Presidential nominee Sen Obama ties to Illinos and what it means... (Chicago: gated, employment)

[chet everett]

I think his wife is a very solid product of Whitney Young Magnet HS. I think she has some unique insights about what it must have been like growing up in Chicago and then going onto to Princeton.

The Sen himself does have a very different background. He is NOT our first non-white Senator, but he is certainly the first whose father was from African, and certainly the only Senator who serves Illinois after having gone to HS in Hawaii.

The world has changed a lot. How will things in the CHICAGO REGION and even downstate Illinois (that is more segragated by far) change becuase of this achievement?

[JerichoHW]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I think his wife is a very solid product of Whitney Young Magnet HS. I think she has some unique insights about what it must have been like growing up in Chicago and then going onto to Princeton.

The Sen himself does have a very different background. He is NOT our first non-white Senator, but he is certainly the first whose father was from African, and certainly the only Senator who serves Illinois after having gone to HS in Hawaii.

The world has changed a lot. How will things in the CHICAGO REGION and even downstate Illinois (that is more segragated by far) change becuase of this achievement?

It's amazing that almost every rurual county in Illinois voted for him, while at the same time the ones that didin't were in far Southern Illinois.

[ndfmnlf]

I'm usually a Republican (voted for Bush twice), but I'm all for Obama this year. Partly out of disappointment with Bush, and partly out of state pride. Chances are good that the next president will be from Illinois, and that makes me damn proud.

[allydriver]

His ties to Illinois include Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright and as an Illinois senator the most liberal senate voting record of 2007

[Manigault]

His ties to IL are something not often mentioned: He really is a creation of Hyde Park. He got his start there in political office and worked there. The community supported him in each of his runs for office, including the losing one against Bobby Rush. His wife also found employment in the area. Obama has had a diverse constituency from the start of his career in office.

Since Hyde Park has been a haven for inter-racial marriages and enlightened politicians since at least WWII, really it was inevitable that he would gravitate to the area. Consequently, Obama has a lot for which he should thank his neighborhood. It produced Paul Douglas, Abner Mikva, Patsy Mink, Carol Mosely-Braun and a presidential nominee!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by allydriver

"the most liberal senate voting record of 2007 "

That's a B.S. right-wing invention. Obama's voting record has always been completely centrist. He's certainly to the left of center, but comfortably in the center nonetheless. In fact, his health-care plan is a clear attempt to "split the difference" with Republicans instead of the socialized healthcare being proposed on the left.

[chet everett]

Yeah, I get I kick out of those kinds of statements. If you read the spam that the Clinton team sprayed upon Ohio and other gullible states you'd think Obama was a sleeper agent of Chairmen Mao, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, and Louis Farrakhan all rolled into the slickest talker EVER.
In reality he is for just about EXACTLY what Hillary was for, which just about EXACTLY what Dick Durbin is for, which, all things considered in the wide world of global politicians is awfully close to what John McCain wants...

I'd be happy with either one right now. We need somebody to shake some stuff up, and somehow I think it might be interesting to see how McCain would spar with a Congress that is surely going to be majority Dem in both House & Senate.

OTOH Obama would be a lot like Bill Clinton, and that was good for the economy and made the Euro crowd seem to at least pretend to like us, which is not a bad thing. As now that they hate us and use our money to wrap their stinkin' cave rippend cheeses in, we are not having an easy time on the ol' World Economic frontlines...

[Avengerfire]

This thread is not a political thread is it? Please move the conversation to the politics threads before it gets out of hand.

[allydriver]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

This thread is not a political thread is it? Please move the conversation to the politics threads before it gets out of hand.

Good idea, looks like the thread has been turned into a campaign speech.

[chet everett]

KI started the thread hoping others would join in. I do think that if O beats McCain it could boost the odds of the IOC giving the 2016 Games to Chicago, more due to the postive world wide exposure that the South Side will get becuase of the Obama's family home.

I wonder if they'd keep the place in Kenwood/ Hyde Park -- seems like most presidents have "retreat homes" in more resort/rural areas. Anybody know if Obama has a place like that nearby? Maybe in Hawaii?