Tue 4 Nov, 2008
This is my final analysis of the state of the presidential election before we begin seeing returns this evening.
Mon 3 Nov, 2008
Barack Obama issued a statement a few minutes ago, saying that his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died.
In the statement, issued jointly with his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, Senator Obama says that their grandmother died peacefully after her battle with cancer.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Mrs. Dunham passed away early this morning, at the age of 86. She was widely reported to have been following the presidential campaign closely on television from her apartment in Hawaii, where she was receiving hospice care.
While this must be a difficult time for Senator Obama to have received such news, Mrs. Dunham no doubt passed away with full knowledge that her grandson is expected to be elected the next president of the United States.
Mon 3 Nov, 2008
In a fascinating decision, the Wall Street Journal appears to have all but endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president of the United States.
Sun 2 Nov, 2008
It has now been confirmed that Senator Obama’s Aunt Zeituni is living in public housing here in Boston, and that she was ordered to leave the country four years ago.
Sun 2 Nov, 2008
The Washington Post has a delightful story this morning about the reactions of older black citizens, particularly those in their 90s, to the possibility that Barack Obama may be elected president on Tuesday.
The article highlights the story of Ruth Worthy, who is 91 years old and grew up in a middle-class household in Boston. The daughter of a doctor, she was the first black to work at the post office in Boston and attended Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts.
Sat 1 Nov, 2008
This post addresses the fact that the families of both Barack Obama and John McCain owned slaves. This week, I’ve encountered a number of questions about that slave-owning past and its significance today.
Sat 1 Nov, 2008
Barack Obama appeared for an interview on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show on Wednesday night, and I thought the following exchange about the Bradley effect was particularly funny.
Wed 29 Oct, 2008
There are polls this week suggesting that McCain may be gaining a bit of ground nationally, and even that the presidential race may be fairly close. This is true, but also misleading, at least in part.
Tue 28 Oct, 2008
I said it yesterday, in a slightly different context, and I’ll say it again today.
This election is historic, in that a black candidate is making a serious run for the presidency (and is favored to win, no less) and that should mean something to all of us. This is true, regardless of which presidential candidate you believe can best lead the nation.
Mon 27 Oct, 2008
I don’t think it matters which presidential candidate you believe would best lead the country. This story should move us all, and illustrates why this election is truly historic, regardless of who wins (or should win).
Amanda Jones lives in Bastrop County, Texas, and is 109 years old.
She’s also the daughter of a slave, and has just cast an early vote for Barack Obama for president.
“I feel good about voting for him,” Mrs. Jones said.
Her father herded sheep as a slave, and she has now lived long enough to vote for a black candidate for president.