One of the blurbs I read today and whatever cause I've been on nineteen different computers and don't have the link handy .. anyway, it said that congress would be controlled by moderate democrats which, IN MY OPINION means we might as well not call them democrats.
So, liberal and progressive democrats ... . STAND STRONG. The struggle continues.
And, look, my comment MADE IT.
whooo hoooooo
Congratulations Mr. Hooper and beloved Grandma. You know ... this journey began long before this day. This journey began with FDR ... I can only go back that far personally due to all the newspaper clippings from my family's days trolling the White House. In deference, will we call it the Black House? Just kiddin'.
But, Obama don't freakin enjoy yourself. INSTEAD WORK YOUR ASS OFF to be the best American you can be.
That's all anyone wants from a president of the united states of america.
Love, my family and I.
I'm actually pretty proud. Extremely apprehensive but pretty proud. And, it's proof positive that barriers?? They only EXIST IN YOUR MIND and in the mainstream media.
-->
Rebel flag and Obama sticker: His truck will jar you
Evatone files for bankruptcy reorganization
Why I intend to carry a handgun
Nudists won't get own polling site
Human Interest_News
Election Day whets appetites in Tampa Bay area
Facebook protocol, the Rays' glory, nudist voting
Party is more than a break in the battle
Base your choices on issues, not on fear
Obama brought the world to grandmother's door
By Ernest Hooper, Times Columnist Posted: Nov 05, 2008 02:45 PM
Story Tools
E-mail this story
Contact the editor
Print this story
Comment on this story
Social Bookmarking
Facebook
Stumbleupon
Reddit
Del.icio.us
Newsvine
Related Links
July 29, 2004: "Speakers' words felt by every American," Hooper's first column about Ann Nixon Cooper
Jan. 9, 2007: A super grandma is 105 (Okay, I admit a little bias)
Top Local Video
I made sure to call my grandmother Wednesday before 11 a.m., because she watches The Price Is Right at 11, and no one can interfere with that.
Luckily, I got her on the telephone before the show and before the television crew from India came by her Atlanta home. Crews from Britain, Japan and the NBC Nightly News also planned to pay a visit.
This is what happens when the personal story of a 106-year-old woman becomes interwoven with one of our nation's most historic moments. Yes, Barack Obama chose to include the remarkable story of my grandmother, Ann Nixon Cooper, in his victory speech Tuesday night.
"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations," Obama told the 200,000 supporters at Chicago's Grant Park. "But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing. Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old."
Obama proceeded to build a historic time line around her life. He eloquently captured what I've known for so long but perhaps took for granted: My grandmother has witnessed an incredible transformation. She's seen this country go from a place that denied equality to blacks and women to a nation willing to place its trust in an African-American man by electing him to the highest office in the land.
As she watched the speech, well past her normal bedtime, she sipped wine and nibbled on Pepperidge Farm cookies. She couldn't help but take pride in knowing her vote helped put Obama in the White House.
"I thought it was just great," Grandmama said just before she settled into her chair Wednesday morning to watch Drew Carey greet his contestants.
She sounded bubbly, but I get the impression she's taking this newfound recognition in stride.
The genesis of this story starts with the fact she defied a number of health challenges — including two heart attacks — to make it to the polls. When she voted last month, television crews greeted her. You know, it's a big deal when a 106-year-old socialite arrives to cast her ballot.
Eventually, CNN anchor Don Lemon visited Grandmama at her home and produced a heartwarming profile. He brought her flowers and asked if he could be her date at the inauguration. It's a prophetic request given that campaign officials have spoken to her about being in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009.
About a week after the story aired, she received a telephone call from Obama. Of course, she was out riding with friends and missed the call.
Obama did leave a long message on her answering machine. CNN came out and documented that call. However, it wasn't until Tuesday night that she received a second call from the campaign saying she would be mentioned in the acceptance speech. Word quickly spread among me and her other 14 grandchildren.
I wasn't sure what constitutes a mention, and 14 minutes through the speech, I began to think he had decided to go in another direction. Then came the moment: The world's newest leader was talking about my dearest relative.
"So tonight, let us ask ourselves," Obama said. "If our children should live to see the next century, if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment."
My moment actually came about six hours later. I woke up my three kids and showed them a replay of the speech on the Internet. To see the gleam in their eyes when they heard their great-grandmother's name was like watching them tear open a gift on Christmas. A gift from my grandmother and Barack Obama.
Ann Nixon Cooper's legacy lives in their hearts. She persevered through good times and bad — from hosting the Nat King Cole trio at her home to enduring racial slurs from an Atlanta streetcar driver — so all her offspring could relish a better life.
Thanks Grandmama. And thanks, Mr. President. [Last modified: Nov 05, 2008 04:38 PM]
Share your thoughts on this story
Read our guidelines for comments
First Name (only)Location
Comment (May be published online and/or in print)You have 250 characters left to comment.
Comments on this article
by vox populi
Nov 5, 2008 4:38 PM
that's a wonderful story. My grandfather endured unspeakable torment to equalize the work places for all. He's white. We all have a place in progress.
by Nancy
Nov 5, 2008 4:38 PM
What a lovely story. Congratulations to you, Mr. Hooper, and congratulations to us all.
by Andrea
Nov 5, 2008 4:38 PM
I love the story.
by Tom
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
Congrats Mr President-Elect. What an awesome piece of history to see in our life-time. And then the story of Ann Nixon Cooper, it sounds to me like God allowed her to live to see this bit of history made. God Bless Grandmama & Mr President...
by Holly
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
Obama's win reminds me of the silly reasons that I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980. 1) He's was a Nuclear Physicist. 2) He came from a poor background. 3) He was NOT a career politican. Once again, history has just repeated itself.
by Lea
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
Mr Hooper, your words were very moving -- as was the story woven by our new President in his speech last night. When you really think about it, the last 100 years have been amazing in so many ways. You're so lucky to have had such a role model
by joe
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
Hoop--That story is pretty cool. Congrats on the victory.
by Betty
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
That is a wonderful story, Ernest. Your Grandmama sounds like a terrific lady to know and I'm so glad she lived long enough to vote in such a historic election. Cheers to all of you.
by Lucia
Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM
Obama's story reminded me of a wonderful movie called "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" that I saw on TV. It's nice to know that Ann Nixon Cooper was able to endure and see so much during her long lifetime. Way to go, Ms. Cooper!
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily deliveryof the St. Petersburg Times.
Email Newsletters
Be the first to know. Register for free breaking news alerts and morning headlines.
window.google_render_ad();
© 2008 · All Rights Reserved · St. Petersburg Times490 First Avenue South · St. Petersburg, FL 33701 · 727-893-8111Contact Us Join Us Advertise with Us Subscribe to the Times RSSPrivacy Policy Standard of Accuracy Terms, Conditions & Copyright
*****************************************************
suggested email signature: NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the NSA
may have read this email without warning,
warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or
legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection
save to call for the impeachment of the current President.
ERACISM: ALL colors with love and respect.
"This Act (the Federal Reserve Act, Dec. 23rd 1913) establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President (Woodrow Wilson) signs the Bill, the invisible government of the Monetary Power will be legalised... The worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency Bill."
Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr.
CRUCIAL ACTION: Contact the House Judiciary Committee and Nancy Pelosi TODAY. Don't wait. One click. The momentum is on our side and the world is watching. Bush cronies WORLD WIDE declaring martial law. Nation of GA, Pakistan, Burma ... Mexico's election illegal and then the flooding. GETTING THEM OUT OF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. Believe this. And help a country out here.
ADD ON: The Sunroof, teenage, bomb, blast, gunshot, LIES pertaining to the MURDER of Benazir Bhutto.
A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her. David Brinkley
Get your ARREST BUSH Tshirt HERE!!
SQUELCH THE FCC's HIDDEN PLAN geez
Tampa Firemen and Other Firemen Fire Brigade: NeoNazis
Follow along with Tampa Stalking HERE.
Additional
data on GANG STALKING IN AMERICA and ELSEWHERE
KNOW WHERE YOU STAND AND STAND THERE
The DOCUMENTED TRUTH about Masons and Shriners (part of it )
Be the ONE MILLIONTH PERSON to sign the IMPEACH BUSH petition.
text "CHENEY" to 30644 to impeach him first, or text "BUSH" to 30644 to impeach him first, or text "BOTH" to 30644 if you think it would be strategically wise to go for the double play
The heart has it's reasons which reason knows nothing of.
*
We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart.
Blaise Pascal
Here's the last 25 messages on the Impeach Cheney matter
No Excuses : Email any rep in the country. Go ahead. They have to answer you; it's what you pay them for. Compel them to uphold their oath to protect the Constitution of the United States of America.
The lie was dead
And damned, and truth stood up instead.
Robert Browning
ANOTHER BUSH LIE
I've saved some sunlight
if you should ever need
a place away from darkness
where your mind can feed.
from Rod McKuen's "I've Saved The Summer"
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power.
We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
Make today COUNT.
Go to to find the phone numbers of your Senators and Representative.
Bill Nelson 202 224 5274
Kathy Castor 202 225 3376 (UPDATED NUMBER)
Mel Martinez 202224 3041
Send a letter to the
St.Pete TimesI don't care what you talk about but keep sending letters until they publish one. They're very selective with WHOM they publish because I see the same names over and over. Don't let a few people speak for ALL of us.
And
call your congressman and talk to her of
Inherent Contempt. Do it. And hug everyone you can reach.
North Jersey JUST DOIN it.Headlights to ImpeachTurn them ON. PlEaSe ! Help a country out here. Also, click the link to sign the petition. Takes three seconds.
Live Vote for ImpeachmentVote in the National Cheney Impeachment PollClick Here Bush Business (two states moving to convene grand juries)Email your CongressmanCourt of Impeachment and War CrimesBrought to you
LIVE from THE TAMPA NAIL HOUSE ... : Proud members of the drive-by media (just like Thomas Paine, father of America)... located in the midtown desired redevelopment center just one block from the river.
The City of Tampa and it's assorted city-sanctioned gang members need this property because it's in the middle of land they intend to develop for gambling facilities.
LaS VEgas here in Tampa : Ta-Vegas or Tam-Gas.But it's going to cost YOU a helluva lot of money as they defend their criminal acts in federal court due to what they are doing to my family and I in
the process of attempting to steal our home.
Terrorist,"Cause" and Gang Stalking Perpetrated by Tampa Firemen and other Firemen -- revealed and written about.Some more threats from Tampa firemen (we'll just drive by your burning house if we know who you are) no kidding? I would NEVER have guessed that !
Stop Organized StalkingMore mention of Firefighter and Police participation in gang-stalking Technorati Tags
global warmingTechnorati Tags: magical sheep, Truckspy rawks, shaggy sheep, SUVs********************************************************