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Source: Obama campaign headquarters
MSNBC and Reuters reporting that Barack Obama’s grandmother Madelyn Payne Dunham has just died.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s grandmother died of cancer, he said in a statement on Monday, a little more than a week after Obama interrupted the White House race to say goodbye to her in Hawaii.
"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer," Obama said in a joint statement with his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility."
Dunham helped raise Obama from the age of 10 while his mother was working in Indonesia, and Obama took an emotional 22-hour trip to Hawaii to visit her on October 23 and 24.
Our deep sympathy and love to the Obama family.
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Life is so weird.
My prayers go out to the family.
RIP Mrs. Dunham
Yes. Condolences to the whole family, may she rest in peace.
Thank goodness he made that trip to see her.
Mrs Dunham R.I.P.
Thoughts and prayers with Senator Obama and his sister.
No doubt she was proud of her grandson. I wish she could have made it a couple of more days.
I was about to type the very same words. Weird indeed.
I can’t imagine what this man is going through right now. It’s a good thing he is a man of faith and strength and that he has such loving people around him. I am thinking right now of all the hugging and kissing that he and Michelle indulge in despite the fact that they are under a microscope. Those hugs and kisses and love from her and their girls will be the only thing that sustains him right now. Just damn.
I’d like to think that she knew he was going to win. She must have been very proud. My thoughts are with the family. RIP
wow, RIP grandmother of the next president. So sorry she didn’t get to witness history.
So sad and confusing to lose a mother figure at such an important time in one’s life. May Obama use her memory to inspire the change we all need.
Perhaps I’ve been watching too much of this election, but I can’t help anticipating the McCain/FOX camp to make a ham-fisted attempt to spin this.
My condolences. President elect Obam’s first official duty, burying his Grandmother.
How sad.
Obama
Tragic that it should happen so close to Obama’s victory. It is clear that she still instilled a sense of emotional maturity in Obama that is rare in political circles.
Very sad that she didn’t live to see him elected president.
I’m sure we will see abject apologies from all of those right wing sites who bashed O for going to see her a couple of weeks ago…don’t you think?
Very sad for this to have happened a couple of days more to see him as president!
Visiting a sick Grand Mom and taking the kids out trick or treating during the biggest campaign of his life says so much about the measure of this man. Peace to you and yours Mr. Obama.
I bet there’s an attack ad running somewhere right now.
I wish she could have seen tomorrow night, but then again, I know that she will.
This makes me almost unbearably sad. Barack Obama and your family, she will know. She will know.
I know you’ll never see this particular post, Senator, but I’m sorry for your loss. Having lost both of my parents, I know how it feels.
May she rest in God’s peace.
Tom F.
Well, my thoughts go out to Madelyn’s family, friends and loved ones.
My first thought was that it would have been nice for her to see her wonderful grandkid elevate the whole country to a new summit.
Then, I thought of my dad’s last week to cancer… In a way, I think obama can take some solace in her quick departure, because it’s hell for anyone involved.
I know that she would want to envigorate his monumental task. Condolenced to family and friends in this time of joy and loss. RIP
BB
Why do I think her pride and joy in him don’t rest on the outcome tomorrow?
I’ll tell you what, since she was that close to her death when he saw her last, it must have been quite difficult for him to control and mask his emotions once he was back on the campaign. I know that when I’ve seen friends or relatives who were only days away from dying they have been heart wrenching for me to see and to speak with.
I’m so pleased for Obama and his grandmother that he was willing and able to take the time to go and see her when he did.
I was thinking that also, Raven. I’m sure that you are right, and I’m also sure that her grandson knows that too.
It’s very healthy for folks to express their feelings either way.
Egregious,
Thanks for getting this news up on the front page. His Grandmother brought him to the finish line, and the torch is passed to a new generation. I’m sorry that I never really knew her, even though we’ve lived in the same building for 4 years.
R.I.P., Toots.
Aloha,
Bob in HI
Sad event, rough timing. I think Obama shall overcome.
You are absolutely right — heart-breaking, before, during, after.
Bummer.
That will stay with him forever. It says a lot about him that he didn’t put it off until after the election.
My condolences to the Obama family. What a terrible loss for them at this time. Having lost my father in similar circumstances of a long illness, it is a relief that you know your loved one is no longer suffering and in pain.
I’m a little worried still what the hell else is going to happen before the end of the day tomorrow?
HuffPo put up a slideshow of Obama with his grandmother
So much loss this relatively young man has experienced in his lifetime. I can only hope this recent loss will strengthen him as others seem to have done. And he is surrounded by his own loving family, who clearly keep him level and grounded.
If all goes well, McCain will lead a Republican crash and burn the likes of which the country has never seen.
I am just happy he was able to see her. Even though she couldn’t make it til Election Day, i am sure she passed knowing her grandson will be elected president.
So sad…
But maybe she knew deep down he was going to win and it was okay for her to go?
Still, there aren’t any words to express how sad this really is for the whole Obama family.
Thoughts and good wishes go out to them!
A veritable schadenfreude fest.
So, so sad. Really was hoping she could hang on one more day.
I can’t imagine the self-control that Sen. Obama must have. To go on campaigning, preparing…wow.
Ooh (just a hint of levity)-is that w/ bratwurst and gingerbread and lots of beer, like Oktoberfest?
(If not, it should be)
Peterr’s upstairs…
Randy Bachman has a show on CBC radio called Randy’s Vinyl Tap. Each week’s show has a theme, this past Saturday’s was
My choice? Iris DeMent
Hope she enjoyed all the postcards before she left.
I am thinking this this sweet old woman was holding on so that her grandson wouldn’t have to take time off for her funeral. She held on long enough.
So glad Senator Obama took time off for that visit. The right-wing noise machine’s attack dogs owe him a big-time apology, though I won’t hold my breath. Lucky for them, it’s a) too close to election-day and b) he’s running too classy a campaign to put together the obvious counter-attack ads: Republicans=bullies who will use anything to attack Barack Obama–including his love for a dying grandmother.
RIP, g’ma, and thank you for your committment to raising such remarkable kids and grandkids. Condolences to your entire family and circle of loved ones.
FunnyDiva
My mother’s memorial service was last Saturday. We ended with Bob Marley Three Little Birds “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright” When the reverend played his final chord on the guitar IU scored at the nearby stadium and cannons were fired. The timing was uncanny, the cannons went off immediately as the last chord sounded.
Helen W D’Amico, July 9, 1919 – October 23, 2008. RIP.
I’ve heard conflicting reports on whether her vote for Obama via traveling board will be counted. I’m shameless in using her death in my GOTV in Indiana this year.
Raven, you’ve got it exactly right. As a mother of 4 sons and a daughter who are now around 50 years old, I know. Grandmother knew her grandson as no other ever can. It’s the person he is that filled her heart, regardless of how the world itself evaluated him.
I’m so glad she had time with Barak, Michelle, and the girls during his week in Hawaii. That he put all else aside and went to her near the end tells us much about him, as well as what she instilled in him. In the days ahead I think our country will owe her a debt of gratitude for her work.
Let’s all direct our purest thoughts of comfort toward Barak and his family.
Best to you and yours.
Thanks. It’s never easy. I’ve been prepared for a long time, made a point of visiting 5 or 6 weeks a year the past 7 years. I’m very fortunate that the companies I’ve worked for allowed me to telecommute as much as I did.
Guess what? They did:
Words friggin’ fail me. I guess they must be hoping to provoke an “angry black man” response that they can then put in last-minute ads.
I think Obama and his beloved Grandmother knew that they were saying good by to each other for the last time when he made his trip to Hawaii October 23-24th.
Raven is right. She would have been proud of him whether he became President or not. Grandmothers are just like that.
Can’t help but think that she will be looking down from a better plane with extra pride on November 4th. Grandmothers are like that too.
To all the family and friends of Barack Obama’s grandmother Madelyn Payne Dunham:
That is just so inexpressibly sad…
Just goes to show there’s no bottom to the depths these creatures will go.
My deepest condolences to the Obama/Dunham family:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.