come to your grandson's inauguration.
-Jill, London
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By: BJ on 10/24/2008 9:45AM
Our Prayrs are with Senator Obama's family during this difficult time. We are praying for you and your ill G'ma.
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By: brewitup_2@yahoo.com on 11/11/2008 2:03PM
I thought this guys grandmother died the day before the elections. I was just thinking I haven't heard that she was laid to rest yet, is she not going to have a funeral. I think she died when he went the HI and they were being dishonest.
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