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Michelle: Obama's persistence as suitor good for US
By Pat Reber Aug 26, 2008, 9:29 GMT
Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, and her daughters Malia-Ann (R) and Natasha (L) speak via video to Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado USA, 25 August 2008. The Democratic National Convention runs 25-28 August 2008 where it is expected that Illinois Senator Barack Obama will be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. EPA/SHAWN THEW
Denver, Colorado - Michelle Obama stole the limelight and apparent affection of Democratic delegates Monday night, describing husband Barack Obama as a persistent suitor in their courting days who would carry the same kind of determination into the White House.
The couple provided a rare and at times humourous glimpse into their private lives in one of the most unusual kick-offs to a major political party convention in US history.
Reflecting the importance the US electorate attaches to a candidate's spouse and family, her speech aimed to raise the personal profile of a man who was little known nationally until he addressed the 2004 Democratic convention and then was elected to the US senate.
Joined by her young daughters at the end, Michelle Obama also acquainted viewers who tuned in to the 20-minute broadcast speech with the prospect of the first African-American family in the White House.
'Millions of people ... know Barack understands their dreams, that Barack will fight for people like them and that Barack will bring finally the change we need,' Obama told the 4,400 delegates gathered on opening night of the Democratic presidential nominating convention.
She said her husband was running for the presidency 'to end the war in Iraq responsibly, to build an economy that lifts every family, to make health care available for every American and to make sure every child in this nation has a world-class education all the way from preschool to college.'
The 47-year-old candidate, who is campaigning in the Midwest, will not appear until the convention's last day Thursday, when he will deliver his acceptance speech before a throng of 75,000 at Invesco Stadium.
Michelle Obama's speech offered personal insights into the working-class background she shared with her 47-year-old husband, and emphasized how they had turned down high-paying jobs as Harvard- trained lawyers to pursue community service.
The comments appeared aimed at answering charges by Republican John McCain, who will be formally nominated next week, that Obama is an elitist. The two are locked neck and neck in the polls.
According to a videotaped prologue, the couple met when Michelle supervised an internship by Obama at her law firm. She kept turning him down for dates because she thought it inappropriate. The candidate wryly quips in the video that Michelle finally allowed him to buy her some ice cream, which showed her what kind of date he really could be.
The comment sent a ripple of laughter across the Pepsi Centre convention hall.
'What struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, even though he'd grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine.'
After their first daughter, Malia, 10, was born, Obama said her husband drove home from hospital 'at a snail's pace' out of worry for his new-found charge.
In apparent reference to Obama's Kenyan father who left at an early age, Michelle said her husband was determined to give their children 'something he never had: the affirming embrace of a father's love.'
Obama paid tribute to the 'crosscurrents of history' of the women's and civil rights movements of the '60s that brought the African-American couple to the threshold of the presidency, 'where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.'
Those currents also brought Senator Hillary Clinton 18 million votes in the tough battle for the Democratic nomination, a feat which Obama acknowledged.
As a star attraction of her husband's campaign, Michelle drew controversy at times, such as when she said she was proud for the first time in her life to be an American after she saw the huge response to Obama in the primary elections.
On Monday, she said: 'I love this country ... I know firsthand ... that the American dream endures.'
After her speech, Barack Obama's image loomed up on huge screens on a videophone connection from Kansas City, where he watched his wife's speech in the home of a family he met on the campaign trail.
Referring to the tale of his courtship of Michelle, Obama said the story showed he would be a 'persistent president.'
From the stage, Malia and Sasha, 7, joined in on the phone call.
'How do you think mom did?' the candidate asked.
'I think she did good,' Sasha replied. 'I love you daddy, bye.'
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Michelle Obama -- currently on unpaid leave from her $317,000-a-year job as a vice president of the prestigious hospital -- helped create the program, which aims to find neighborhood doctors for low-income people who were flooding the emergency room for basic treatment. Hospital officials say such patients hinder their ability to focus on more critically ill patients in need of specialized care, such as cancer treatment and organ transplants.
In fact, the Obama campaign has multiple ties to this program:
Obama's top political strategist, David Axelrod, co-owns the firm, ASK Public Strategies, that was hired by the hospital last year to sell the program -- called the Urban Health Initiative -- to the community as a better alternative for poor patients. Obama's wife and Valerie Jarrett, an Obama friend and adviser who chairs the medical center's board, backed the Axelrod firm's hiring, hospital officials said. [...]
But the Urban Health Initiative has critics, including South Side residents and medical professionals.
'I've heard complaints from a handful of constituents, but I've also had calls from people in the health care profession complaining,' said Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, whose 4th Ward is just north of the hospital. 'The medical professionals who have come to me are accusing the university of dumping patients on its neighboring institutions. ... Whether it's being implemented in the way that's in the best interest of the patient, I can't tell you.'
Sen. John McCain, Obama's Republican opponent, criticized the Democratic presidential hopeful Friday for having pledged on the campaign trail to expand health care for Americans at the same time his top political strategist 'was running a campaign to cut coverage for the poor.'
This does seem to be an absurd hypocrisy that media members should be all over, don't you agree?
For its part, the Washington Post published a lengthy piece about this hospital -- and the Obama campaign's connections to it -- on Friday (emphasis added throughout):
Quentin Young, a local physician whose five-doctor medical office lists Barack Obama among its patients, said that in past decades the South Side often viewed the institution as a 'citadel of exclusion,' more interested in research than the well-being of its neighbors. [...]
The hospital told state regulators it spent $10 million on charity care for the poor in fiscal 2007 -- 1.3 percent of its total hospital expenses, according to an analysis performed for The Washington Post by the bipartisan, nonprofit Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. That is below the 2.1 percent average for nonprofit hospitals in Cook County.
As a nonprofit, the University of Chicago Medical Center receives annual tax breaks worth nearly five times as much as it spends on charity care, the analysis found.
Wow. So the hospital is receiving in tax breaks FIVE TIMES what it spends on charity care! This doesn't sit well with some in the community:
Quentin Young, the South Side physician, described the medical center's level of charity spending as 'ludicrous.' Young, known in Chicago for having been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal physician, is chairman of the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, a Chicago-based nonprofit that advocates health-care reform. Young considered himself an ally of Barack Obama while he was a state legislator.
'That's shameful,' Young said of the percentages. 'They are arguably, if not defrauding, then at least taking advantage of a public subsidy. We would like to see them give more than the minimum. The need is there.'
Hmmm. So, Martin Luther King Jr.'s former doctor thinks what's going on at this hospital is 'shameful' and potentially fraudulent. But there's more:
Critics, however, describe the program as an attempt to ensure that the hospital retains only affluent patients with insurance. [...]
Edward Novak, president of Chicago's Sacred Heart Hospital, declined to discuss the center's initiative in particular but dismissed as 'bull' attempts to justify such programs as good for patients. 'What they're really saying is, 'Don't use our emergency room because it will cost us money, and we don't want the public-aid population,' ' Novak said.
An April 2007 survey of the hospital uncovered the following criticism:
'This new health initiative is not really about helping the residents of the South Side of Chicago. It is simply a way for the University of Chicago Medical Center to save money and reduce costs by serving fewer poor people without health insurance.'
Barack Obama as next President of The United States of America
The die is cast and for reasons that only a privileged few know, you Sir, will be the next President of the United States of America. Your next 4 years will be a turning point in US history and planet earth. CHANGE, your advisors and high stake investors offer the nation will undoubtedly be the same rhetoric and empty promises that make up a political campaign, that campaigns for appointment for any public office in America.
The White House will be the Black House to some, the Aryan Brothers of America will not be so happy, but yet will blame you and your staff if you fail, which will reinforce their belief that the Aryan Nation is the true leader for America. The religious zealots will be busy bees making nests to survive the onslaught of lies, corruption and deceit. Business enterprises and other competing nations will capitalize off of your inexperience in the art of corruption and murder. The organized crime organizations from different nations including our own will benefit from the lack of control over national crime.
Military governments including our own will test your tolerance to pain and deception and trick you into needless and profitable domestic and international conflict. You will no doubt attempt to colorize your staff to soften the race conflict once in office.
As President you will be President. Nations will respect you only for your title of office. Americans will soon see after your appointment as President that your intentions were manipulated by those that make the rules. You will fill the spot in history as planned, and nothing more.
You will never while in office be able to pull the troops from conflict in any land we are engaged in. As a matter of fact we as a nation will be engaged in a new conflict of war, which will galvanize Americans to seek a different form of government and a different and honest Congress.
You will attempt to shore up Americas problems with false promise and lies, because you cannot directly affect the CHANGE you promised.
Your frustration will be your downfall while in office, and your co-dependence on those that you trust will also add to your demise.
Our Armed Forces in rank will respect you as good soldiers they are, but those under them will not, and for good reasons, that only a good soldier knows.
America will not be America until its government respects the People, and tells the truth. America is a Republic, not a Democracy or Fascist Government or is it?
Until you can walk thru the streets and neighborhoods of America unaided by Secret Service or any other law enforcement agency you will not be respected by the many, only by the fearful and selfish few. Americans can protect their leaders if they are honest and respectful of the people they were elected to serve. Our Government has forsaken us for many hundreds of years, and now we will wait until your 4 years are finished for us to come to fruition.
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
The American Republic
A Sovereign Republic
describes the speech Michelle Obama gave last night showing great intelligence and a very capable ability to being a strong leading lady.
She wrote the speech herself and was very articulate in every way. She would be a tremendous asset to President Obama - unlike most leading ladies in the past. The Obamas would both relate to the ordinary American more than those who were raised in the lap of luxury and who can't remember the number of homes they own all over the country.
You've got to be out of your mind.
...the libnazis and their propaganda arm, the libnazi press, is trying to rebuild Ms. Obama's image and looks to be having luck, if you count the sheeplike constituants of the dem libnazi party who are willing to ignore the facts.
Too bad they got a hold of the 'goddam america' tape before it couild be outed, eh?
I am gonna vote fo change kuz change is always good and me wants the change because change change changey change.
I really like that Michelle obama kuz she spoke of change. I was told I have a spinal tumor but i am happy kuz it is change.. change change changey change! I am going to go shoot myself in the foot kuz that would be a change.
At least I have a mind! She is an intelligent woman - not a leeming kissing the boots of a husband who doesn't know his a** from a whole in the ground.....Bush, in case you can't quite get it! And, of course, you are a Republicant who doesn't want change - wants to keep the war going in Iraq, the poor economy spiraling out of control, real estate, banking, problems yet to be seen and on and on.
Shut up kuz your an IDIOT.
This ones really needs change and fast, What a Dumb ass post, Go back to School and learn how to Express yourself.
Black, White who cares someone needs to step up to the plate and change things for the better. McCain will just be George Bush twin we cant afford that thinking anymore.
...economic news today: americans make more now than at any time in history. Household wealth is at an all time high, hardly the picture the dems will show you.
We did it with lower taxes, increased tax revenue, free trade markets and supply side economics. We stifled controlled trade, runaway union boot-licking and the constant drilling of business in America into the ground by the liberal intelliguista and their gestapo the trial lawyers.
The dems stifled domestic energy for 30 years, while we begged America to change and now we have sky-high fuel prices. They stymied, with their runaway litigationist trial lawyers, any hope of being players in energy, steel, chemicals, timber products, aluminum, any metals, foundry, plastics manufacturing and countless other industires we, once, were players in, all the while blaming industry for outsourcing the items they could no longer manufacture in America.
Please, your kind of change is killing us.
you need to learn to spell and present an intelligent argument!
that last post was directed to KUZ.
'Americans make more than at any time in history'?? With the cost of everything rising at a higher rate, they certainly don't bring home more.
You are looking through your rose-tinted glasses again. Our grandparents making $50.00 a week had it a lot better.
wake up..our grandparents, professor, had it so much better because they paid a fraction of their income into taxes, compared to our taxes now, and for the last 25 years, supply side economics kept inflation at bay, compared to the nightmare of the Jimmy Carter era. Wanna check inflation...go check tax inflation over the last 30 years and report back, if you can stand the sadness.
Now, we reel from the cost of energy, which is boosting everything from food to consumer goods, in a supply side economy where 30 years of luddite libnazi meddling and stonewalling has dried up supply of almost every commodity.
From no domestic source of oil, in a nation that uses 16 million bbls daily, to industries, from steel to chemicals, every producer has been chased out of the USA with luddite liberals stymiing the permit process, endless lawsuits by their trial lawyer brownshirts.
Now, after all of this, they expect to perpetrate this sham as, somehow, the responsibility of the republicans, who fought it tooth and nail, or at least for a politicians version of tooth and nail, to preserve some of these industries.
And household wealth is at an all-time high??? Maybe it states that in the rags you read, but it isn't realistic for the average American. Maybe you need to get out and around a little more and off the computer and rags, and see what the real world is all about. You are being brainwashed.
..it IS an average number, about american household wealth. Wouldn't THAT fact, by definition, make it THE average American!?????
Try repeating this stuff you write out loud, before typing it.
You can't see beyond your self-righteous, sanctimonious thoughts of yourself. Try seeing the country sans all the so-called polls from some jerk sitting at a desk who doesn't have a clue. It is hoped that Obama/Biden will be able to better relate to the AVERAGE American and help turn this country around so it's people will be as prosperous and carefree as you insist.
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Michelle Obama thinks you are mean and uninformedAug 26th, 2008 - 09:50:27
She speaks well when someone writes all the words for her. When he strays off the teleprompter she displays a anger and bitterness toward the country that is alarming:
(America is) just downright mean.' -- Michelle Obama
'For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction.' -- Michelle Obama
'Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.' -- Michelle Obama
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