The World Newser is World News' daily blog. Here, you'll find our staff's thoughts on the day's news and the way we build our broadcast. Plus, we'll share reports from our team of correspondents in the field, as well as producers behind-the-scenes.
RECENT POSTS
- Clem's Chronicles: Toyota Recall/Afghan Speech/State Dinner Crashers
- Charlie Gibson...On this Thanksgiving
- Quotes of the Day: 'It is my intention to finish the job'
- Start Your Shopping Engines
- The Hajj and Women's Dress
- Clem's Chronicles: Afghanistan/WH State Dinner/Holiday Travel
- Photos: White House State Dinners Through the Years
- Are We Becoming A Nation of Know-Nothings?
- Quotes of the Day: 'President Obama has the information he wants... to make his decision'
- Clem's Chronicles: Jobs/Afghanistan/Health Care Reform/Deficit
- Child Safety: Crib Recall and Other Recently Recalled Kids Products
- You Buying Less This Holiday?
WORLD NEWSER CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Sen. Obama, the Clintons, Remember Tubbs Jones
August 30, 2008 10:56 AM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Seated next to each other onstage, Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton paid tribute to the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Cleveland, Ohio today.
The memorial service honoring Tubbs Jones - who died August 20th from a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm - was not absent of politics. Tubbs Jones was originally a Clinton supporter – a fact that Obama addressed in his speech to the audience.
"During this most recent contest Stephanie and I started off on different sides. We would see each other and she would say to me 'this is what it means to be a friend' - and all I could say is, 'I understand' - and that is a testimony to her and the kind of person she was."
Obama said that she was the type of person that after decades in Congress was unaffected by the ways of Washington. "She was still a home girl," he joked.
Senator Clinton recalled her close friendship with Tubbs Jones – and their work together in 2004 on voting problems. She urged Senator Obama to join in on their "Count Every Vote" reform.
"I'm hoping that when we finally see this election that we will not only have a great turnout, we won't have any of those problems, Gov Strickland, and president Obama will pass Count Every Vote reform."
After her remarks, Obama patted Clinton on the back and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
President Clinton – not on the program to speak – made a surprise speech in the middle of the program – telling everyone that he was originally happy to let his wife speak on behalf of his family but apparently felt moved to speak.
The former president recalled their 16 year friendship and joked about the time he bought a piece of jewelry recently for Tubbs Jones – and how she shot back what buying a piece of jewelry for a woman usually meant.
"You know," said Clinton quoting Tubbs Jones , "It's not often a man will give a woman a piece of jewelry and not want anything for it."
The crowd of family, friends, and staffers roared in amusement.
Clinton also recalled another anecdote – and spoke directly to Obama from the podium – recalling a 6 year old who asked the former president if he was really president.
"I said 'yes I am' and he said 'well you're not dead yet,'" Clinton laughed explaining that the little boy thought that all presidents were "dead white guys."
"Thanks to you Senator Obama no one will think that's the definition of a president."
Senator Obama was accompanied to the memorial service by his wife, Senator Biden and his wife Jill – who stayed in the audience during the service.
At times the memorial service became borderline political – with many of the speakers in the lineup singling out Obama.
"Elect Sens. Obama and Biden; we must rise up," Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick said in the middle of her remarks.
"Take it to the bank these people want change," Commissioner Jimmy Dimora said from the podium to Obama: "And you're the person for that"
At one point some people in the crowd yelled "Obama" as if in a political rally, prompting "shhh's" from the other mourners.
August 30, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (66)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I remember how Obama played the Race Card on the Clinton's
Posted by: headley | Aug 30, 2008 11:12:19 AM
People don't have any class anymore - shouting as if they were at a rally rather than a funeral. Does anybody have a proper upbringing anymore?!
Posted by: Iris M. Gross | Aug 30, 2008 11:13:38 AM
I still for the wits of me cannot figure out why we have a national holiday for a Martin Luther King but don't have one day set aside for General George Washington why founded our country.
Then the liberals act like MLK was greater than Jesus when in fact MLK was a conservative Republican.
Posted by: headley | Aug 30, 2008 11:15:48 AM
Barracuda Palin and Maverick McCain versus Rev Obama Wright. I see no problem with this. John McCain the next President of the United States.
Obama can still be president in some African country that Oprah will pay for. But not here.
Posted by: bomber game | Aug 30, 2008 11:17:45 AM
Its s sad day in this country when the Democrats have turned a funeral into a politcal statement. They also turned a war against Terrorism into a political statement. Like McCain said Obama would rather lose the war to win an election Obama even tried legislate the war into a failure
Posted by: bomber game | Aug 30, 2008 11:20:17 AM
I watched the service online, I was really moved by the service. It was nice to see so many people come out to honor her (I hope they were there for her and not Obama). That was the first and only time I've seen Obama and President Clinton on the same stage and they were shaking hands with a lot of people together.
Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Aug 30, 2008 11:36:06 AM
Barack Obama and the Clintons united in solemn respect for Stephanie Tubbs Jones and all she stood for. So a supporter got carried away and shouted his name. Big deal. The comments here from people putting down these leaders, their unity or ideals in this setting is shameful. How do they sleep at night?
Posted by: bob10001 | Aug 30, 2008 11:45:59 AM
The Clinton's were close friends, Obama just showed up because he didn't want to be outdone on anything. The yelling out was so rude, he should be embarrassed at the behavior of some of his supporters, so many of them seem to think everything is a rally. I guess we shouldn't blame them though, he seems to have turned the whole election process into a circus with the over the top speech events lately.
Posted by: dwc | Aug 30, 2008 11:46:52 AM
I was very moved by the tribute paid to Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. Her character , by staying with Hillary Clinton all through the primary, has put her on the highest level of moral and ethical courage. Bless her and her family
Posted by: JOANN | Aug 30, 2008 11:47:48 AM
I hope that the Clinton's and Obama's people are sincere about working together because it's the republicans who are going to play the race division game. This nomination of a conservative middle-aged attractive white woman for the first time as VP for the GOP, is a clear signal of where there going with this selection. McCain knows his only chance of winning is the race-card, her selection has nothing to do with them wanting too make history by putting a woman on the ticket. How many people live in the state of Alaska? How many are woman? How many are other than white or eskimos? It's time for this country to face the issue of race head on and stop trying to cover-up the real deal.
Posted by: jimmie griffin | Aug 30, 2008 11:56:14 AM
People just do not want to see the reality that the democratic party is united behind Obama and that Hillary and Bill are part of the change movement under the leadership of Obama and Biden. Miss Alaska and old McSame have no chance to go anywhere, but for the latter to return to the Panama Canal and the first back to the cold Alaska. God save America from Gustave and McPalin.
Posted by: BKMC | Aug 30, 2008 12:06:29 PM
This just goes to prove Obama will show up even though Obama and his kool aid crowd dissed Ms. Jones as they have done with Hillary Clinton, and to be more precise, the real democratic party in whole.
Obama has turned our democratic party into a circus.
Obama insults anyone who doesn't agree with him.
Does Obama really think insulting the middle class people in PA and OH, Hillary Clinton supporters, and countless others who have questioned him and his "un-democratic party", that we would actually vote for him? Not a chance.
Hillary 2012
Go McCain!
Posted by: NielPA | Aug 30, 2008 12:15:48 PM
Obama is the head of the Democratic party now. No one could he not have been at this funeral, especially since she, like him, was a "historical figure" in politics being the first black congresswoman in Ohio.
Instead of the people at the funeral "politicizing" this event, it's actually the people commenting on this blog who are doing it. No shame, no perspective and no decency whatsoever.
this was a heartfelt goodbye to a public servant, nothing more nothing less.
Posted by: michael thompson | Aug 30, 2008 12:19:51 PM
And that should have read "no way could he not have been at this funeral..."
Also forgot to mention, a lot of you are paid trolls. I know McCain pays people to troll the internet for money. I hope you get paid well for your efforts.
Posted by: michael thompson | Aug 30, 2008 12:22:53 PM
how rude, how could obama supporters turn this into a political rally.
a tribute to this great woman's life should be a sacred time. how utterly rude. it is no wonder tubbs was a hillary supporter.
Posted by: sonia trevino | Aug 30, 2008 12:29:29 PM
I am a Hillary supporter but I am fed up with the sexism during Hillary's campaign. For all of the Democrats talk for women's rights they failed to put the most qualified woman on their ticket this Fall. Well I am voting McCain-Palin. Thank you Senator McCain for doing what the Democrats failed to do. The maverick team.
Posted by: basil | Aug 30, 2008 12:31:52 PM
michael thompson
It amazes me that the Obama crowd actually thinks that disenfranchised democrats are nothing more than McCain's trolls (what a joke). Just goes to show once again that Obama and his followers are delusional.
I have been a life long democrat and and never encountered anything like the way Obama and his surrogates ran a vile and vicious campaign against Sen. Hillary not even to mention Pres. Clinton. Obama and his crowd showed nothing but comtempt for the Clintons, and democratic voters in PA and OH; and now actually expect these same disenfranchised democrats have to unify. Dream on . . Ain't gonna happen.
Hillary 2012
Go McCain
Posted by: NielPA | Aug 30, 2008 12:38:23 PM
basil good for you.i feel exactly the same. i'm still going to wait until the debates and to learn more about all involved but i certainly am leaning toward mccain/palen.
my heartfelt sympathy to the the family of this great woamn.
hillary supporter in new mexico
Posted by: sonia trevino | Aug 30, 2008 12:40:31 PM
Obama and his supporters showed how vile they can be during the primary. It's no surprse they have no sense of decorum at a funeral.
Posted by: NielPA | Aug 30, 2008 12:51:29 PM
If Obama really had class he would have stayed away from this event. His goons hounded Tubbs-Jones for her support.
The Clintons were her friends, Obama is an opportunist.
Posted by: Jim | Aug 30, 2008 12:57:38 PM
Post a comment
