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Obama cancels Capitol event

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Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has cancelled a Madison rally planned for Thursday due to the fading health of his grandmother.

According to the Obama campaign, the senator decided to cancel his planned appearances on Thursday and Friday in order to spend time with his 85-year-old grandmother, Madelyn Dunham.

“Recently, his grandmother has become ill, and in the last few weeks, her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious,” a statement released by Obama’s communication director Robert Gibbs said. “It is for that reason that Sen. Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday, so that he can see her and spend some time with her.”

Dunham, along with Obama’s mother, raised him in Hawaii “from the time he was born to the day he left for college,” the statement said.

The statement added Obama will be will be returning to the campaign trail on Saturday.

Phil Walzak, Wisconsin Communications Director for the Obama campaign, said there currently are “no plans for an immediate makeup” for the event, but more information will be released when it is available.

Walzak said more surrogates will visit Wisconsin in the days leading up to the campaign, similar to events hosted by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Arizona Gov. Bill Richardson and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Details on future events will be released later this week.

Democrats across the state will continue to work aggressively to share Obama’s message across the state, Walzak said, adding Wisconsin is an evenly split battleground state.

Obama’s rally was originally planned to take place near the state Capitol at the intersection of Main Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

Although the campaign applied for a street-use permit request for Thursday’s planned event on Oct. 17, the permit was withdrawn Monday afternoon, according to Laura Whitmore, Madison parks community relations coordinator.

University of Wisconsin College Democrats chair Claire Rydell said her organization sympathizes with the Obama family during this difficult time.

“During this difficult time for Sen. Obama, our thoughts for a speedy recovery for his grandmother are with him and his family.”

Obama first campaigned in Madison last October at the Monona Terrace. He also held a rally at the Kohl Center packed with 19,000 supporters on Feb. 12.


7 Comments | Leave a comment

I hope his grandmother cast an absentee ballot.

The cynic in me can’t help but think this is a political ruse. I mean, who leaves the campaign two weeks before the general election for ANYTHING? TWO WEEKS!!! If you’re spouse/kid died, that’s one thing, but I’m sure his grandma would understand if he didn’t fly out to Hawaii because HE’S RUNNING FOR THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD!

Perhaps William Ayers, the cowardly Weathermen terrorist bomber, can fill in for his dear friend Barrack on Thursday? He certainly would be an apt surrogate, as they share common philosophies and methods of operation. C’mon Billy , be a good friend and lend your brother Barrack a hand!

As Chicago Mayor Daley said back in August “They’re friends. So what?” Indeed! If Barrack’s closest political allies, both Mayor Daley and unpunished terrorist bomber William Ayers, can embrace Barrack Hussein Mohammed Obama as their dear fiend…. I mean ‘friend’, why can’t Barry? Why can’t YOU?

If Barrack had been a good friend of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma city terrorist bomber, would you be concerned? Unlike terrorist bomber William Ayers, McVeigh was put to death for his terrorist acts. The only differences between Ayers and McVeigh is Ayers is alive and unpunished, teaching college in the ethically bankrupt city of Chicago, and he’s a good friend of Barrack Obama.

Barrack worked in close association with Ayers for 4 years on the Chicago Annenberg Research Project. From the Final Technical Report of the Chicago Annenberg Research Project (CARP, how ironic!): “Results suggest that among the schools it supported, the Challenge had little impact on school improvement and student outcomes, with no statistically significant differences between Annenberg and non-Annenberg schools in rates of achievement gain, classroom behavior, student self-efficacy, and social competence.” That is what $110 million buys you, when you have inept and corrupt leadership. Way to go Barry and Bill! Your only real world experience in leadership and you achieved nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada.

As an Illinois state Senator, Barrack gave a glowing endorsement to his good fiend (darn that typo) friend William Ayers book ‘A Kind And Just Parent: The Children Of Juvenile Court’.

William Ayers thought so highly of Barrack that he personally helped Barrack kick off his political carreer with his very 1st fund political raiser at the Ayers residence. Michelle and Barry were pleased to attend.

A certain measure of a man is the quality of the company he keeps and his fidelity to his friends. Today, for political expedience, Barrack Hussein Mohammed Obama denies he is the long time close friend and associate of the gutter low terrorist William Ayers, even when Mayor Daley and Mr. Ayers readily acknowledge their frienship. It provides us with a direct measure of Barrack’s integrity and his honesty. He has neither.

Invictus Maneo

12:56 - his grandmother is dying, you dipshit.

12:56

You’d seriously take a job over seeing a dying family member? Obama’s priorities are clearly correct. Saying it’s a ruse is just plain ignorant and disgusting.

She can’t understand anything if she’s dead. Her health is poor, she raised him, so Obama is very close to her.

I don’t fault him at all. Anyone thinking this is some political tactic has been too jaded by this long election and needs to remember that the man is only human. Not everything is a calculation.

He doesn’t want any difficult questions. Grandma won’t ask about tax policy or foreign affairs.

Why should he visit Wisconsin? ACORN has it wired for him already.

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