Barack Obama is showing us what he stands for when he leaves the campaign trail less than two weeks before the election to visit his 85-year-old grandmother. In taking this unusual and underplayed step, he is exemplifying the family values other people talk about, but only he demonstrates.
He’s probably thinking, “I can’t believe I’m so close and she might not be there to see it, after all she has done for me.” Or he is thinking, “none of this is important without her.” Or perhaps it’s simply, “she’s sick? Gotta be there.” Whatever he is thinking, it has superseded all the inanities of the silly season and brought him back to what is most important to him.
I read volumes into this about his humanity, and about his actual platform. Not the Democratic platform, or the Republican platform, but the platform this man stands on, a platform of strong women to whom he knows and always acknowledges he owes a lot.
If he acknowledges this, he deserves my vote. He will not let me starve. He will not let my son go to war unnecessarily, mouthing platitudes and cliches about religions and geographies he knows nothing about.
He will not let me be old and sick and alone.
It’s about time a man stepped up to the plate who believed all these things and acted accordingly. I know I will be accused of all kinds of underlying stuff here, but: Obama’s my man because he’s got SOUL.
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I was touched to hear that he was leaving. How many moms, dads, grandparents out there are wishing their child or grandchild would love them like that… and seeing what a fine example Barack Obama is setting for us all. He cares about this country enough to give–and risk–his life running for public office. He trusts voters enough to not be concerned about being penalized for taking time to see his grandmother.
I agree. It tells me more about his character and his heart that he would leave his campaign with less than two weeks left to be with her. It’s what I would do, too. It’s what anyone with a heart would do.
It’s my prayer that she will live to see her grandson elected President. I so hope that happens. She is his last parent.
I wonder if men feel like we do about his decision.
Yes Francine, you should be accused of ‘all kinds of underlying stuff’.
Stuff like recognizing that leaders may be better if they aren’t aloof and self-centered, better if they’re not fighting personal demons but spending time raising their kids and supporting their families and ours. Stuff like falling for intelligence, rationality and integrity. Stuff like providing a positive example for us.
Do men feel like you do about his decision? I don’t know? Do women? :-)>
I, too, am impressed by Obama’s family values and his taking time out from his campaign at such a crucial moment to be with the grandmother who helped raise him.
The Republicans speak of family values as if they have a lock on them. Obama and Biden live them and demonstrate them in their lives. They walk the walk and set fine examples as leaders. I admire them both.