Why We Love Grandmas (SLIDESHOW)

It comes as no surprise that Barack Obama is taking precious time off from the crucial final days of his presidential campaign to visit the grandmother he calls "Toot" (from Tutu the Hawaiian word for grandparent). Wouldn't any of us do the same? Specially for a grandmother who had done as much for us as Madelyn Dunham did for her grandson.

She and her husband helped to raise Barack in Hawaii from his birth until he left for college. At the Democratic Convention he expressed his gratitude: "She poured everything she had into me." Obama's mother died in 1995, so for the past 13 years his grandmother has been the only maternal figure in his life. Now she is 85 and unwell. No wonder he is dropping everything to be with her.

Keep reading.

See this slideshow of his grandmother:

• • • • • • • Obama with his grandparents Madelyn and Stanley Dunham (aka Toot and Gramps) at his high school graduation in 1979.

**Read more about and see a campaign ad featuring Madelyn Dunham.**

Comments

[the964kid]

05:56 PM on 10/24/2008

I'm so proud of Barack for going to his grandmother and not waiting to go til after the election. She needs her grandson today, not on Nov 5th or later. He did the right thing, and I'm certainly not surprised by his good character and good judgement. Only GOP devils could condemn Obama for joining his ailing grandmother.

This won't hurt him in Florida either.

[Star2000dancer]

06:58 PM on 10/24/2008

And please FIND A WAY to get a receipt, a video, or a copy of your ballot to prove who & when you voted. I can not believe we have never given receipts, I;m making a copy of mine, & having a friend video tape me handing it in. No more voter fraud.

Let's get a bill passed in congress to always get receipts. Start calling you reps & swamp congress with emails & calls. We the people can make this happen! Another historic moment in history. Millions of people demanding receipts. I'm waiting for one of us to show up in the news or ypu tebe, facebook, my space, etc.

[Whatashame]

05:33 PM on 10/24/2008

For lack of a better word get your A$$ES out and vote. call everyone you know who is voting for Obama and i don't care how long you have to sit or stand in line don't move until you VOTE.

For lack of a better word get your A$$ES out and vote. call everyone you know who is voting for Obama and i don't care how long you have to sit or stand in line don't move until you VOTE.

For lack of a better word get your A$$ES out and vote. call everyone you know who is voting for Obama and i don't care how long you have to sit or stand in line don't move until you VOTE.

[clarinetmama]

04:27 PM on 10/24/2008

My grandma passed away in 1991 when I was an adult. I miss her everday. Sadly my mom died when my son was only 7. He will have many memories of her, but sadly nowhere near enough time.
Even if Obama was behind in the polls it would've been the right thing for him to visit his grandma. And anyone who thinks otherwise is heartless.

[StacyJ]

01:35 PM on 10/24/2008

What a nice family !

[caywen]

12:37 PM on 10/24/2008

I hope very much that if Grandma Dunham doesn't make it to Nov 4, she can peacefully pass away knowing well that her grandson isn't just going to be the next President, but that her grandson is going to make history by turning this country around. Oh, and I hope Stanley gets a nice place in DC near Barack.

Those are some pictures of some great Americans.

[gladys46]

04:21 PM on 10/24/2008

Indeed ! Just lovely !

[ccrane]

12:30 PM on 10/24/2008

My heart breaks that he doesn't get more time with her. I wish them both the peace and privacy they deserve today.

[Mdazes]

12:30 PM on 10/24/2008

You can see the love in these pictures that Obama,Grandma and Granddad share for one another.

[blueheron63]

11:56 AM on 10/24/2008

I just became a grandmother 2 years ago, and believe me, no one loves you like your grandma! Let's all send out a prayer that Toot lives to see her favorite boy sworn in as President of the United States.

[Kristen777]

12:25 PM on 10/24/2008

I'm with you blueheron63! Sending my prayers as I write.

[Progress08]

11:40 AM on 10/24/2008

I never realized how much Obama looks like his grandfather.

[thelegacymaker]

12:25 PM on 10/24/2008

Exactly...the pic where Barack is sitting on his grandfather's shoulders on the beach...Barack is the spitting image of him present day...wow.

[tuttlemsm]

12:28 PM on 10/24/2008

Very true. I think we overstate the visual impact race makes on human traits.

[rose london]

11:17 AM on 10/24/2008

Granmother the best gift. Thank you Tutu (meaning granmother) for all your help and love. You gave us a wonderful person named OBAMA.


it's so moving and I don't want to cry.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

10:42 AM on 10/24/2008

I have so much admiration for Barack. He's got a very strong sense of family and I have so much respect for that. He has strong values that will serve this country well when he is president.

I pray that his grandmother gets better and is able to witness his victorious win for the presidency.

Obama/Biden '08!

[ebanks84]

09:02 AM on 10/24/2008

Grandmothers are the greatest. I know from experience:). That's why Obama will be a great president because he is a great family man and father.

McCain hates women and his black daughter. Terrible man.

[harriscrl3]

08:40 AM on 10/24/2008

I think all grandmothers are special. I remember some of the best moments of my childhood was spent listening to my grandmother tell stories about how when she was growing up. I could never get enough of them and I remember after school each day when kids my age were excited about going to play with their friends I wanted to see my grandmother she would open the door sat on her recliner and I'd sit on the front porch steps and I would listen to her stories about how hard times were about how how much her parents loved each other. SHe died in 96 and there is not a day that goes by when I dont think about her remember those days and long for them.

Carol

[honeydiva]

07:37 AM on 10/24/2008

O looks just like his grandpa.

[ebanks84]

08:58 AM on 10/24/2008

Exactly. He absolutely does!

[margardner]

03:06 AM on 10/24/2008

For those Spanish speakers out there, you have to see and hear Barack's new ad in Spanish, it's great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZhu8SaodPw

[Czoe]

12:22 PM on 10/24/2008

Spanish is such a beautiful language and he speaks it perfectly.

[RegLib]

12:31 PM on 10/24/2008

He's Black *and* Hispanic! A double jackpot for the racists!

I don't speak Spanish, but Obama's accent sounded reasonably authentic. There's nothing at all authentic about McCain and Palin with their lies, personal shoppers, and makeup.

[jestfam]

04:53 PM on 10/24/2008

They all, Obama, Biden Included, have personal shoppers and makup artists, too bad you have not been able to make it past this fact and worry about the actual real item of what your supposed to be basing your vote on. It is not a who shops where contest. You make yourself sound stupid when you say He's black and hispanic and then you dont speak spanish and then go on that it is a jackpot for racists. You sound like a misinformed democrat who needs to sit down and talk with me a really well informed republican. I still have not decided who I will vote for but it sure will not be based upon what makup or clothes the candidates are using or wearing.