Rep. Abercrombie (D-HI): Obama will break through gridlock

[ellisonz]

Posted on: Friday, February 15, 2008
COMMENTARY
Obama will break through gridlock
By U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie

I first met Sen. Barack Obama's father at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus soon after my arrival there following statehood in 1959. Barack Sr. had just arrived from a newly independent nation — Kenya. Everyone was drawn to his dynamic, energetic manner. His intellect was as brilliant as his smile; his personality was every bit as magnetic and charismatic as is his son's.

Shortly thereafter, Sen. Obama's mother appeared, scarcely 18, quiet yet intense in her demeanor, outwardly calm but possessed of an adventurous spirit and openness of heart toward everyone. They met and married, and in time, little Barry, as we knew him then, was born, perhaps destined to become president of the United States.

Barack Obama's story could not have started anywhere else in the world but Hawai'i. The values of the Sen. Obama we consider for the presidency this coming Tuesday are grounded in the aloha spirit. The foundation of his character was shaped by Hawai'i's multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society informed by the meaning of aloha. Above all, Sen. Obama embodies the message of Hawai'i to the world: Our diversity defines us rather than divides us.

That message is electrifying voters all across the nation. It is a message of unity, hope, optimism and promise. It accounts for the tidal wave of support Sen. Obama is building, which I trust will crest in Hawai'i.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/OPINION03/802150317/1110/OPINION03

:bounce:

[liberalnurse]

1. Sure, and next you'll tell me he is

faster than a speeding bullet.:eyes:

[NYCGirl]

3. Awww.

[ellisonz]

4. That's a little steep.

For all you Clintonites, here's the pro-Hillary one:

State Sen. President Colleen Hanabusa: Clinton is ready to serve Isles' needs
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/OPINION03/802150318/1110/OPINION03

Lots of promises, no explanation for how any of it will actually be achieved.

[thevoiceofreason]

2. Great story

Love hearing more background.

[panader0]

5. Barack Obama, Punahou School, class of '79

Yours truly, Punahou School, class of '68. It was a great high school, although as a private school, it was expensive. I got to go for free, because my mom taught there. Punahou was established in 1841 and has a rich history. Even though I was kind of an outcast there (surfer/stoner) I still remember it fondly. At graduation, at the Honolulu International Center Arena, we all wore matching suits and sang a dozen Hawaiian songs. I still have the album. But I was an Obama supporter before I knew he was an alumnus.

[musicblind]

6. What did Rep. Hollister have to say?

(D So-Cal)

Just kiddin'!

Interesting article, thanks.

I have always wanted to visit Hawaii

[Bicoastal]

7. Something tells me Obama is a little more Hawaii than Hillary Clinton.

Do you realize what it would mean for that state, electing their first President to be born and raised in Hawaii? It'd beat out my home state of California, which for all its population and economy really only has two presidents to its name.

Nixon and Reagan. (sigh) Some states get all the luck.

[Cha]

10. It would be Monster!

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors wanted to win the Sugar Bowl, badly, for their State!

[ellisonz]

12. Barack Obama is for the keiki.

;-)

[Cha]

13. Love the Keikis!

That's what Obama is all about and that's where it starts!

[zonkers]

18. Obama is a surfer. He has that cool surfer head. You are from Cali, you know what I mean.

[Cha]

8. Thank you, Congressman Neil Abercrombie

for that background on my candidate's history in Hawai'i. I'm so happy Hawai'i gets to vote on their favorite son on Feb 19th..I know my favorite son(only) is anticipating the honor to vote for Obama on Kauai. B-)

[Nedsdag]

9. Self delete.

[Cha]

11. That desk doesn't look

so messy..it was reported that Obama has a "messy desk". Or maybe my idea of messy is different than his? :)

[sampsonblk]

14. Bull. Obama is still a man. And Republicans are still Republicans.

This is fantasy-mongering at its worst.

[ellisonz]

16. Because cynicism has gotten us so far?

I don't think anyone is saying Obama is more than one man, but I'm not willing to say that Republicans are more than mere men and women.

This is 2008, not 2003.

What are you gonna do, vote Hillary? Write in John Edwards or Kucinich? Vote McCain? :spank:

[sampsonblk]

25. No, I will still vote for Obama

But I am not going to fool myself. Reality is reality.

[NashVegas]

15. That's a Lot of Phone Calls Jesse Jackson Jr Is Gonna Be Making

What's he going to hold over Republican's heads?

[caligirl]

17. Abercrombie and his checkered cab are one of Hawaii's cooler points.

[ellisonz]

19. Unfortunately, the cab is no more.

But we still have Neil:



Couldn't find a picture of it.

Mr. Abercrombie is an avid weight-lifter and has a stated goal of lifting 200 lbs more than his age on each birthday. It has been reported and witnessed by other members of Congress that Mr. Abercrombie can indeed do this. On his 67th birthday, he bench pressed 268 lbs.<2>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Abercrombie

[oasis]

20. The 'Cromb was one of the first elected representatives to endorse Howard Dean

early in the 2004 Democratic primary race. Years later, Dean was the honored guest at a Hawaii State Democratic Dinner.It was then that Abercrombie revealed that his wife got him to back Dean, based on Howard's magnificent internet campaign.

Neil's a great guy, but when making decisions, he sometimes gives way to impulse.

[ellisonz]

21. The same could be said about the Big Dog...

The media tore Dean down and they don't appear to be doing that to Barack. I'm optimistic.

[oasis]

22. Just wait until Obama is nominated and makes a slip of any kind. You'll see.nt

[ellisonz]

23. Must be the Hope flavored kool-aid I drank.

It's obstructing my vision! Purple blots, media whores, the Death of Amerika...

:silly:

[oasis]

24. Gotta be.

;-)