On Thanksgiving Eve, Obama Family Hands Out Food to the Needy

What does it matter if the Obama family did this 10 years ago or three years ago? People can and often make changes in their lives...some for the better. I find it disappointing and appalling that I have read so many negative comments about a good effort. How many of you gave any of your time during the holidays to help those in need? I didn't but that WILL change during the upcoming holiday season. You people need to get a grip and get sone happiness in your lives.

I am not a cynic or heretic...I am very spiritual and have made it my choice to be positive and think on a higher level than what I have been reading here.

Obama has been doing this for the last *three* years. Why so late to the scene? He's actually been running for president for the last *five* years, at least.
He's had photographers documenting his entire life since 2003 according to Axlerod.

Just a photo-op? No way! /s

LOL Moderate! You are quite right! And now, of course, she just might...

Does that mean I have to change my name to Laughing Stoic? Something of an oxymoron...

Let's just say I'm not a "practicing" Classical Cynic.

Goodnight!

JD:

You're welcome, and I've enjoyed this also. Perhaps this will start a new trend... imagine commentors catching onto civil debate techniques. One never knows. I'm certainly paying more attention to and scaling back on my more vitriolic statements. Generally only used when responding to vitriol launched first, but...perhaps going nuclear (as I sometimes do) isn't necessary when the other party has only dynamite. Not meaning you, of course.

And goodnight!

JD, I really appreciate your passion. And I'm glad that you realize that real change does not start at the top, but at the bottom. What each of us does can indeed make a difference, and that is not predicated on who is elected president.

Like you, I like to think my small gestures add up. I volunteer at the animal shelter and soup kitchen. I shop locally and never spend money at WalMart, which has wrecked many a small business in my town. I recycle and use my cloth bags at the grocery and have switched out my light bulbs. But I try to also remember that everyone has their own ideas of what should be prioritized and what I think is essential to our future as a successful, peaceful, healthy nation may not be what someone else thinks is essential. That's why I need to speak out to try to persuade others of my point of view. For example, I am a strong proponent of expanded use of nuclear power. I am concerned that the Obama administration will not be supportive of nuclear power. So I will keep on top of the news on th topic, speak to my elected representatives, and do whatever I can to see that nuclear power is given the support it needs. That's how this great country works.

Oh, and Laughing Cynic, better hope Dena doesn't take your challenge and read up on Cynicism. Do you really want her to learn the origin of the term? Or wonder just how much you have in common with Diogenes? Me, I would have been a Stoic back then, but I love those Cynics.

"American with Hope," you wrote: "Photo-op or not, its more than anyone has ever seen Bush and his cronies doing. The point is, Obama and his family give hope and their presence encourages others to do what they can whether they have an entire day or an hour to give."

But that's the problem, AWH-- your initial statement simply is not true. Bush has packed boxes for the homeless at food banks numerous times, for example, and there's usually a photographer around to record the event. Yet folks like you don't notice, because you were never as enamoured of Bush as you are of Obama. So you talk of "bush and his CRONIES" and insist they would never do anything so altruistic as volunteer as Obama has done. That's meanspirited. Can't you praise Obama WITHOUT putting down Bush? It does not appear so. And yet Republicans like me are constantly told to stow our partisanship. It is not a one-way street. I would love to see just one of the "usual suspects"-- pefros, grey matter, or Maureen, for example-- admit that Bush is also a good man who has done equally inspiring things, or say the same of John McCain. I won't hold my breathe, even though I made a point of praising Obama for doing something charitable. I do not automatically denigrate everything he does just because I did not vote for him.

Oh, and San Pedro, please consider giving the "McCains are evil coz they own 7 houses a rest." Does it not matter to you, for example, that one of the homes Cindy owns is lived in by her elderly aunt, whom Cindy supports? Does it not matter that they have given literally millions of dollars to charity and that Cindy has travelled around the world helping get much-needed medical care to needy children, one of whom she wound up adopting? The McCains also walk the walk and I would appreciate it if those of you rushing to say that we should not be partisan would acknowledge these good people for their efforts as well.

Haven't seen a picture of BUsh or McCain doing charity work this season? That hardly means they have not done so. It means the cameras are following Obama, and, it sometimes seems, only Obama, these days.

Thank you, Laughing Cynic, for the reply and civil discourse - it's so appreciated. And I did not express my self clearly as I now realize. I also will edit twice, but in my case for clear expression, not grammar!

I did say that I would thoroughly support McCain if he had won the election & that was in error - I would not support his (or Obama's) policies if I did not (or find that I do not) believe in them.

One example of what I mean by my 'support' of an administration (perhaps actually my support of my idea of democracy) is taking things in my own hands locally, such as ridding myself of any sense of entitlement (say for a bigger car for lack of a better example) to commit to 'a greater good' as Aristotle described, in my case driving a small economical car, driving less days per week, carpooling, using the least fuel-guzzling means of transporting the goods I sell in my small business - all my small part of solving the national (& global) energy crisis. I also politically lobby for what I believe will help, both locally & nationally, on an ongoing basis, not just at voting times.

I think understand your issues with 'getting involved,' but I don't suggest getting involved in as you put it 'what he & his create.' I would have similar reservations with just following government blindly.

Here's another piece of my current 'involvement', outside of this conversation (I truly enjoy hearing your point of view) and the energy crisis changes mentioned earlier.

I have stopped purchasing anything containing High Fructose Corn Syrup (I like soda as much as anyone might) in order to stop my support for this industry & I encourage people to read about what has happened to our American diet & health. I lobby to cut back on bloated subsidies for growing the midwest corn that's turned into this product and used in most of our packaged foods. My hope is that my participation will help people to see that these subsidies have helped to change our diets, which has impacted our health, and now greatly impact health care costs.

As you can probably sense, I also never step back & assume that I cannot be heard, cannot influence policies. I have begun to host gatherings in my area to start civil discourse among my neighbors and friends about what needs to change for our country to be a better place to live where we can make our own choices and have many, many options available to us as we work together in our community. We are talking about how to influence local and national policy.

And having worked in the news and with my state legislators over the years, I never take what I hear or read in the news as the truth. At this point, I am reading and researching Obama thoroughly (his writings & that which has been written about him that has good research behind it) so that I can decide what to watch for, what to support, what to try to influence.

I believe that our actual democracy could once again come from the bottom (from us?) up (to 'them') if we act on our beliefs in each choice we make every day. I believe strongly as the Native Americans believed, that we have to look 7 generations ahead when we make decisions, in order to make good ones.

What I do has nothing to do with who is President of the day; I've lived through too many Presidencies now and am hopeful that people will become involved in what ever way suits them. Thanks again. (I did reread this one, but it's late here - here's hoping it's more clearly expressed.)

Sorry, should be "whose following..."

And I was on such a roll there :-)

That's what happens when I take a minute to edit and scale back the inflammatory speechifying. Trying for "well-thought-out" and leaving bumps in the road.

I promise in my future oppositional posts to edit at least twice :-)

JD, it's nice to be appreciated. But to your solutions -- it's not necessary for me to support and commit to a President-Elect I didn't vote for, and following works nonstop to suppress opposition. In fact, to do so would be the civilian equivalent of what the politicians have done. You can't say one month that someone is evil and a danger to the country, then the next month shout to the country that he'll be wonderful. Well, you can... the Clintons, McCain, and Biden did, anyway. If you find that acceptable, so be it. I don't.

Getting involved... well, that would be "getting involved" in what he and his create. Again, not what I want. I'm not a joiner, never have been, and the worst thing he's planning is this insane Mandatory Service scheme.

And as far as the photos...as you say, that's what "the people" want to see. Nothing I do or say is going to change that. If I could, I would take Dancing with the Stars and American Idol off the air, but "the people" can't seem to get enough of that. Probably for the same reasons.

All I want, bottom line, is to be able to make my own choices in life. Obama, word and deed, is a threat to that. He will "demand that you shed your cynicism, that you engage" in a "we know what's good for you" world under him. That is not something I can support. And I will never understand how anyone can.

He will not have my support or commitment any more than Bush had. He doesn't need it, anymore than Bush did.

And, JD, I can truly appreciate a civil discourse, so I thank you.

I appreciate well thought out comments by writers like Moderate and Laughing Cynic, and agree that everyone has the right to speak out. Isn't that a founding principle of our country?
I am an Obama supporter, but if McCain had been elected, I would be thoroughly supporting him at this point.
Once a new President is voted for, he needs all of our support and commitment to help to make the changes we need, that our country needs to survive and grow. That's what I meant earlier about 'putting our effort where our mouths are'.

We need to participate actively, not just by voting and contacting our representatives and senators...I mean by putting into practice the things we say we want, like a sense of community, better food, lower oil prices. As an example, every dollar we spend (on a person by person basis) and where we spend it speaks loudly about what we believe is good for America (a big box store or a local store, etc., we make those kinds of choices every day).

And regarding the 'photo ops', before I complain about the Obamas or the Bushes or anyone, I look at what I pay attention to (like the photo ops) and if I don't like it, then I contact the newspaper to complain, It's the reporter who get the photo ops that people seem to want so that their papers will sell. I've been in the news business.

I also realize that the changes we'll get from any adminstration will only be as good as what we the people, the taxpayers work for, not ask for.

Photo-op or not, its more than anyone has ever seen Bush and his cronies doing. The point is, Obama and his family give hope and their presence encourages others to do what they can whether they have an entire day or an hour to give.

And to those who are whining about not feeling comfortable venting your negative opinions of Obama -- obviously you have been Bush supporters the last 8 years.

Moderate, thank you LOL!

Yes, I am as vocal about my dissent toward Bush, but at least I could do it in public.

So, shall it be heretic or Heretic? :-)

Oh, and Dena, nice CoolSig definition. Try reading up on Cynicism. Part of a definition from Wikipedia : The example of the Cynic's life (and the use of the Cynic's biting satire) would dig-up and expose the pretensions which lay at the root of everyday conventions.

Cynics, true cynics, understand that people are capable of so much, but that very few (themselves usually included) will ever attain excellence. Because of simple human nature.

And we don't jump on the bandwagon. The thing is too crowded.

Laughing Cynic, you are my hero. Yes, we need a new name, like Heretics. Apparently dissent was patriotic when people were complaining about Bush, but say one word that indicates you have any doubts about any Obama pronouncement or action and people pile on to scream that you need to check your partisanship at the door and support your future leader. Dissent is no longer allowed. Scary sometimes, isn't it?

AGAIN with the label of angry bitter republican if you don't buy into the Obama hype. That's getting really old. Think of something else, like "heretic" and "nonBeliever." At least it would be fresh. And more accurate, as all nonBelievers aren't republicans.

I recall a wise saying. Do good, and tell no-one. The only reason the rich give money as they do is to get recognition, through having a building named after them, for instance, or getting pictures taken. Ribbon-cuttings and handshakes while grinning at the camera ARE insincere. And so is arranging film crews at "heartwarming" moments like handing out food. Those with money who give anonymously, those with time who do things without a press release or any kind of recognition, those are the people to be admired. We know how much Obama gave to charity, we know what school(s) are named after him, we know every "good" thing he does. That is not to be admired. That is PR.

And what does "the season" have to do with being charitable?? That drives me crazy, hearing that "how can you BE that way during THE SEASON?" The real question should be, "Why are YOU only that way (giving, doing, etc) during THE SEASON?"

His minutes at the table giving out food was not endearing. It wasn't. And I'm sure that the homeless weren't thrilled with being frisked and wanded by the Secret Service before being ushered into the Presence of the One. Then identified in their pain on camera.

Not a reason for thinking he will ever do good for good's sake.

Some Chicken littles on this thread write of photo-op and insincerity.

Why would Obama want to engage in photo-op after he has won the elections.

He is no longer on the campaign trail and he is not coming to ask for your votes until the next four years.

So for all the cynics who can still be made to see reasons, his act is from a sincere heart. Don't forget that he was once a Community Organizer.

GOD ALMIGHTY JESUS MARY JOSEPH -DARLING HOLY FAMILY BLESS BO AND HIS LOVELY FAMILY THEY WILL BE PROTECTED FOREVER AND HEAVENLY BLESSINGS ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR THEM SO SHOCKING TO SEE EVIL PEOPLE BEING SO MATERILISTIC AND CYNICAL DO THEY EVER THINK OF THE POOR AND NEEDY AS OUR LORD JESUS NEVER THEY ARE JUST USELESS GOD BLESS PRESIDENT ELECT AND HIS FAMILY AND BEAUTIFUL AMERICA

How many people on this post who are making cynical remarks about the Obamas gave up some of their time today to help those who are less fortunate than they are? It is always easier to talk than to get off you butt and lend a helping hand.

re: Posted by: Concerned in OH | Nov 26, 2008 3:48:12 PM

Sorry ... didn't see it in the thread ... but what did YOU do either actually or symbollically to help?

Even if you are correct in your cynicism, the optics probably will be worth their weight in terms of attracting contributions and volunteers.

How many of the people who have written here about the lack of sincerity of the help the Obamas gave today donated any of their time today doing something similar (for people they don't know)?
I've always asked my kids & nieces & nephews to put their time & effort "where their mouths are". If you don't like what's happening, don't just complain about it by sitting at your computer - get out there & lobby for what you think is right!
I volunteered today too and I thank everyone who did something good for someone else.

Contrast that to Barbara Bush going to the Astrodome to ridicule Katrina victims.