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The Afro-American, November 10, 2012 - November 16, 2012
The Nation Reaffirms President Obama Continued from A1
Center, Obama spoke confidently and proudly about the nation can,’…and we did. Against all odds, we did.” and its people. Tears filled his eyes. Some he wiped away, a few rolled “Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won down his cheeks. the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our He told a story about Edith Childs, the South Carolina union moves forward,” the president said,. “It moves forward volunteer whose words inspired the phrase that became the because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the 2008 campaign rallying cry, “Fired Up! Ready to Go!” Childs spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that couldn’t be with him in Iowa, he told the Des Moines crowd. has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great She was pretty sure he had won there. She was busy working heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our where voters still needed to be convinced. own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise As he spoke, the Obama campaign seemed stripped or fall together as one nation and as one people.” bare of the glamour, the hype, the imminent success of the The Obama who thanked the nation for giving him a 2008 effort. There was a feeling of uncertainty. There had second term contrasted starkly with the man who stood been setbacks, even in Iowa, like the Des Moines Register before a microphone 48 hours earlier in Iowa and delivered endorsing Republican contender, Mitt Romney, the first time an emotional thank you for the part the state played in his the newspaper had backed a Republican since Richard Nixon in ascendance to the presidency four years ago. The Nov. 6 speech 1972. was more reminiscent of his appearance at the Democratic “I’ve come back to Iowa one more time to ask for your National Convention in 2004, when many first became aware vote,” Obama asked. “Help us finish what we started because of the junior senator from Illinois who was expected to do great this is where our movement of change began.” things. On Nov. 4, the rock star in him was more difficult to The next day, Nov. 5, the day before the election, Obama see. took his request for Four years into a help to the airwaves, presidency that was conducting interviews marked by successes— with air personalities passing health care from urban radio reform, revitalizing the sensation Steve Harvey auto industry, reforming to sportscaster Chris Wall Street, spurring Berman. Polls showed an economic recovery, the race was in a dead withdrawing the troops heat. Romney, once from Iraq, beginning unpopular among many a drawdown of troops Republicans because from Afghanistan and of his moderate stand eliminating the threat on many issues, was of Osama Bin Laden, drawing crowds as large he still faced constant as 30,000 people. criticism, much of it from In an interview with Republicans who had deejay Ryan Seacrest, pledged to prevent him Obama said he was from being re-elected. Once anxious about the race. a media darling, many But there comes a reporters seemed focused time when a candidate on what he had not been just has to let go, able to accomplish, instead knowing they had done of his victories. everything they could, As Obama appeared he said. It was unclear at what is likely to be the if he was discussing last campaign event of his his presidency or the career, he seemed resolute, campaign for a second. near the point of exhaustion Then the people AP Photo spoke and the nation’s with the process of trying President Obama and singer Bruce Springsteen stand together to convince the nation to 44th president seemed on stage during a campaign event Nov. 5, 2012, in downtown give him another chance to regain the magic that Madison, Wis. to complete the work he got him elected the first pledged to do when he time. In an eloquent appeared before a Des and elegant speech, he Moines audience as a presidential candidate in 2008. worked to salve the wounds that the tough election had wrought “I came back to ask you to help us finish what we started and directed the nation forward. because this is where our movement for change began,” Obama “Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, said. “To all of you who’ve lived and breathed the hard work reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our of change, I want to thank you. You took this campaign and journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have made it your own ... starting a movement that spread across the fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the country. When the cynics said we couldn’t, you said ‘Yes, we United States of America, the best is yet to come,” Obama said.
87-Year-Old Washington Resident Votes for Her 12th President By Chloe Edmonds Howard University News Service Flossie Young has been voting for a long, long time, as far back as 1944 when she cast her ballot for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And she has been voting religiously ever since. Still, Tuesday was a special day for the Washington native. She couldn’t wait to cast her ballot for President Barack Obama. She was so excited that the 87-year-old forgot to put on her socks. But she was determined to vote. She got up early and rolled her motorized wheelchair across the street from her home at Madison Saints Paradise, an assisted-living apartment building for seniors, to the Watha T. Daniel-Shaw Neighborhood Public Library. For the voters at the library, Precinct 21, it Flossie Young with her granddaughter was a long wait, more than two hours for most. However, disabled people and seniors received V.I.P treatment. People with disabilities bypassed the long line of patient voters stretched along the sidewalk. Once inside they were escorted by security personnel to a special waiting area. This area was nothing fancy, just tables and chairs, but the seniors and disabled voters could be more comfortable. Young was relocated to the bottom-most level. “I might as well be a volunteer today,” she joked. “I have this table set up all to myself, and everyone keeps asking me questions.” Young was very impressed by how polite the volunteers were and how they made sure she was constantly updated on everything that was going on. granddaughter, Rochelle Johns, 27, met Young at the library to take her to a scheduled doctor’s appointment at 10:30 a.m. at George Washington University Hospital. Johns had voted earlier in Maryland. Johns tried to hurry her grandmother along so she wouldn’t be late for her appointment. “It’s almost 9:30,” Johns said. “Okay, it’s after 9:30 now.” But Young would not be rushed. “I called and told them that I would be late,” she said. “I have to vote!” She especially wanted to vote for Obama. “Every time I see his face, I get so proud my chest just swells,” she said.
The AFRO Salutes its Veterans
Mrs. Santa Campaign 2012 An AFRO Angel wants to help make your Christmas merry by providing food, toys, and clothes for your family. If you would like Mrs. Santa to help, please send a request and provide us with specific information on your family and the help you need.
No telephone calls, no faxes and no email will be accepted. Mail all letters to: Mrs. Santa Campaign c/o Afro-American Newspapers 2519 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21218 Include your contact information.
Requests must be postmarked by
November 10th, 2012
In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 12, the AFRO salutes its staffers who are proud veterans. (L-R) Clarence Massey, William Hargrave, Sam Graham. Not pictured are veterans Cheryl Cooper and Edgar Brookins.