Rochelle Riley, DFP columnist: Detroiter's Obama story could top them all

[Bozita]

Front page, below the fold in today's Detroit Free Press.

Enjoy.


Detroiter's Obama story could top them all
BY ROCHELLE RILEY • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • NOVEMBER 10, 2008

Leola Brock-Reese learned who won the presidential race from the best source in America: President-elect Barack Obama himself.

The 71-year-old Detroit grandmother and her best friend, Freddie Simmons, 77, drove five hours early Tuesday to her hometown. All day, she guided her friend through her Chicago: visiting the grave of her father, a city employee until he died at 87; seeing the remains of the Ida B. Wells housing projects where she grew up, and walking along the Magnificent Mile -- until their bodies reminded them they had been up since dawn.

At dusk, they walked to Grant Park for what they felt would be the 8:30 p.m. victory rally to embrace indescribable emotions. But they couldn't face the throng, and their tired bodies spoke again.

"We found some concrete steps, and we sat on those steps," she said. "But after 15 minutes, we said, 'This is not going to do. Let's go back to the hotel.' "

They entered the Hyatt Regency and rode the elevator to the 28th floor, their comfortable room and CNN. But in the hall, they encountered men in black suits near a room marked "Employees Only."

Suddenly, a group emerged surrounding a single man.

more...

http://www.freep.com/article/20081110/COL10/811100379

[SharonRB]

1. Great story!

I'll have to check it out in the Freep when I get home from work tonight.

[Bicoastal]

2. Obama! Stop being so awesome, dammt!

This is making my head hurt--a President who really IS a man of the people?

:crazy:

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

3. This is a great story, but

it makes me a little nervous that 2 people could go up to Pres. Obama's floor in the hotel and stand in the hallway with him without being stopped by SS. First thing I thought of when I read this.:scared:

[fla nocount]

5. Ahhh, you're ruining the pretty story. n/t

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

7. sorry... n/t

[Maestro]

4. Could you picture Bushler doing this?

No way! Great story for Obama, Leola and Freddie!

[TexasObserver]

6. "My greatest fault? I'm a little too awesome!"

He is too awesome!!

[DireStrike]

8. "'I'VE' won"

Not "I won". Hah. I love this guy!