Alabama County Passes Annual Obama Holiday

MARION, Ala. — In central Alabama's Perry County, government workers already get a day off for President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Veterans Day. In 2009, they'll get one more: "Barack Obama Day."

The rural county, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.

Sponsoring commissioner Albert Turner Jr. said the holiday is meant to highlight the Democratic president-elect's victory as a way to give people faith that difficult goals can be achieved.

Perry County has 12,000 residents, most of them black. Voters there backed Obama by over 70 percent in a state that gave 60 percent of the overall vote to Republican John McCain based largely on strong support from white voters.

At the state level, Alabama observes the standard federal holidays as well as a handful of its own that include Confederate Memorial Day in April and the June birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. It observes Martin Luther King's birthday in January but the holiday is twinned with commemoration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day.

The Perry County Commission's three black members and one of its two white members voted for the Obama holiday.

Commissioner Brett Harrison said Wednesday he voted against the resolution because of the costs to the county, which has a $2.2 million annual payroll and is one of the poorest in the state. He said closing the courthouse would also idle some state employees.

"I'm a Democrat, but just in these financial times, it's not using the county's money wisely," Harrison told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday. "The recognition is certainly well-founded."

Turner said copies of the resolution, adopted at a Nov. 25 meeting, have been mailed to Obama and his transition team.

Comments

[Ramirez]

Barack Obama Day:

This festive holiday will be marked by government employees accepting a day's pay to do nothing.

[Dailyfare]

Some of their ancestors worked for decades without pay, so I guess it evens out. Not.

[sklfcats]

Give me a @(#$%*(%^*%@#$ break.
He ain't God

[rollingdivision]

If it acceptable to praise him before he in office one day it is certainly fine to criticize. This sort of personality cult adulation of any politician is dangerous.

[ccmd]

are you feeling ok today?

[gcallaghan]

Witha any luck, we won't see a Federal Barack Obama holiday for the next 8 years. As much as I'd like to commemorate it, to his credit, I can't see him signing it into law. We'll just have to wait.

[iwantpie]

Do these people know the Confederate President Jefferson Davis and PE Obama are related?

[lovetheworld]

"these people"

You mean the mostly black, 12,000 residents of Perry County? I'm sure "those people" know that, just like they know Obama is also related to Dick Cheney.

[iwantpie]

"Voters there backed Obama by over 70 percent in a state that gave 60 percent of the overall vote to Republican John McCain based largely on strong support from white voters."

No, just the ones that did not vote in Alabama county and the state overall.

[robXdion]

Hey, don't tell them that. The mental health industry couldn't keep up with the patient load.

[Jahmekyah]

At some point after Obama's presidency I'm sure there will be a nationwide commemoration or holiday or whatever..­.he's the first Black President.­..its historic, its inevitable.

[LMPE]

Has Bill O'Reilly any plans to badmouth this county?

[shaaronie]

For me, everyday is a holiday. I am unemployed! Good for them!

[LovingHope]

I'm actually changing my perception on Alabama. They might be coming around.

[andyinaz]

I am originally from a fairly small town in Alabama, am very progressive and liberal in general, and have many friends with similar political leanings which I grew up with.

I'm happy to see you are changing your perception of us, we've been patiently awaiting for your approval.

[weatherwaxx]

Let's make ELECTION DAY a national holiday -- like it is in many sensible countries -- so people don't have to worry about losing their jobs if they exercise their birthright.

THAT would be a good Obama Day!

[liminy]

Great idea! Thanks for hiving us this good food for thought!

[FaceYourFears]

Hold on folks, he hasn't been sworn in yet.

[Fongenie]

He's also the first Black President, so it would've happened anyway.

[lovethesinner]

Now that's CHANGE. (btw: it's also democracy)

[saron123]

Barack won Washington D.C. by 93% (McCain = 7%). They definitely should have Barack Obama Holiday too.

[BSERIUS]

Just in from Rome... an honorary Catholic start the beatification , make him a Saint by Christmas.­.Replace that guy from 2000 years ago MERRY BARACKMAS everyone.

[Pleneras]

It's silly to compare a political-religious leader voted by the cardinals and not the people to a day off from work. Obviously your just another bitter person who prefers Palin's empty headed leadership to nowhere. The only thing Palin proved was that most men with lizard brains get hot over a 44 year old. She was great for the cougars. Maybe she can talk to the pope in one the many tongues she speaks in and put in a good word for you? BTW did you know speaking in tongues is a myth? It's all gibberish. Think a human has the right to make someone a Saint? Think it's valid just because they say it is? Wait a minute where did the Vatican evolve from?

[weatherwaxx]

The "Holy" Roman empire was formed when Constanting made Christianity the state religion, threw out all the doctrines he didn't like, then started murdering the "heretics" who didn't believe exactly as he did. Great tradition, what?

[conscioushope]

Bserius~

bgone.

[Ramirez]

We need to make Obama Day a national holiday to celebrate the birth of America's greatest president.

[anopenmind]

I would agree a National Holiday is in Order but it should be A Holiday Day to Celebrate the Day
"The American Dream Became A Reality For ALL Americans"

All Ethnicities Groups (Black, White, Asian, Indian, Hispanic), For All Women, For All Religious Minorities We have only known a Nation of White Men – I believe Barack Obama has paved the Way for “All of the Others in America” as a Women that includes me!!!

[Pquilson]

And which president would that be? I can only assume that you refer to Mr. Obama, who is not yet even President-Elect, and will not be until December 15, when the Electoral College meets, and will not become president until January 20. Are you referring to Mr. Obama? He is not only not president, but does not qualify for "America's greatest president". Or, are you referring to another president, whose term has expired and could qualify as "America's greatest president (so far)"?