Michelle Robinson was born in Chicago, Illinois to Frasier Robinson (who died in 1990), a city water plant employee and Democratic precinct captain, and Marian Robinson, a secretary at Spiegel's catalog store. She grew up in the South Shore community area of Chicago, and was raised in a conventional two-parent home where the family convened around the dinner table nightly. She and her brother, Craig (who is 16 months older), skipped the second grade. Michelle mostly traces her roots to pre-revolutionary African Americans in the American South, much of her family still resides in the state of South Carolina. Michelle graduated from Whitney Young High School in 1981 and went on to major in sociology and minor in African American studies at Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with an A.B. in 1985.
At Princeton, she challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt that it should be more conversational. As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a thesis entitled, "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community." Her brother Craig was the fourth leading scorer in Princeton University's men's basketball history, and is both a former Brown University's men's basketball coach and the current Oregon State Beavers men's basketball coach. She obtained her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1988. While at Harvard, she participated in political demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who are minorities.
She met Barack Obama when they were the only two African Americans at their law firm and she was assigned to mentor him while he was a summer associate. Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a community organization meeting where he first impressed her. The couple's first date was to the Spike Lee movie Do the Right Thing. The couple married in October 1992, and they have two daughters, Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha) (born 2001). Throughout the campaign she has made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week — to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two children .
She once requested that Barack, who was then her fiancé, meet her prospective boss when considering her first career move. Now, she is her husband’s closest adviser. Early in the presidential race she did not portray herself as an adviser, however. In fact, she was quoted in interviews saying "My job is not a senior adviser."
She held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the Mayor and Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies. In 1996, Mrs. Obama served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University's Community Service Center. In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May, 2005, as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. She still holds the position, though is working part time in order to devote more time to being a mother.
With the ascent of her husband as a prominent national politician, she has become a part of pop culture. In May 2006, Essence magazine listed her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women." In July 2007, Vanity Fair magazine listed her among " World's Best Dressed People." In September 2007, Harvard University magazine listed her 58th of "The Harvard 100," a list of the prior year's most influential Harvard alumni. Her husband was ranked fourth.
She served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. , a major Wal-Mart supplier with whom she cut ties immediately after her husband made comments critical of Wal-Mart at an AFL-CIO forum in Trenton, New Jersey, on May 14, 2007. She serves on the board of directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
According to the couple’s 2006 income tax return, Michelle's salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while he had a salary of $157,082 from the United States Senate. The total Obama income, however, was $991,296 including $51,200 she earned as a member of the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods, plus investments and royalties from his books.
Meet Michelle Obama!
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Michelle Obama on Countdown
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Michelle Obama - Extended Interview by Soledad O'Brien
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The fact is, we like Barack. Personally I wouldn’t care if he was green, had stripes or that he might be lousy at table tennis. I suppose that last bit is possible! None of this matters. People feel close to Obama. They can see he likes people and genuinely cares for them. He touches us through his natural humanity and in the midst of the political crossfire, we admire his strength, resolve, integrity and even politeness. It’s a rare thing we witness. http://www.tellingthoughts.com/us-politics/the-power-of-one The Power of One!
We need to develop plans to combat Fox News !! This must be a campaign put together by
community minded individuals not the Obama organised supporters. We can have a impact.
As always we start at the money. Who will help to do the research and come together to build a plan of ACTION.
CONTACT ME AT : rgbw46@hotmail.com
Ron
From: Spirit HawkDate: May 2, 2008 5:33 PM"United we stand, devided we fall!" We've all heard that phrase. It is best remembered as being said by Patrick Henry, but it goes back a lot farther than he. It was first coined by Aesop the Greek Phylosopher. Now that goes to show you just how long ago that concept was realised. Yet, it seems that it is still not understood to this very day! It is such a simple, yet powerful concept, so why is this so? Many of our Peoples leaders knew of it. They did their level best to get others to understand. Perhaps the best known for doing so was the Shawana ( Shawnee) leader Techumseh. He spent much of his life attempting to rally disparate Native American tribes in a mutual defense of their lands, which eventually led to his death in the War of 1812. But saddly, few listened. Why??? For the same reasons they still do so till this very day. Because there are those who don't want us united. Devided it is much easier to keep us confused and on their leashes like tame dogs. Much easier to keep us under their control. It's not so hard to see who these people are, though many hide behind lies. Their actions show their true selves. One of the most obvious is the same government that claims us as just so much booty from war and just a thorn in their sides. Some are buisness men getting rich at our exspense. That's nothing new to us, but the others are truly the worse. They are many of our own leaders, our own council members, our own blood! They do so for greed of money and power. They could care less about the welfare of our land, our traditions, or of ourselves. They do their best to silence any voice that speaks against them. They use lies, and if need be force, to get what it is that they wish. They do so without fear simply because they can. They have more power and money than the few who try to exspose and stop them. Many know this and fear them, so they don't even try, and all suffer as the result. Yet we have the most powerful weapon imaginable to defeat them, the most powerful weapon to solve all of our peoples problems of any kind, right here available at our disposal. That weapon is UNITY! The power of our numbers! Imagine if we put that weapon to use. Imagine if we were not just united as a tribe. Not just united as a Nation. Imagine if we were united as THE PEOPLE! A to Z, all of our Nations together! Petty differances tossed aside. Sell outs forced out of power and replaced by those who truly care. Our numbers working towards solutions and better lives for all. In the words of John Lennon, "IMAGINE".I say to you as someone who cares, if you can imagine it, then why not make it so? So says, Spirit Hawk ^i^
Is there anyone out there who is as sick of the negative, unfair, and heinous campaigning tactics that are being exposed through the political maneuverings of the main two political parties. The maliciousness elicited hate baiting among the general populous that has hardly been seen with such vengeance and depth in decades. It is indicative of an inhumane and non-conscience-filled society that is bereft of true Christian and/or higher level thought processes, and this state of the world is heart-breaking to say the least, non-empowering to say the most, and non-transcending to say the best. It is so disillusioning that the Faithful must needs resort to the Power of Prayer to seek intervention in a world being led astray. I offer the subsequent words and invite others to follow in their own will and way:Great, Creator King, Supreme Being of the Universe and My Heart --Lord, we implore you to infuse us with your vigilance, as well as the resilience needed to withstand the cruelties and evil mongering of the ill-wrought minds within this world. Father, we need you to stand by us and lead us in the Way Everlasting so that we might learn from Thee how to make our impact felt upon the wiles of this world. Master, we look at all the maliciousness that is being spewed about in the current political campaigns, where men and women are basing their opinions on false and twisted words, images, and purposes of one group over another without regard for truth, decency, or righteousness. Their only purpose is self-seeking, purveying with evil intent, greed, and false patriotism. Lord, they call your name and do not even really know you nor your word. They distort the reality of your purpose and call it valid. But You, Lord, know them in their destitute wickedness. Father, I pray that you will teach us how to save ourselves so that Your Blessed Will will truly be done. Show us how to stand up against this impending danger not only to our own country, but to the world, and for the history of the earth as we know it. Forgive us our transgressions whether personal or national, and open our eyes to the Way Everlasting. In the name of the Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Monday, April 21st, 2008
My Vote's for Obama (if I could vote) ...by Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com
Friends,
I don't get to vote for President this primary season. I live in Michigan. The party leaders (both here and in D.C.) couldn't get their act together, and thus our votes will not be counted.
So, if you live in Pennsylvania, can you do me a favor? Will you please cast my vote -- and yours -- on Tuesday for Senator Barack Obama?
I haven't spoken publicly 'til now as to who I would vote for, primarily for two reasons: 1) Who cares?; and 2) I (and most people I know) don't give a rat's ass whose name is on the ballot in November, as long as there's a picture of JFK and FDR riding a donkey at the top of the ballot, and the word "Democratic" next to the candidate's name.
Seriously, I know so many people who don't care if the name under the Big "D" is Dancer, Prancer, Clinton or Blitzen. It can be Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Barry Obama or the Dalai Lama.
Well, that sounded good last year, but over the past two months, the actions and words of Hillary Clinton have gone from being merely disappointing to downright disgusting. I guess the debate last week was the final straw. I've watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name "Farrakhan" out of nowhere, well that's when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the "F" word to scare white people, pure and simple. Of course, Obama has no connection to Farrakhan. But, according to Senator Clinton, Obama's pastor does -- AND the "church bulletin" once included a Los Angeles Times op-ed from some guy with Hamas! No, not the church bulletin!
This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER!
Yes, Senator Clinton, that's how you sounded. Like you were nuts. Like you were a bigot stoking the fires of stupidity. How sad that I would ever have to write those words about you. You have devoted your life to good causes and good deeds. And now to throw it all away for an office you can't win unless you smear the black man so much that the superdelegates cry "Uncle (Tom)" and give it all to you.
But that can't happen. You cast your die when you voted to start this bloody war. When you did that you were like Moses who lost it for a moment and, because of that, was prohibited from entering the Promised Land.
How sad for a country that wanted to see the first woman elected to the White House. That day will come -- but it won't be you. We'll have to wait for the current Democratic governor of Kansas to run in 2016 (you read it here first!).
There are those who say Obama isn't ready, or he's voted wrong on this or that. But that's looking at the trees and not the forest. What we are witnessing is not just a candidate but a profound, massive public movement for change. My endorsement is more for Obama The Movement than it is for Obama the candidate.
That is not to take anything away from this exceptional man. But what's going on is bigger than him at this point, and that's a good thing for the country. Because, when he wins in November, that Obama Movement is going to have to stay alert and active. Corporate America is not going to give up their hold on our government just because we say so. President Obama is going to need a nation of millions to stand behind him.
I know some of you will say, 'Mike, what have the Democrats done to deserve our vote?' That's a damn good question. In November of '06, the country loudly sent a message that we wanted the war to end. Yet the Democrats have done nothing. So why should we be so eager to line up happily behind them?
I'll tell you why. Because I can't stand one more friggin' minute of this administration and the permanent, irreversible damage it has done to our people and to this world. I'm almost at the point where I don't care if the Democrats don't have a backbone or a kneebone or a thought in their dizzy little heads. Just as long as their name ain't "Bush" and the word "Republican" is not beside theirs on the ballot, then that's good enough for me.
I, like the majority of Americans, have been pummeled senseless for 8 long years. That's why I will join millions of citizens and stagger into the voting booth come November, like a boxer in the 12th round, all bloodied and bruised with one eye swollen shut, looking for the only thing that matters -- that big "D" on the ballot.
Don't get me wrong. I lost my rose-colored glasses a long time ago.
It's foolish to see the Democrats as anything but a nicer version of a party that exists to do the bidding of the corporate elite in this country. Any endorsement of a Democrat must be done with this acknowledgement and a hope that one day we will have a party that'll represent the people first, and laws that allow that party an equal voice.
Finally, I want to say a word about the basic decency I have seen in Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton continues to throw the Rev. Wright up in his face as part of her mission to keep stoking the fears of White America. Every time she does this I shout at the TV, "Say it, Obama! Say that when she and her husband were having marital difficulties regarding Monica Lewinsky, who did she and Bill bring to the White House for 'spiritual counseling?' THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT!"
But no, Obama won't throw that at her. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be decent. She's been through enough hurt. And so he remains silent and takes the mud she throws in his face.
That's why the crowds who come to see him are so large. That's why he'll take us down a more decent path. That's why I would vote for him if Michigan were allowed to have an election.
But the question I keep hearing is... 'can he win? Can he win in November?' In the distance we hear the siren of the death train called the Straight Talk Express. We know it's possible to hear the words "President McCain" on January 20th. We know there are still many Americans who will never vote for a black man. Hillary knows it, too. She's counting on it.
Pennsylvania, the state that gave birth to this great country, has a chance to set things right. It has not had a moment to shine like this since 1787 when our Constitution was written there. In that Constitution, they wrote that a black man or woman was only "three fifths" human. On Tuesday, the good people of Pennsylvania have a chance for redemption.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MichaelMoore.com
MMFlint@aol.com
My Friends, if there is anyone in this world at this point in time who needs corporate prayer, it is the candidate running for presidency of the USA, Senator Barak Obama... Although I was previously inclined toward a personal rationale for nonalignment with his aim, the unfairness that he has been subjected to has forced me to support counteractions to help level the "playing field." It seems only right that no man should be convicted of words uttered by someone else -- yet Obama has been so convicted. In the Land of the Free, why should the freedom of association be taken away from someone just because he is aspiring to the highest political office in the land? Yet for Obama, this has happened. The gross unfairness of it all is alarming and cuts deeply. It seems as if detractors could not find enough "dirt" in the candidate's life, so they have to smear him with someone else's. Thus, we as a nation truly need prayer to prevent this evil from pervading our minds and come against what God would have in store for our country so it can be a source of true Goodness and Righteousness of its Creeds: Not as exhibited in the feigned religiosity of the current administration -- if he actually posses the mentality to distinguish the difference -- a pathetic "cross" the country has had to bear for eight years. To relieve us from this bondage, the following petition is raised, while others of like minds are invited to add your own thoughts:
