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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDaily Kos, Amazing: Obama Helped Stranded Stranger 20 Years Ago
It was 1988, and Mary Andersen was at the Miami airport checking in for a long flight to Norway to be with her husband when the airline representative informed her that she wouldn't be able to check her luggage without paying a 100 surcharge:
When it was finally Marys turn, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-Youll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.
As tears streamed down her face, she heard a "gentle and friendly voice" behind her saying, "That's okay, I'll pay for her."
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.
Who was the man?
Barack Obama.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/05/621029/-Amazing-Obama-Helped-Stranded-Stranger-20-Years-Ago?detail=emailclassic&link_id=6&can_id=9d9ab9550f6f19d630ddc2d594a7bd47&source=email-the-dark-truth-of-john-boehners-resignation&email_referrer=the-dark-truth-of-john-boehners-resignation&email_subject=the-dark-truth-of-john-boehners-resignation
Meanwhile Donald Trump was not paying his contractors, running a scam university, running the "Trump Network,"
and cheating vets out of $$ he had raised for them
mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)Obama is a real person,not a political phoney.
Botany
(70,504 posts)Last edited Sat Jun 11, 2016, 06:48 PM - Edit history (1)
In a letter to Marys parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped United States Senate, Washington DC, Barack Obama writes**:
I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. Im happy I could help back then, and Im delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator.
*******
I am going to miss that man more then I can ever say.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Opihimoimoi told me about Obama. Everyone who knew him loved him in Hawaii.
.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)❤️
funny, I was thinking about opi recently. Haven't seen him in so long. I miss his posts.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I had no idea.
Thanks for the info,
3catwoman3
(23,980 posts)...this wonderful story before?
glowing
(12,233 posts)3catwoman3
(23,980 posts)I am happy to learn of it late.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)but then I was a moderator, and 2008 was a busy time for us.
blm
(113,059 posts).
ailsagirl
(22,896 posts)Just read it and it brought tears to my eyes.
I'm so bummed he'll be leaving office in such a short time.
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)Botany
(70,504 posts)And President Obama is more concerned about getting more things done then
taking credit for things in the past that he has done.
When you have a chance:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/obama-biggest-achievements-213487
BTW I have done election protection work in OH and the Obama people were wonderful
and they were upfront about never making things about yourself, making problems, and or
talking to the press (we were told not to).
mountain grammy
(26,620 posts)Gothmog
(145,225 posts)mcar
(42,329 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Love PBO. Love love love him.
red dog 1
(27,799 posts)Thanks, Botany for posting this; and thanks Daily Kos for reporting it.
ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)They must have been Muslims, or Kenyans or were smuggling drugs or were Muslim, Kenyan drug smugglers!
It proves he was planning to run for president twenty years ago! He is the Anti-Christ for sure now.
Do I need to say it?
roamer65
(36,745 posts)I think the 22nd Amendment rivals the Prohibition amendment in its stupidity.
tallahasseedem
(6,716 posts)Actually, I kind of wish we could just write him and and let it be done already.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)herding cats
(19,564 posts)It's more than a judge of a persons character.
Not a new story to me, but still beautiful.
tallahasseedem
(6,716 posts)It doesn't surprise me at all that he did this...he is the real deal and I will miss him and the amazing First Family terribly.
Matt_R
(456 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)pansypoo53219
(20,976 posts)that show just how money grubbing don the con is. short fingered vulgarian needs to be stopped everywhere.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)But that's the sort of thing a decent person does: helps out another in a time of need.
Imagine the scene if Donald Trump had been behind her in line. He'd have started calling her names, complaining she was holding things up, didn't know what it took to travel overseas, and so on. On the up side, I doubt Trump has ever flown commercially in his life, so none of us will ever be subject to his abuse while at an airport.
Botany
(70,504 posts)... and guess what? He was an asshole.
With today's awful news reading some good news about the President helps
a little bit.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)yardwork
(61,608 posts)Kentonio
(4,377 posts)Sometimes I get disappointed by some of his choices in office, but I've never doubted that he's a decent man above everything else.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)Just saying.....