Thanksgiving for the Obama Family

This is a very interesting story, from today's Daily Kos.

Obama family visits food bank, school on Thanksgiving Eve
by SusanG
Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 02:45:04 PM PST

The Obama family made a surprise visit to a Chicago church food bank earlier today to help distribute meals, according to a pool report filed today by Tom DeFrank of the New York Daily News. After 40 minutes or so, the soon-to-be first family visited with students at the parochial school attached to the church, where they answered questions and got in a little teasing at the expense of the Secret Service.

One of the most powerful simple statements from the pool report came from Obama: Asked why he'd brought his daughters along, he replied: "I want them to learn the importance of how fortunate they are and to make sure they're giving back."

DeFrank's pool report is so full of life and color on this Thanksgiving Eve, I'm going to reproduce it in full. It begins after Obama's press conference this morning when he announced his Economic Recovery Advisory Board:

Exiting the podium after meeting the press, Obama was asked his plans for tomorrow and replied that he and Michelle are hosting "a whole bunch of people" at their home.
Five minutes after the press conference concluded, the President-elect left the Hilton at 10:08 a.m. and arrived at his home 11 minutes later. The motorcade departed again at 10:55 with Michelle and the girls in tow and arrived at 11:03 at Saint Columbanus Catholic Church, a South South parish that operates a food bank every Wednesday.

The Obamas were at the church and adjoining school for about an hour. They emerged into a small parking lot between the church and school where the food distribution operation had been set up in a U-shape.

They were all bundled up against the brisk, sunny weather; Michelle and her daughters were wearing toboggan caps; the President-elect had on a brown leather car coat, muffler, chinos and was bareheaded.

The First Family-to-be were positioned at the start of the food line; their job was to hand out white plastic bags filled with fresh chicken. Recipients then moved down the line to receive bags of potatoes, apples, loaves of bread and large boxes of staples including macaroni and cheese, tomato sauce, peanut butter, canned corn, oatmeal, Miracle Whip, mixed fruit and other items.
Obama called out: "We're ready, let's go, bring 'em on in," and the distribution began.
Clearly, those lining up for food hadn't been told they had an important guest helping out. this day. Many of them lit up; some shrieked with delight and hugged one or more of the Obamas. One elderly woman bowed; all seemed very appreciative. One and all were greeted with handshakes, hugs, and hearty "Happy Thanksgivings."

The daughters behaved like troopers for a half hour or so before the cold caught up with them, and they retired for a few minutes to warm up.

One sixty-something neighborhood resident named Daryel Namdan was asked how it felt to have Obama there. "It makes me feel very special," he said, before choking up.

Father Matt Eyerman of Saint Columbanus said the church feeds 450 to 500 every week. They start lining up at 5 a.m. to make sure they get a ticket to assure them food.

An Obama aide said the family has been to this particular food bank before and has pitched in here or elsewhere at least two other years.

After about 40 minutes on the line, Obama decided to go say hello to about 200 students.
After shaking hands with the food bank volunteers, he came over to the pool and had this to say:
"The number of people who are getting food this year is up 33%. It gives a sense times are tough - and I think that on Thanksgiving it's important for us to remember there's a need for support.

"These folks were already oftentimes having a tough time, and it gets tougher now." He encouraged all Americans of means to help out however they could. "This is part of what Thanksgiving should be all about," he said.

Asked why he'd brought his daughters along, he replied: "I want them to learn the importance of how fortunate they are and to make sure they're giving back."

Then the family walked into the basement auditorium of the school, where about 200 kids from several grades were seated on the floor. When the Obamas walked onto the stage just before noon, the kids went nuts, leaping to their feet and cheering. "How's everybody doing?" he asked, coming down off the stage to mingle and inquire about their Thanksgiving plans.

He inquired about their collective menus, starting with turkey. "How about macaroni and cheese? How about green beans? How about sweet potato pie? How about cranberry sauce?" With each question, his audience erupted in more cheers.

He warmed the hearts of the teachers by delivering an earnest little homily/pep talk about working hard and paying attention. If they diligently pursued their reading and math et al, "There's nothing you can't do. You guys might end being the President some day." Still more cheers.

He took two questions from his entranced charges. A sixth-grader asked what it was like to be POTUS.

"I'm not the President yet. ..Once I'm sworn in I'll let you know."

The second question had to do with his new life. He began by talking about his Secret Service detail. Michelle interjected: "Secret Service, raise your hand." None did. The kids loved the moment more than the squirming, ever-anonymous agents.

In his new life "you don't have a lot of privacy," he told them, mentioning that going to Walgreen's and riding a bicycle are now far more involved than before.

He wished them all a Happy Thanksgiving, shook more hands, and was rolling north at 12:07 p.m. The family arrived home at 12:17 p.m.

Happily, a lid for the day has been declared. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Tom DeFrank
New York Daily News

I wish Obama could see this.

Most candidates have a pathological need to become president, driving them onward to acheive the goal. But Barack Obama did not have that pathological need. The only thing that kept him going onward was the thought of what he could achieve if he were elected.

I heard that last night on "60 Minutes" in a fascinating interview with Barack Obama's campaign staff.

From the first time I really listened to what Obama was saying, I supported him, I think because I could see aspects of myself in him. I believe that he sees the world the way I do, which may sound strange, since by all appearances I am very different from him. I feel kind of silly saying this, because he is obviously such a great man.. and I don't have that kind of greatness. But the way he looks at things from every point of view, his faith in the ability of people to rise above their circumstances, his understanding that everyone must give and sacrifice for the greater good, and that you can't have everything you want, and that's okay. Sharing the gifts are what we need to do; there is enough to go around! His faith in the people to make the right decision, and his refusal to pit one group against another.. And of course his world-vision, his way of looking at the big picture, and of valuing every individual in it, and his approach to conflict through true communication. I am very big on that.

Anyway, I believe that most Americans can see something of themselves in Barack Obama, and that's why we elected him. Whether we are black or white, young or old, or in the middle.. the pundits are very mistaken in narrowing the issues. We are deeper than that. We are intelligent and passionate and reflective. And we are grateful to have such a man lead and represent us. Now I can hold my head up with pride, because the rest of the world can see that my president represents me -- who I truly am, and what I think.

Barack Obama's background is not dissimilar from many of my students. They come from single-parent homes, they live with their grandparents, they come from very diverse backgrounds. I love working there, I thrive on the diversity and I have always held high hopes for these students, that education will change their lives.

On November 5th there was a glow that surrounded the entire school. My administrator greeted me with a hug. And I wish Barack Obama could have seen our students! They were skipping down the hallway chanting "O-bama! O-bama!" like in the Obama song. They wrote OBAMA in big letters on their papers. They were focused and working and learning. Honestly, it felt to me that they felt hope alive inside them. I had a sense that it kindled the fire of possibility for them in their own lives.

I wish Barack Obama could be there to see it.

This is what I felt last week. And it cheers me and gives me hope. It renews my faith in our system, in America.

As we face the exceedingly tough times ahead, we have the right leader, and the role model we need to shape the attitudes and direction of this country. Someone on the radio said, "He will cure the cancer."

As for me, I feel the nightmare of the last eight years has ended. It was hard to believe that nightmare. Now I must pinch myself to be sure I am not dreaming.