Obama Tears Up Over Grandmother: "She was a Quiet Hero"

[ultraist]

Run time: 05:47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5oMY6_kCoo   Posted on YouTube: November 04, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 04, 2008 By DU Member: ultraist Views on DU: 4709

 
In North Carolina, Barack Obama speaks about his grandmother, Madeyln Dunham or "Toot," who passed away just last night, calling her a "quiet hero."

Toot, short for Tutu (grandmother in Hawaiian) died from cancer at 86 years old.

Obama and his sister released the following statement:

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Our deepest sympathies go out to the Obama family.

Blessings for Toot. Her work is done. May she RIP.

[lamp_shade]

1. Thank you.

:cry:

[ultraist]

3. So sad...

I hope her family finds peace in the fact that Toot lived a full life and left quite a legacy. She did an amazing job raising her daughter and grandchildren. I'm sure they will miss her dearly.

[ejbr]

2. Many will see this and think

"This man has the temperament to run this country indeed."

thanks for posting

[crickets]

4. Exactly what I was thinking watching that. -nt

[ultraist]

6. Yes, he does

Obama has the strength and resolve needed to be a leader.

He said it was hard to talk about the passing of his grandmother. I suspect that's why he didn't mention it this morning in FL, shortly after he found out.

[jennied]

5. :(

[grace0418]

7. I hope he can feel the love of all of us.

RIP Toot.

[DonCoquixote]

8. Ms. Dunham

Wherever you are, you raised a damned fine Grandson. Thank you for being what he called a "quiet hero", and , via your grandson, for inspiring several million quiet heroes like you.

[kmdemqueen]

9. I feel so good

I feel so good about tomorrow night. I am sending all my good vibes fourth to him. Yes we can. god bless him .

[ultraist]

13. We ARE going to win this one...

for all of those "quiet heroes."

[BeamMeUpScotty0086]

10. I feel for him and his family as I would anyone who has lost a loved one, and

I hope I'm not being overly cynical, but I really hope if and when he wins the election that people from the opposition don't claim it was due to a "sympathy" vote. I've seen some of the snide freeper remarks in the past few weeks about his trip to Hawaii to see his grandmother, and it just kills me how people can lay sinister motives at someone's feet in such a time of loss.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

[ultraist]

11. Understand

But I don't think any reasonable person will claim that's why he won. He is way ahead in the polls.

Of course, there will always be those who lie to diminish others' accomplishments, but they matter not.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Bleacher Creature]

12. Pure, unadulterated class. n/t

[graywarrior]

14. Man oh man

This election is so emotional. So unbelievable emotional.

[BoneDaddy]

15. Why I love the guy

What a good man

[dbmk]

16. It may be me seeing something that isn't there

But he seemed younger somehow.

Somebodys son and grandkid. Something that people maybe haven't really been able to see before, because of the physical ansence of those persons that raised hm.

Or maybe it just magnified the values that those people instilled in him and reinforces that it is who he is deep down. That his words was nurtured by and are grounded in those quiet heroes.

Anyways... the sadness of this is just overwhelming. I thought it was tough enough that his mother did not get to see it.

But who knows - maybe she had seen what she needed to see. No matter the result tomorrow. Perhaps there is some beauty in that. To her the result must ultimately have been inconsequential. Her boy did good.

[jolikirk09]

17. ^ That was so beautifully said.

*I'm in tears*

[The Wielding Truth]

19. "Her boy did good." and her boy will do great!

It is hard for anyone to lose a love and continue,but Barack has Michelle and his girls and.... us.

I want us to hire him as our President. He's had my vote for a while. Tomorrow he will have all the votes he needs to help us restore America.

We can go to the polls and wait if we must,but we must save our democracy, and we will by voting for "her good boy."

[ultraist]

21. Perhaps...

he seemed younger because we saw a vulnerability in him we had not seen before. A vulnerability that we all have. Grief. Mourning over a loved one.

It was a very touching moment, very human.

[aaronbees]

22. I agree with you

You put that very well. Seeing him today, Obama struck me as a little more vulnerable but also that much stronger for it, the mark of great maturity in my eyes. His grandma (and whole family) helped raise someone special. She did good too.

[grantcart]

24. I thought the same thing

he looked much younger than he normally does in his suit.

Now she is going to help from the other side.

[Sparkly]

18. What incredible strength.

That took a lot... Wow.

:cry:

[Kalifornia.Kid]

20. "She has gone home"

Condolences to the Obama family.

[Lil Missy]

23. Obama is such a class act. I will forever treasure that pic of a tear steaming down his face.

And I can see the grief in his eyes.

:cry:

May Toot RIP.