To The Mountaintop

it is very sad that none of his parents and parents surrogate will witness the fruits of their labor of love in raising him..but then it is said, "parents are like Moses." " they prepare and take you to the promised land even if they themselves will not be able to reach it".
congratulations, Ms. Dunham, for a work well done!

Thanks, Joe.

Well said, Joe. Thanks for framing the larger perspective. Even as I stare digustingly at one more hate-mail full of falsehoods from some unidentifiable source feverishly forwarded to me by fear-full fellow evangelical Christians (so-called), I wonder what these all-but anonymous rumor-mongerers might say of Madelyn's passing? Where's the grace?

Thank you, Joe. I've appreciated your work and perspective throughout this election cycle. I feel this loss as I think of my own parents, and my heart joins davemc321 in wishing "Godspeed, Ms. Dunham." And Godspeed Barack & Michelle, regardless of the outcome tomorrow.

Will the folks who are trying to pivot off this post into a partisan agenda realize what a tin ear they are demonstrating? I've had a lot of problems with Joe Klein's work in the recent past, vis a vis FISA and a dozen other things. But these words of his are uncommonly graceful, and emotionally beautiful. They deserve a little space in the clearing, away from the noise.

Thanks for your eloquence Mr. Klein. It stopped me in my tracks today, and deepened my appreciation of the man who stands on the verge of the Presidency.

SG --
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I understand why you want to bring attention to the rightwing nuts so that we can end this ridiculous homage to false equivalencies.
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But you should have added a stronger warning label because I could have gone the rest of my life quite nicely never knowing human beings could spew such venom.

Thank you for saying this Joe. I know that it is very very different to expect someone you love to die, and to have it happen. But it's also true that he's now free from the pain he had for her pain, and because of the particular things he has said about his faith, I think he believes that she is with him.

Great article. It's a bitter sweet moment....a sad day for the loss of his grandmother, but a sweet victory come tomorrow night.

Well done, Joe. Poignant without being mawkish. In other words, sincere and heartfelt. Thank you.

I'm surprised to find I feel a touch of grief myself. With all the people in the world to care for, that this young man somehow reached into my heart with his simple American story and made me feel for his family is testimony to the power, truth and intimacy of his candidacy.

What difficult timing, though, for Obama, on this eve of probably the greatest day of his life, to lose this wonderful woman who meant so much to him.

Likewise for his wife, and their children, who have lost their great grandmother. A sad day and I, as I am sure millions of people around the world, offer his family sincere condolences.

And God bless and keep this woman who did such a fine job with a difficult challengem raising a black child in a world that still has a long, long way to go toward racial harmony.

How crushingly sad for Obama and his family.

How utterly sickening of the RNC.

Beautifully written Joe. My condolences and sympathies to the Obama family.
I have been watching this election for the last year or so from my small town here in Australia. I think the whole world is awaiting to hear the results of tomorrows election. As most of us, even on the other side of the world, are effected by how the results pan out. Hopefully the winds of change will be blowing strongly in the USA tomorrow!

Joe, in a word, exceptional. You are a class act unlike some on the other side of the aisle. I am struck by the tinge of sadness within my heart. I feel like I have lost my very own grandmother...it is amazing the connection that one can make in such a short time. RIP Madelyn and God bless Obama and his family in their moment of loss.

Yesterday was the NYC Marathon. 39,000 runners. It's one of the best things about living in this city, because the residents are so good about lining all 26 miles through 5 boroughs, braving the cold like we did yesterday, to cheer on the fastest, the slowest and everyone in between. I've volunteered or cheered this race for almost 20 years.
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Yesterday, I stood, with some friends, with a big Obama sign on a stick in one hand and a cow bell in the other. We stood at mile 7, in the stretch up 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, when the runners are still happy and fresh, then we jump on the subway to get to mile 22, up in Harlem, when the runners are hitting the wall, cramping, bleeding and hobbled with pain.
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Though every year I usually have a big sign, my Obama sign got the biggest reaction I've ever received. Runners threw up their fists or their arms yelling "Obama" or "Yes We Can". Many pointed to their Obama shirts or the bumper sticker on their bodies. Some stopped to take photos. People of all colors and stripes. So many from other countries with their shirts labeled 'France' or 'Italy' or 'Australia'. The joyfulness was tremendous. And it wasn't just at mile 7 when the race was still a party. At mile 22, as many were shuffling towards the finish, grimaces pulling at their faces, they still managed to raise a fist and call out an "Obama". There's just something about this election that is really special, and it's amazing to me how engaged everyone is. And we are shouting it with signs and wearing it on our shirts and finding solidarity with others who are looking for change, and we're hopeful again.
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I've already got my alarm clock set for early tomorrow morning.

Obama's grandmother has finished her work on earth...and with such great results. Rest in Peace, Mrs Dunham "Toots"

Thanks Joe

She only left him at a point when he is about to become the most powerful person on earth...

Dee,
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I am truly sorry but I did want there to be a shock factor, not for you but for Joe Klein should he happen to read this blog. I want him to see what false equivalencies really look like. I want him to know what kind of filth resides in the republican party and in the conservative brand. I want him to see why people bring up race and how it is affecting this election and how its NOT just playing some mythical race card. I wanted him to know for himself just how much worse the whackjobs on the right are than those on the left that he won't possibly ever let that kind of false equivalency happen again.
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I apologize again Dee but I hope you understand my intent

SOME OF THE BEST MEN IN THE WORLD COME FROM THE STRONGEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD.

SHE MAINTIANED LIKE MICHELLE DOES, THAT A GREAT MAN MUST LEARN HIS WAY BY UNDERSTANDING LIFES LESSON WHICH INCLUDE >>TRUTH>>INTEGRITY>>FORTITUDE>>>POWER>>POISE>>>HUMBLENESS>>> AND GRACE.

SOME OF THESE MAN LEARNS ON HIS OWN BUT MOST COME FROM A STRONG WOMAN

MAY SHE REST IN PEACE AND PRIDE

[...] Klein has a very well-written post on the death of Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn [...]

Very well put, Joe. Condolences to Barack Obama's family. I hope he finds some peace of mind in all the tumult of the next few days...

This breaks my heart for Barack and his sister. His grandmother did not have very much time left and they all knew that but how very sad that she will not see tomorrow and the goal. I pray for this family because it is so hard to lose anyone who means so much.
I know this is a political forum but I am truly glad that the people who write these editorials maintain their humanity. I am glad that someone finally brought out the unspoken achievement. People don't like to remember how much of a social stigma it would have been for Mrs. Dunham and for the young boy. I remember; my high school friend was the only black girl in my high school. I am glad my children live in a better society and my grandchildren are going to have even better than this.
I pray her family finds peace and comfort in the future knowing that she has contributed to it even though she is not here to see.

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?emb=0&aq=-1&v=I1av5qZ0kbg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.fr%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dgrandmother+obama&oq=

This is especially ironic now, let's hope that Obama wins and my condolences.

Condolences to the Obama family. She did her job very, very well and we should all thank her for her magnificent skills in raising a grandson that will change America. .

I've got to think there's some way that Salter and Schmidt can turn this into an attack on Obama.

I hope I'm wrong.

My condolences to the Obama family. The impact she has on his life will be greater after death than when she was alive. Speaking from personal experience, the things long forgotten will become more pronounced memories, and I pray that tomorrow, he can smile and say Toot, yes we did!

[...] election. Madelyn Lee Payne "Toot" Dunham, 86, died of cancer, Obama and his sister say. The timing is ridiculous. He saw her last last week, knowing she was failing. The Free Republicans are already calling for [...]