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Obama's grandmother dies at 86; 'Toot' died peacefully less than 48 hours before Election Day.(NATION)(Obituary)

Article from: The Washington Times Article date: November 04, 2008

Byline: Christina Bellantoni, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, who helped raise the Democratic presidential candidate, died Sunday, less than 48 hours before the election.

Madelyn Payne Dunham, who turned 86 last week, battled cancer and had suffered a broken hip. Mr. Obama, who frequently mentions her accomplishments and her work building bombers in World War II, told voters on his final day of campaigning he views his beloved Toot as a quiet hero.

Mr. Obama and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng issued a statement that Mrs. Dunham ...

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Obama Doesn't Shy From Hard Truths: Sister

Posted Apr 7, 08 9:58 AM CDT in Politics 

Obama Doesn't Shy From Hard Truths: Sister
Source: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

(Newser) – Barack Obama's diverse family has remained silent since the flare-up over his former pastor's sermons. But in her first public comments since Obama's speech on race in America, half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng told the Telegraph their "typical white" grandmother, whose opinions on blacks sometimes made the candidate "cringe," was "entirely supportive" of Obama and his descriptions.

Obama faced criticism in the conservative press for his depiction of Madelyne Dunham in the Philadelphia speech, but Soetoro-Ng dismissed such comments. "I know that I have only ever known him to tell the truth," she said, "even when it wasn't convenient or when it would generate discomfort with family, friends, or co-workers."

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • Jeremiah Wright • Maya Soetoro-Ng

MORE RELATED NEWSER STORIES

Unaired McCain Spot Blasts
Rev. Wright

Attack ad surfaces,
but GOP candidate
refused to run it

ABC News ABC News Dec 9, 08 5:58 AM CST
(Newser) - John McCain's campaign created a commercial slamming Barack Obama for his relationship with inflammatory pastor Jeremiah Wright. The 30-second spot, obtained by ABC News, contrasts McCain's years in a Vietnam POW camp with footage of Wright shouting "God damn America." The commercial was ready for release and even includes the tag, "I'm John McCain and I approve this message." More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • John McCain • Jeremiah Wright • campaign advertising • attack ad • Steve Schmidt

UPDATED

Obama's Grandmother Loses Battle With Cancer

Madelyn Dunham passes away at 86 on eve of historic election

Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune Nov 3, 08 3:52 PM CST
(Newser) - On the eve of Election Day, Barack Obama's maternal grandmother died today in Honolulu after a long struggle with cancer. Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise Obama, had been in hospice care, the Chicago Tribune reports. The senator and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng released a statement calling their 86-year-old grandmother "the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility." More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • Obama 2008 • Madelyn Dunham • Maya Soetoro-Ng

OPINION

 Is Obama a Radical 
 or Reconciler? 

Or Niebuhrian waffler?

Washington Post Washington Post Oct 22, 08 1:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - Barack Obama may be on the brink of the presidency, but many still wonder whether he’s a closet radical, Michael Gerson writes in the Washington Post . He carries a liberal Illinois legislature record, associations with Ayers, Alinsky, Wright, and ACORN, and an “elitist disdain for bitter, God-clinging conservatives,” Gerson notes. But in reality, Obama seems to see himself as “a reconciler of opposites,” and “transcender of stale debates.” More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • Obama 2008 • Jeremiah Wright • Bill Ayers • moderate • radical


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