Obama's Other Life (Re: Kenyan violence)

[Connie_Corleone]

One of the more extraordinary stories of the Obama campaign has been playing out behind the scenes over the past week as the candidate has been working on a daily basis to try to calm things down in his father's homeland and his grandmother's home, Kenya, where a contested election has led to riots.

On January 1, two days before the Iowa caucuses, Obama left a message for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. According to Robert Gibbs, Obama's Communications Director, Rice called back "as we were driving from Sioux City to Council Bluffs on January 1. They talked about the situation and Rice asked Obama to tape a Voice of America message calling for calm." Obama taped the message on January 2, after a rally in Davenport, Iowa.

(snip)

On January 3, the day of the caucuses, he had a conversation with Bishop Desmond Tutu, who had flown to Nairobi to see if he could begin negotiations with the factions. In the days since his Iowa victory, Obama has had near-daily conversations with the U.S. Ambassador in Kenya or with opposition leader Raula Odinga. As of late this afternoon, before his rally in Rochester, N.H., Obama was trying to reach Kenyan President Kibachi.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/01/obamas_other_life.html

[ObamaAmerican]

1. Obama is the best hope for the world, not just America .eom

[Connie_Corleone]

2. Kick. nt

[Windy]

3. and notice that is all pretty hush hush...he could be making this very public to his benefit

He's not doing that which shows you where his heart is.

That is the mark of a leader. I'm impressed.

[babylonsister]

5. Exactly!

:thumbsup:

[K Gardner]

4. Has anyone seen the documentary on HBO about the genocide in Darfur.. I watched it late

last night and was surprised to see the involvement of Obama in the issue and his work on it. I wasn't aware of that either.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Unfortunately, the media focuses too much on the rallies he holds.

IF he wins the nomination, then there will be more focus on what he has done while in the State and U.S. Senate and his specific policy plans.

I wish C-Span would show Obama's Meet the Candidate events instead of the rallies all the time. These are the events where potential voters ask questions.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

7. unless i'm wrong there is a lot people don't really know about him

To me he seems more focused on getting things done then reap glory/fame, which incidentally also mean people seldom learn of work he has actually done

[babylonsister]

8. News to me; I'll have to look for that documentary. Can you remember

the name? Or, I can look it up. Thanks.

[Connie_Corleone]

9. Sand and Sorrow.

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks! nt

[Cha]

10. Thanks for this Connie!~

I'm hoping our country gets a chance to have him working for all of us as a Nation.

[Hekate]

12. Good man. I had no idea.

Thanks for letting us know.

Hekate

edited to add: 6th Rec. Let's get this seen here.

[Occam Bandage]

13. Wow. That is a dedicated man. And he's not milking it at all.

[ShadowLiberal]

14. Good to hear of some of Obama's foreign policy experience

I heard a bit about this on NBC earlier today when a reporter was following him throughout the day.

It's good to hear from this thread about some of Obama's foreign policy experience, both where the article mentioned, and Darfur like other posters mentioned. I'm sure if/when Obama gets the democratic nomination that we'll be hearing some more about this and other foreign policy experience Obama has behind the scenes. Unfortunately as just a senator for the moment Obama probably really can't make much of a difference in places like Kenya, but at least he's trying to help calm down some chaotic places.

[Connie_Corleone]

15. Kick for the day time.

[AtomicKitten]

16. Impressive.

I only wish Obama had been in office during the Rwanda genocide. He will add a new focus to US foreign policy that has been lacking in the past.

[babylonsister]

17. Kick - he's still trying to negotiate peace this a.m., per m$m. Nice! nt