Obama’s grandmother has died; condolences from the McCains

By Michelle Malkin  •  November 3, 2008 04:52 PM

God rest her soul.

Reuters reporting:

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.”

From John and Cindy McCain:

Today, U.S. Senator John McCain and Mrs. Cindy McCain issued the following statement on the passing of Barack Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham:

“We offer our deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives.”

More.

Posted in: Barack Obama

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Comments


  1. #527120
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm, SoCal said:

    There is simply no surety that any circumstance about Mr. Obama are honest.

    ..and we are the product of our environment…

  2. #527126
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm, Wade said:

    Very difficult to post about this without being a hypocrite. May she not be judged by the daughter and grandson she raised. RIP.

  3. #527129
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm, rooster said:

    Got to go to work and hate me if you will, but anyone that didn’t bring his family to a gravely ill parent for a last visit does not get all my sympathies. Nothing with Obama is a coincidence.
    May she rest in peace.

  4. #527137
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm, txvet2 said:

    I know, I know, but still it’s hard not to see this as a cynical attempt on his part to win the sympathy vote tomorrow. I feel sorry for her, unless she looked at death as my mother did – not as an end, but as a welcome return to God – but not for him. I think he’s a cold fish who feels no real emotion at all beyond his ambitions and maybe his immediate family.

  5. #527141
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm, bluesoc said:

    I know, I know, but still it’s hard not to see this as a cynical attempt on his part to win the sympathy vote tomorrow.

    So he orchestrated the death in order to get sympathy votes? Or perhaps you think she’s faking.

  6. #527142
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm, Old Tanker said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 6:39 pm, Floyd R. Turbo said:

    SoCal, we’re not playing holier than thou. Just asking for some class and respect. Let’s not act like the left has so many times…we don’t need to look or sound like them.

    Misscheryl AND BobonStatenIsland… you folks stay classy now!!

  7. #527145
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm, Old Tanker said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm, bluesoc said:

    I know, I know, but still it’s hard not to see this as a cynical attempt on his part to win the sympathy vote tomorrow.

    So he orchestrated the death in order to get sympathy votes? Or perhaps you think she’s faking.

    Thank you bluesoc

  8. #527146
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm, Boomer said:

    Once again the McCain’s show what a class act they are by there sincere message of condolence. I only wish Senator Obama and his family would have had the class to stay by her side to comfort her. Hopefully she is sitting at God’s side now and may she receive more love then she did from her absent grandson that threw her under the bus.

  9. #527155
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    NBC News said Obama confusing what state he was in was the only visible sign that he was upset his grandmother had died.

    I don’t think he acted particularly upset at all, and getting those pesky states full of bitter Bible clingers straight, all 57 of them, can be pretty darned tough for The One.

  10. #527156
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm, cicerokid said:

    bluesoc said:”So he orchestrated the death in order to get sympathy votes? Or perhaps you think she’s faking.”

    Why is her death news? She stayed out of the media in life. Why now is she in the media?

  11. #527158
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm, abstractmind said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pm, nyk said:
    Wow. Your level of callousness is almost pathological.

    Kettle, Pot. Pot, Kettle. You’ve done worse here. Save your pithy statements for someone who *doesnt* know you’re worse than anything posted here.

    However. I WILL give credit where its due. I let my children see my greatgrandmother earlier this year, before she passed, while she was still in good health. Letting children see their loved ones in such poor health really does more damage than good.

    I am no friend of Obama or his rabid supporters…but it is sad that people here can’t focus on that, even if i have to have the bad manners to not only point it out, but having to call others down on it as well.

    May the planes receive this woman kindly, regardless of who her grandson is in this life.

  12. #527159
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm, RThomasETC said:

    Yeah, this is sad and as much as I don’t want him to win, I would never wish this kind of sorrow on anyone.

    I agree with those who pray she rests in peace.

  13. #527166
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm, feebiebabe said:

    RIP

  14. #527171
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 pm, SoCal said:

    Why is her death news? She stayed out of the media in life. Why now is she in the media?

    Fox News has had her as their headline the WHOLE day! Like she is even slightly newsworthy. Thanks Fox, give Obama as much of the sympathy vote as possible…

  15. #527172
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:09 pm, FilmLadd said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pm, nyk said:

    Wow. Your level of callousness is almost pathological.

    Uh oh! Can you feel it? I can! A cut-and-paste flashback of NYK’s callousness! Whee!

    On October 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pm, nyk said in comment 147

    I have a feeling you got beat up A LOT as a kid. It still shows.

    …and ignored the plight of two people’s lives wrecked by collectivism as recounted in comment #186.

    NYK, don’t scold other people about lacking human emotions, because I’ll be there to remind you of your lack.

  16. #527177
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm, keystone said:

    R.I.P. Granny Dunham.

    She lived a long life; I hope it was a full and happy life.

  17. #527178
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:12 pm, nyk said:

    You’ve done worse here.

    Never made light of the death of anyone, regardless of how much I disagreed with them. I hardly think responding in kind to an insult is as callous as dismissing the sadness a family might experience as a result of the death of its matriarch.

    Misscheryl AND BobonStatenIsland… you folks stay classy now!!

    Yup.

  18. #527181
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:19 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

    May this lady rest in peace.
    I visited my friend/boss/supervisor today. He was diagnosed with cancer back in January and up until two weeks ago was going through his third round of radiation and chemo. He woke up that morning two weeks ago and decided he had enough. The treatments weren’t working and he just wanted to have some quality of life and control the pain.
    I have worked for and with him for almost twelve years. He has been my friend, mentor, and without going into details, may have saved my life.
    He joined the Army in 1970, got out, and eventually ended up in the Air National Guard. He was supposed to retire this January on his sixtieth birthday. We are just hoping this special Chief Master Sergeant makes it through the holidays.
    We sat on his front porch and talked for a while. He still has his wits and a brightness in his eyes. He already has his funeral planned. He will leave this world with dignity, honor, and integrity.
    That’s all anyone can ask for.

  19. #527184
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm, madchef said:

    Rest In Peace Ms. Dunham.

    I wonder if Auntie Onyango will be flying to Hawaii for the funeral?

  20. #527187
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm, pleaseandthankyou said:

    The people on this thread who are using the death of a grandmother as an opportunity to insult the grandson, or to score political points, or to just be cynical and nasty, are showing their true colors. We don’t have to be as hateful and vindictive as the left has been. Some of these comments are classless and sickening. The only proper way to react is to say “I’m sorry for your loss”. Anything else is shameful and disgusting.

  21. #527188
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm, vsatt said:

    Say what you will, but I called it in the Aunti under the bus thread this morning.

    Call me cynical, coldhearted, whatever, but you know you’re all thinking — even if you would never say it out loud — that it might be just a little too coincidental.

  22. #527193
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm, SoCal said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm, pleaseandthankyou said:
    The people on this thread who are using the death of a grandmother as an opportunity to insult the grandson, or to score political points, or to just be cynical and nasty, are showing their true colors. We don’t have to be as hateful and vindictive as the left has been. Some of these comments are classless and sickening. The only proper way to react is to say “I’m sorry for your loss”. Anything else is shameful and disgusting.

    Your opinion and John McCain’s opinion, and in two days we will say “President obama.”

  23. #527201
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm, madchef said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm, pleaseandthankyou said:

    The only proper way to react is to say “I’m sorry for your loss”.

    I’ll save that for wednesday.

  24. #527202
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm, Old Tanker said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm, madchef said:

    Rest In Peace Ms. Dunham.

    I wonder if Auntie Onyango will be flying to Hawaii for the funeral?

    At some point you have to wonder if this thread is full of Moby’s…..regardless, piss off.

    Old Tanker Out.

  25. #527221
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm, frontierguy said:

    She lived a full and i am sure a fulfilling life…in Hawaii no less, not bad. Rest in peace and Godspeed on your journey Ms. Dunham.

  26. #527245
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm, nyk said:

    NYK, don’t scold other people about lacking human emotions, because I’ll be there to remind you of your lack.

    No, lack of emotion is what only a few people here have shown (but the overwhelming and vast majority have refuted that and been incredibly respectful and thoughtful).

    Oh — and I stand by my statement about you. And every pompous comment you write seems to reaffirm it.

    Anyway — good night all. See you post election!

  27. #527275
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 10:05 pm, vickisoup said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm, rooster said:
    Got to go to work and hate me if you will, but anyone that didn’t bring his family to a gravely ill parent for a last visit does not get all my sympathies.

    Rooster, I thought it very strange that, when the family was vacationing in Hawaii just before Saddlebackgate (ha ha), Obama went to see his grandma without taking his wife and children. Remember: she’s white. I don’t think G-ma and Michelle O had many issues over which they could bond, and why subject their children to something so different than their Chicago elite bubble? Can’t be mixin’ with what ain’t matchin’, as the Rev Wright no doubt preached.
    :shock:

  28. #527278
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm, mdt said:

    Too much of a coincidence for me.

    White G’Mother dies day before the One is elected President.

  29. #527351
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 pm, Little Ma said:

    RIP, ma’am.

  30. #527373
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    dear leader’s birth certificate finally revealed…looks like a good government document to me….lol

    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=80000

  31. #527404
    On November 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 pm, Brenda said:

    I am sorry that she didn’t get to see the outcome of the election. RIP.

  32. #527506
    On November 4th, 2008 at 1:35 am, rightwingrocker said:

    I only wish Senator Obama and his family would have had the class to stay by her side to comfort her.

    Uh … I think this was in bad taste.

    Ms. Dunham would have wanted her grandson to be giving his campaign his all – it’s something he’s obviously wanted for a long time.

    Here in the Philly area, we recently had a similar situation. Charlie Manuel, manager of our World Champion baseball team, lost his mother (that’s MOTHER, not GRANDmother) during the playoffs. He did not leave the team or ask for a game to be postponed or anything of the sort. He knew his love of the game was important to her, and went to her side as soon as there was a break in the action. When the time came to play the next game, Charlie was right there.

    Yes. There are some questionable things with regard to Baracks’ recent visit to his grandmother, and yes, we should be making a lot of noise over those things, and there are a lot of things this man has done that indicate a lack of class, BUT this is a private family matter, and there is no reason to do anything but leave it alone and let the Obamas deal with it as they see fit.

    God rest her soul.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  33. #527571
    On November 4th, 2008 at 5:17 am, CO2 Producer said:

    I’m very sorry for your loss, Barack Obama.

  34. #527613
    On November 4th, 2008 at 6:48 am, madmonkphotog said:

    Death. Tears.

    All planned. All orchestrated.

    Yes. Really.

  35. #527656
    On November 4th, 2008 at 7:46 am, pianoman said:

    My sympathies to the Obama family. This has nothing to do with the election.

  36. #527666
    On November 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am, abstractmind said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 8:12 pm, nyk said:

    perhaps the subject matter was different…but you’ve exhibited said demeanor in other areas, as film was able to link. i’m sure if i took time to check, we’d find more. You can do as you will, but, like i said…you’ve said alot worse about people here, without having been attacked beforehand. just saying.

    good points rightwing…and i think that everyone celebrates or mourns in their own way. to each their own i believe.

    madmonk, maybe i’m reading into this…you think her actualy death is orchestrated, or just the response from the people? I cant imagine a person, who says they are close to a family member, who wouldnt cry at the loss of a loved one. thats cold, even for someone like obama.

  37. #527690
    On November 4th, 2008 at 8:11 am, tre said:

    Go with God, Grandma.

  38. #527714
    On November 4th, 2008 at 8:35 am, Sisyphus said:

    On November 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 pm, BobonStatenIsland said:
    OK…..I am sorry, but I have to ask this. Did she early vote? Now you can all condemn me to Hell.

    She did and it does. I guess stealing the election with the Acorn goons is not enough for him, now the dead too can vote for the one. Sometimes I just can not understand how our country has come to this.

  39. #527826
    On November 4th, 2008 at 9:20 am, Lan Astaslem said:

    I have a quick question. It’s very possible that Obama’s grandmother voted via absentee or early ballot. She dies the day before the election. Does the vote count? I’m not trying to be callous or disrespectful. I’m truly just curious. If someone votes early, then dies before election day, does their vote still count?

  40. #528167
    On November 4th, 2008 at 11:08 am, mistressjustice said:

    I cant imagine a person, who says they are close to a family member, who wouldnt cry at the loss of a loved one. thats cold, even for someone like obama.

    As you stated above in the same paragraph:

    and i think that everyone celebrates or mourns in their own way.

    Moreover, if you have some type of insider information about how Obama reacted to his grandma’s death, particularly behind closed doors, full disclosure would be nice.

    If he was a blubbering mess in front of cameras, your side would be calling him a phony, opportunist.

    Unbelievable.

    All in all, the MAJORITY of this board has shown a lot of class and respect.

  41. #528320
    On November 4th, 2008 at 11:53 am, yohannbiimu said:

    Excuse me if I sound cynical, but it is rather convenient that she died on the eve of the election. Who was her attending physician, Jack Kevorkian?

    Also, there is no way that BO has given her a moment’s though since he said he was going to be with her, but proceeded to Hawaii in order to seal his birth records.

    BO used his “typical White person” grandparent as far as he was able to–as a comparison to his disgusting pastor. Any love and care she gave him was trampled upon in his adult life, culminated by the slanderous speech where he told the world that she was a worst racist than Jeremiah Wright.

    Obama is a brute. He is a ruthless brute, and God help us if he is proclaimed our president.

  42. #528415
    On November 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Misscheryl said:

    I said what I said because that’s how I see it. Obama is a ruthless, narcissist that will use anything, including his family members for his own gain. I’m not interested in paying him respect, especially when I do not see it deserved. His grandmother, his children are another story. He is an enemy to all I hold dear. If some believe that certain situations call for warm and fuzzies, then by all means give them. I am being truthful to what I believe. This isn’t politics to me…

  43. #528419
    On November 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Misscheryl said:

    “narcissist who..” self edit..

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