Earl Smith is the Man!

[bigtree]

Last edited Fri Jan 18, 2013, 12:00 PM - Edit history (2)

Vietnam war veteran Earl Smith at the Hyatt hotel in Austin, Texas (Erich Schlegel)


Earl Smith is the man behind a military patch that President Obama prizes

AUSTIN, Tex. — That February morning in 2008 found Barack Obama decidedly out of sorts . . .

As he rode the service elevator in the backway of a convention hotel here, the snowy-haired African American operating it turned suddenly. He held out a black-and-gold bit of fabric embroidered with a screaming eagle.

“Senator Obama, I have something I want to give you,” the man said. “I’ve carried this military patch with me every day for 40 years, and I want you to carry it, and it will keep you safe in your journey.” Obama tried to refuse, but the older man persisted.

Later that day, Obama and his aides discussed the encounter. The future president pulled the patch from his pocket, along with about a dozen other items people had pressed upon him.

“This is why I do this,” he said. “Because people have their hopes and dreams about what we can do together.”


read more: http://t.co/8CNi8nRE


Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama with his lucky charms backstage before a rally at Muhlenberg College Gym in Allentown, Pa. (Callie Shell/Aurora Photos)

[In_The_Wind]

1. I agree

[babylonsister]

2. I would love a link to this so I can send it on...and thanks! nt

[pinboy3niner]

3. Here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/earl-smith-is-the-man-behind-a-military-patch-that-president-obama-prizes/2013/01/18/deec2444-5c13-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_story.html

[bigtree]

5. d'oh

http://t.co/8CNi8nRE

[madokie]

4. Bless the both of them

Our President is the closest thing to an average citizen as this country has had since President Carter. Obama and Carter stands head and shoulders above most if not all our previous Presidents. In my eyes anyway

[RobertEarl]

8. That is exactly right, Madokie

I use that all the time when talking to people about Obama. I say, if Obama were to be here with us now, he would be talking just like us. Compared to Bush and Reagan, who would ignore us and walk away, Obama is more like you and I than any of the others. He's like us.

[madokie]

9. He is one of us for sure

I could not be happier

[RobertEarl]

10. I could be happier

Like if you and I were running the joint. No pun intended.

But he's doing pretty well. The mess that is DC, were we in charge, would be thrown out... and that's why we will never be in charge!

[bigtree]

6. .

[bigtree]

7. /