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Obama's grandmother dies as presidential race nears end

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RIP, Madelyn Payne Dunham. You helped raise a fine young man.

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Agreed. Rest in Peace knowing that you have succeeded in raising your grandson to become a front-runner in the race to be the president of the United States of America.

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Very sad, but yes she raised a great young man that will become our next President of the United States.

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If anyone wasn't quite sure what sort of a man John McCain is:

The McCains put out a statement:

"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 RNC lawsuit filed today on behalf of McCain for Obama using the campaign jet to see his dying grandmother.

That is 'honor', John McCain style :-(

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Dubya - Of course he is. Time for bed methinks...

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SushiSake3: Thanks for the news. Just to be sure, can you provide a link about the lawsuit? Palin charges RNC for her designer wardrobe, and for her stylist, and flying her family to and fro (regardless of whether they have anything to do with the event) and McCain apparently wants to sue Obama for a one-time usage to see his dying grandmother. >:-(

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God can sometimes be so unfair. Why couldn't she get just one day add up to her age?

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Just a comment about Sushi's post, I think such actions are just a manifestation of the gap that exists between John McCain and the GOP establishment. McCain is a great (if somewhat old) American, who served his country with honor, he is a nice enough chap. The GOP establishment is full of chickenhawk fundi patriots whose stock in currency is the politics of division.

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I don't know anything about what kind of woman Obama's grandmother was and I am no fan of Obama; but when someone's grandma dies, it's a sad day for them and the rest of the family...

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USAKuma - here is a link to the full press release, from the Californian Republican Party -

http://dl1.activatedirect.com/fs/distribution:wl/distribution_jdqy8610gwi83me/xiwmy59i4l5wjq/daid/xiwqs79ehlfdna?1&_adctlid=d%7Cdistribution_jdqy8610gwi83me%7Cxiwqs79ehlfdna

If the link doesn't work, google 'CRP Files Federal Complaint Against Barack Obama, Obama Campaign, Obama Victory Fund'

Excerpt: "Obama for America violated federal law by converting its campaign funds to Senator Obama's personal use," the release stated. "Senator Obama recently traveled to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. This was the right thing for any grandson to do -- at his own expense -- but it was not travel that his campaign may fund."

This kind of action clearly shows the depths the GOP has sunk to....

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This kind of action clearly shows the depths the GOP has sunk to....

That is a much more accurate statement than before. The biggest trouble with John McCain is not John McCain, its the people who run the party he belongs to the he would not be able to oust even if elected president. America certainly does not need them, if it ever needed them.

While the Republicans are belly-aching over their impending loss, no doubt the sympathy generated by the death Obama's grandmother will be cited as the sole reason they lost. Some of the hardcore rightwing conspiracy nuts might even suggest murder. Yeah, I am talking about you Rush Limbaugh.

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I've been thinking all morning about this communication from the Republican Party over Obama's flight to see his dying grandmother, and to be frank, I don't think I have EVER been so totally disgusted at a party or a person's actions in this election campaign than I am about this.

I missed my own Dad's death and nearly missed getting back to my Mum's side when she was dying, and I'll say right now - when a close relative you care about is dying, you drop everything and get on a plane, bus or train ASAP, if not sooner.

Expeneses can be sorted out later.

I think Obama did absolutely the right thing to do whatever it took to get back to see his grandmother in Honolulu. If he didn't he would have been kicking himself and regretting it for the rest of his life and not even winning the US presidency could take away the pain that would cause.

...almost speechless......

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I've been thinking all morning about this communication from the Republican Party over Obama's flight to see his dying grandmother, and to be frank, I don't think I have EVER been so totally disgusted at a party or a person's actions in this election campaign than I am about this.

now you'll really have no reason whatsoever not to vote for obama.

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This kind of action clearly shows the depths the GOP has sunk to...." Sushi, are you here going to tell me if the shoe was on the other foot, it wouldn't be the same?

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skipthesong - I think if McCain had done the same to his grandmother (who would probably have to be the oldest woman alive), then any criticism would have come under fire like this has.

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any criticism would have come under fire like this has." and it should. With all the nonchalant and un-ethical activities 99.9% of the politicians do and get away with, something like this gets comes up. In one way, I say hey, let him go and in another way, how many people fighting in Iraq wouldn't be able to do this? If I am correct, a grandmother wouldn't constitute next of kin.... The criticism is warranted yet despicable. But to say one party would do it while another wouldn't is pure fantasy.

But, one things I'll agree with: Expenses can be sorted out later." Now that's true and it was stupid for the Repubs to lay into him on this at this point, but I think the Dems would have done the same.

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The fact that his grandma died is no reason for people to choose Obama over McCain - who needs another reason, anyway?

Looks like McCain is going to be as successful a presidential candidate as he was a pilot...

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They filed the complaint early Nov 3rd prior to any knowledge that she would pass away the very next day on Nov 4th.

I seriously doubt they would have filed it after this news. As a matter of fact I'm willing to bet the ranch on that one.

This is just another attempt to slime McCain and sad that they had to resort to this in the attempt.

If they filed after then you have a right to be upset, since they filed before this sad news of her sudden passing..........Who is the worst here in the attempt to slime?

My sincere condolences to Obama and his family on this sad loss. I am sure the timing couldn't have come at a worse time.

Just as filing this legimate compliant of his use of a campaign plane for personal use and this press release announcing as such, that happened to be so close to sudden news of her leaving this world .

Enough already with the slime from both sides.

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Enough already with the slime from both sides." Now those are words I like to hear. You have a ranch?

I am sure his (lola abuela) went out knowing her family has made some of the most significant strides in history.

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That's yet another new low from the Republicans - they shouldn't have questioned this, whether she was at death's door or otherwise.

Small-minded, pathetic, divisive, petty, and frankly sad actions by a once honourable party destroyed by the legacy of Bush and his neocon fools - fortunately just about to be swept into the dustbin of history where they belong

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Bush-McCain are over, now the change.

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amazing new low for the repub party, the party of criminals and immoral losers. what is next from them? Maybe they will sue obama cause his grandma was white?

Soon the repub party will be destroyed by the rightwing christian looneys. Not a day too soon.

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it's a shame about obama's grandmother.

she sacrificed for him and deserved to see him elected.

she put him through the most exclusive private school in hawaii. in fact, i think punahou high is rated as one of the best schools in the nation.

she was there for her wayward daughter's son when his biological father dumped the boy's mother and went about his polygamist ways in new york and then back in africa.

she was there for her grandson barack when stanley ann durham's wacky marxism took her to indonesia and marriage to yet another third world muslim-marxist.

i hope obama experiences some genuine contrition for having slandered his grandmother by using her, like a cheap prop, when he called her a 'typical white person' in his bogus pompous nationally televised lecture to America about race.

she deserved better.

Obama and Soetoro-Ng lived with their grandparents Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, and later with their mother, Ann Dunham, in 1970s Honolulu, where white people were routinely the target of discrimination.

Sam Slom, a Bank of Hawaii economist then, who is now a Republican state senator in Hawaii, recalls that as a part of the white — or "haole" — minority in Hawaii, he would regularly see housing ads that made no effort to hide racial preferences. He says he remembers ads that read, "No haoles" or "AJAs (Americans of Japanese ancestry) Only" or "No Japanese."

[...]

Others who know Dunham were caught off guard by that mention in Obama's speech.

"I was real surprised that he indicated that," said Dennis Ching, who was a 23-year-old management trainee under Dunham beginning in 1966. "I never heard her say anything like that. I never heard her say anything negative about anything. And she never swore."

" I never heard Madelyn say anything disparaging about people of African ancestry or Asian ancestry or anybody's ancestry," Slom said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-07-obamagrandma_N.htm

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RIP Ms. Dunham. Rest with the knowledge that you raised a good family, and that your grandson will be president-elect in 24 hours.

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Wonderful woman, wonderful grand mother,little wonder that Obama loves her so much.Please RIP Mrs Dunham.

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Skip the military flew me from Iraq (via the red cross) to my home because my grandmother was dying.. This was the first Iraq war, but they do it for grandmothers..

As far as his use of the campaign plane for personal use, it is a violation and should be looked at.. Would I have done the same.. Hell yea I would of been on that plane so fast you wouldnt even know I left...

I feel sad for his loss and hope he can overcome that feeling, and I dont think anyone will vote for him because his grandmother died..

Wonderful woman_? blah blah blah?? How the hell do any of you know? Maybe she was , maybe she wasnt.. some on here act like they have diner there twice a week.. sheesh..

RIP

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Wonderful woman mean:she looked after Obama(her grandson) very well that he loves her so much.It shows.

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"The Pennsylvania Republican Party also unveiled a TV ad featuring Obama’s former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, declaring “God damn America!” in a sermon.

"During the primaries, Obama was forced to distance himself from Wright, but McCain said he would not make the pastor an issue in the general election."

i was okay with obama until this. his iowa caucus victory was a great day for all Americans. it proved what many conservatives have been saying for years - America is already a 'post racial' country.

but the wright story was followed by rezko, then the execrable washed up domestic terrorist bill ayers and his hideous wife.

and all the while a free pass from the media.

if America (and the entire world) is lucky, obama will sever those ties, repudiate his friends from acorn, and seek the center that people like colin powell and warren buffet have reached out to him from.

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tclh.. How do you know she looked after him well? When he was a drug addict? Partier (according to him) on his way to being a junkie?

He also thanked the "Choom Gang," a reference to "chooming," Hawaiian slang for smoking marijuana. Obama admits in "Dreams" that during high school he frequently smoked marijuana, drank alcohol, even used cocaine occasionally.

He also only lived with grandma until he was 6...

Seems he lied allot about his childhood and what really happened then.. You should read this...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070325obama-youth-story-archive,0,3864722.story?page=1

Still I respect his Grandma for being who she was in a time that it was hard to be that open minded.... But I dont know her so I cant call her the saintly wonderful woman people like to call her..

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goodnight grandma. sleep tight.

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White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the incumbent’s invisibility is by design—because “the Republican Party wanted to make this election about John McCain.”

A little late doesn't it?

John McCain lost precious time attacking Obama, spreading stupid thinks like "consorting with terrorists" and stuff like that, so he himself lost this election. Hurrah for Obama!, (I've always been towards the democrats) Cheers!

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He will do you so proud, he will do us all so proud. Welcome to a better future with the hope sowing President Obama.

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Heh...were did all the Lemmings go? A pre-emptive leap perhaps?

Thankfully this will all be over within 24 hours. What a freaking relief.

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i am actually hoping this obama fella gets elected. he's got no track record for doing anything yet so many people believe he is the second coming of christ almighty. this is going to be fun to watch.

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http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/art.grandmother.ap.jpg

Click on the above and you'll see a guy who's really in love ... with himself.

It's a picture of Obama with his paternal grandma and he's hugging her. Check it out.

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vor, well, it can't be worse than the second coming of bush under the guise of mccain.

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"second coming of bush under the guise of mccain"

Heh, you'd say that no matter who the Republican candidate was.

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sarge, I had other complaints regarding the failed republican candidates. Until mccain conducted a shameful hate campaign in his run this time 'round, I actually had a smidgeon of respect for the geezer...

..though I'm sure this respect will return as he heads off to an exclusive retirement home on the morrow, with your "sarah" shrieking her way back to Alaska and of couse, heh, obscurity.

Tally-ho.

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It's sad that the timing of this will put a damper on the day for the Obama family.

Sushi,

Thanks for the information. Wow, could the CRP sink any lower? I don't even know if karl rove would have gone there. This has to be the ann coulter, sean hannity crowd. These scum tried hitting Sen. Obama below the belt at the worst time, and they did so knowing that sarah palin puts her children's travel on the taxpayer's dime. Yet, they have no problem with that.

That candidate mccain would throw every bit of integrity he once had out the window by pandering to these lower life forms within the GOP is as damning an indictment as I can think of as to why he has no business leading a nation, let alone the United States of America.

Thank God Americans see that and will not allow it to happen.

Taka

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"he ( McCain ) has no business leading a nation"

That's not what General Powell would say.

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"shameful hate campaign"

Because McCain dared to criticize Obama, he ran a "shameful hate campaign." Well, at least his campaign didn't have anywhere near as many lies as Obama's campaign. "95% of Americans will get a tax break" - give ME a break!

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No, sarge, I can only put it down to the hate ads, the "ties to terrorists" and that silly woman he (or someone) chose as his running mate that would probably freak even you out if you actually tuned up the volume when she's on the telly.

"That's not what General Powell would say."

Who cares what he says. He prostituted himself for Bush Co and has paid the price.

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"he ( McCain ) has no business leading a nation"

That's not what General Powell would say.

No, but neither did he endorse McCain.

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The day is drawing nearer when Obama will need to be held accountable to his rhetoric.

Will he really lower my taxes?

Will his spread the wealth policies help the economy or will it drive it further into the dirt?

Will his policies increase energy prices to the point where if any taxcut does occur is negated by higher energy cost?

Will he trample on the US Constitution in an attempt to solidify Democrats control of government?

Will the media continue to be Obama's personal Monica Lewinskies or will they start living up to their journalistic responsibilities?

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"Will he really lower my taxes?"

Har!

"Will his spread the wealth policies help the economy"

Har!

"Will his policies increase energy prices"

Of course.

"Will he trample on the Constitution"

Well, he hasn't talked glowingly of it. It stands in the way of the government's ability to do things to people.

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"Will his policies increase energy prices"

Of course.

Har yourself. Energy prices have already increased LOADS without Obama's help. Once again you have gone all partisan on what is an inescapable fact for EVERYBODY.

I would comment on the rest, but I don't have time right now believe it or not.

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"Will he really lower my taxes?"

Har!

More partisan nonsense completely ignoring the skyrocketing colossus we call the national debt. Neither Democrats nor Republicans have much choice but to raise taxes (save for maybe some genuine imperialism). But do not worry. We all know which party oversaw the mounting debt and which party oversaw the surplus that preceded it. Har! Or should I say "ouch!"

"Will he trample on the Constitution"

Well, he hasn't talked glowingly of it.

What, GWB's "piece of paper"?

It stands in the way of the government's ability to do things to people.

Please quote Obama on the constitution.

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Will the media continue to be Obama's personal Monica Lewinskies or will they start living up to their journalistic responsibilities?

It was amazing, was it not, the way the media published NOTHING about the Rezko affair, Reverend Wright, illegal foreign campaign donations, or comments about throwing Grandma under the bus. I was forced to scour right wing blogs just to get all that. Yeahright!

Man, the desperation and despair is getting really obvious one side of the political spectrum.

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