...at the age of 86.

EDIT: Apparently Obama announced it himself with his sister: 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27522679/

HIs 6 PM EST campaign rally in North Carolina is supposedly still on as well.

So, is he wanting a sympathy vote? 

This isn't news, sorry. People die of cancer everyday. It shouldn't take a public figure's family member dying for a bit of public awareness.

That would be very sad indeed, especially (and obviously) because of the timing, however I cannot find anything solid to substantiate this. Do you have a decent source?

Any more information? I hope this is untrue, but whether she is alive or now passed, I believe tomorrow stands to be the proudest day of her legacy, and she'll be watching.

EDIT:
Ok, she has indeed passed.
It is breaking across the news outlets as I type.
May she rest in peace.

She will be in the thoughts and prayers of many of us.
 

Originally posted by askwhy

That would be very sad indeed, especially (and obviously) because of the timing, however I cannot find anything solid to substantiate this. Do you have a decent source?

A few times before various small media outles have reported her death, and I just located this story which doesn't source it's information.  It also doesn't seem to remember that Obama visited her just days ago out of corcern for this very possibility, so again i have to question it's validity.

Any more information? I hope this is untrue, but whether she is alive or now passed, I believe tomorrow stands to be the proudest day of her legacy, and she'll be watching.

www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/obama.grandma/index.html

While I agree it shouldn't be news.  I don't agree with the sentiment that it is for a sympathy vote.  Private issues like this should remain private.  The media spends way to much time getting into people's business. 

Now that my soapbox is out of the way.

I feel extremely sad for Sen. Obama and know how difficult it must be.  I lost my Uncle (51 Yrs Old) to a combination of Lung Cancer and Sarcoidosis (the Sarcoidosis covered up the Lung Cancer and the Steroids to combat the Sarcoidosis caused the Lung Cancer to grow rapidly causing my Uncle to die about a week after he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer).  I know it can be extremely difficult to lose a loved one.  Especially to cancer. 

Originally posted by Cabe2323

While I agree it shouldn't be news.  I don't agree with the sentiment that it is for a sympathy vote.  Private issues like this should remain private.  The media spends way to much time getting into people's business. 

Now that my soapbox is out of the way.

I feel extremely sad for Sen. Obama and know how difficult it must be.  I lost my Uncle (51 Yrs Old) to a combination of Lung Cancer and Sarcoidosis (the Sarcoidosis covered up the Lung Cancer and the Steroids to combat the Sarcoidosis caused the Lung Cancer to grow rapidly causing my Uncle to die about a week after he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer).  I know it can be extremely difficult to lose a loved one.  Especially to cancer. 

You say that but if it was McCains wife you'd be all heart broken for McCain. Its news because its a public figure which is news. Does it deserve all day mentioning prolly no but is it worth a report yes. No one knows you or me so we wont get a news report if somthing like this happens to us.

Originally posted by Darcknyght

You say that but if it was McCains wife you'd be all heart broken for McCain.

Why do you think that? She is as equally unimportant to this world as Obama's grandmother. News of her dying would not be newsworthy either.

Funerals typically take place 3-5 days after the death. If they did believe it to be newsworthy the Obama camp could have waited until after the elections to release a statement. This is pure and simple a last resort for sympathy votes for Obama.

 No one can say it isn't worth mentioning. We put microscopes under these candidates lives and those around them coincidentially become public figures. 

I don't believe in a sympathy vote anymore than I do a scare vote, but you know, its more newsworthy than Madonna's divorce. 

It is really sad she will not have the opportunity to witness him here, in this life, elected president.

I am sure she will be watching proudly from a better place.

My condolences to him and his family.

Originally posted by Triggger

Originally posted by Dekron

So, is he wanting a sympathy vote? 

This isn't news, sorry. People die of cancer everyday. It shouldn't take a public figure's family member dying for a bit of public awareness.

Did he say he wants a sympathy vote? does he really need one when it`s pretty clear he could pull this off already. I bet you wouldn`t react the same if mcplantation desendant owner announce someone died in his slave owning family.

Poor dekron 

You are the epitome of the type of person Obama wishes to fool into believing he is fit for Presidency. I will leave it at that.

The loss of a granparent is always a hard thing to take, My condolences to him and his family.  Granparents are always missed, they have been threre through your whole life, picking you up when you fall, cheering you on when you succeed.  This is not a "political matter" and should be left out of the debates.

When you are a public figure you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. You have to make a public announcement of everything that happens to you, even the most private things.

I doubt strongly Obama was trying to get a sympathy vote out of this, but rather, share the events in his life with the public he is beholden to. When you choose to live your life out there in public, this is what you do.

My thoughts and prayers are with him in this, even though I would never vote for him.

Originally posted by Fishermage

When you are a public figure you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. You have to make a public announcement of everything that happens to you, even the most private things.

I doubt strongly Obama was trying to get a sympathy vote out of this, but rather, share the events in his life with the public he is beholden to. When you choose to live your life out there in public, this is what you do.

My thoughts and prayers are with him in this, even though I would never vote for him.

Well said Fishermage, I agree 100% (except for the part about never voting for him, of course.)

Originally posted by Slythe

Originally posted by Fishermage

When you are a public figure you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. You have to make a public announcement of everything that happens to you, even the most private things.

I doubt strongly Obama was trying to get a sympathy vote out of this, but rather, share the events in his life with the public he is beholden to. When you choose to live your life out there in public, this is what you do.

My thoughts and prayers are with him in this, even though I would never vote for him.

Well said Fishermage, I agree 100%.

This is one thing I have to disagree with you on Fisher. Your life may be subject to public scrutiny if you are a public figure, but that does not REQUIRE one to make a public announcement regarding personal issues. If approached with questions from the public, then yes, a statement is sufficient.

Originally posted by Dekron

Originally posted by Slythe

Originally posted by Fishermage

When you are a public figure you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. You have to make a public announcement of everything that happens to you, even the most private things.

I doubt strongly Obama was trying to get a sympathy vote out of this, but rather, share the events in his life with the public he is beholden to. When you choose to live your life out there in public, this is what you do.

My thoughts and prayers are with him in this, even though I would never vote for him.

Well said Fishermage, I agree 100%.

 

This is one thing I have to disagree with you on Fisher. Your life may be subject to public scrutiny if you are a public figure, but that does not REQUIRE one to make a public announcement regarding personal issues. If approached with questions from the public, then yes, a statement is sufficient.

dude.. whats wrong with you?  give it a rest.  why does everything have to be a damn conspiracy or biased twist with you?  unless of course the ball is in your court, then its all good and fair.

Originally posted by Dekron

This is one thing I have to disagree with you on Fisher. Your life may be subject to public scrutiny if you are a public figure, but that does not REQUIRE one to make a public announcement regarding personal issues. If approached with questions from the public, then yes, a statement is sufficient.

You are really reaching here bud. The media would get the news one way or another. If he wanted a sympathy vote he'd have leaked photos of him at the hospital a few days back when he went to visit her for the last time.

Originally posted by Darcknyght

Originally posted by Cabe2323

While I agree it shouldn't be news.  I don't agree with the sentiment that it is for a sympathy vote.  Private issues like this should remain private.  The media spends way to much time getting into people's business. 

Now that my soapbox is out of the way.

I feel extremely sad for Sen. Obama and know how difficult it must be.  I lost my Uncle (51 Yrs Old) to a combination of Lung Cancer and Sarcoidosis (the Sarcoidosis covered up the Lung Cancer and the Steroids to combat the Sarcoidosis caused the Lung Cancer to grow rapidly causing my Uncle to die about a week after he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer).  I know it can be extremely difficult to lose a loved one.  Especially to cancer. 

 

You say that but if it was McCains wife you'd be all heart broken for McCain. Its news because its a public figure which is news. Does it deserve all day mentioning prolly no but is it worth a report yes. No one knows you or me so we wont get a news report if somthing like this happens to us.

You are really reaching.  I wouldn't feel anymore upset for McCain then I do Obama because I don't like either one.  I feel sorry for a close family lose. 

The fact remains that it shouldn't be news.  Personal lives that have no bearing on their job as a public official have no business being news.   The Media has no business getting into personal stuff like this. 

Originally posted by Dekron

Originally posted by Slythe

Originally posted by Fishermage

When you are a public figure you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. You have to make a public announcement of everything that happens to you, even the most private things.

I doubt strongly Obama was trying to get a sympathy vote out of this, but rather, share the events in his life with the public he is beholden to. When you choose to live your life out there in public, this is what you do.

My thoughts and prayers are with him in this, even though I would never vote for him.

Well said Fishermage, I agree 100%.

 

This is one thing I have to disagree with you on Fisher. Your life may be subject to public scrutiny if you are a public figure, but that does not REQUIRE one to make a public announcement regarding personal issues. If approached with questions from the public, then yes, a statement is sufficient.

Well, this is one of those things I am happy to agree to disagree with someone I have utmost respect for.

OMG.  I'm sorry but the timing is too perfect for sympathy votes.  Who's going to be sympathetic towards this country when he's finished with it?

When I first heard this break over the news, my thoughts immediately went to the timing involved with the announcement. Something this personal at this stage of the election really doesn't have a place in the news.

I guess I'm one of the few who also see this as a grab for the sympathy vote. Even despite his lead, perfectly good chance capitalize on the situation to make as big of a sweep as possible in this election.