Obama Saves Christmas

A Marshalltown family had their home vandalized on Christmas Eve. Their Christmas gifts were stolen and hateful remarks towards Obama and racial slurs were spray painted on the walls.

The mother, who is a precinct captain for Obama, called the Obama captain office in town to tell them what happened. Two staff members went to the house to help clean up. Without the family knowing, another staff member and some volunteers went shopping to purchase gifts for the family's two girls, so they would have present to open on Christmas.

Yesterday, Barack Obama was in town for a campaign event at the local high school. Away from the cameras, in a classroom down the hall from the event, Obama meant privately with the family.

The family are already supporters of Obama, but this event shows that the words Obama speaks on the campaign trail aren't for show. They are about taking the little actions to help people and save Christmas for a family.

http://commoniowan.blogspot.com

Good for him.... what a class act. Thanks for bringing us this warm and telling story.

politician.

Especially this part: "Away from the cameras, in a classroom down the hall from the event, Obama meant privately with the family." Some campaigns would've hyped the meeting into a photo-op with the victims as props.
rec #4

:loveya:

Supporters of Barack Obama living on 25th Street reported a number of racial slurs and derogatory comments had been spray painted on their property. Further, the family’s Christmas presents were all stolen from a vehicle and a garage.

Chief Lon Walker confirms the police received the report Monday morning.

“We found vandalism to the house. When we got there, we found some racial things regarding presidential candidate Barack Obama,” he said.

Marie Ortiz has been working as a volunteer for the Obama campaign locally. She has volunteered her time in the office, going door to door, and has signs supporting Obama in her yard.

She has two children, ages 11 and 2.

But Christmas was not completely ruined for the youngsters. Campaign workers at the local Obama office came by on Christmas Eve with presents.

A neighbor also gave the family some money to replace some of the things that were lost.

“They were really a godsend,” Ortiz said.

Walker reported he considers the case somewhat unusual because there has been no other reports of such severe backlash for those outwardly supporting presidential candidates. Even among Obama backers, no other crime of this degree has been reported.

“We are treating it right now as if the derogatory racial comments were aimed toward Obama,” the chief said. “We’re not treating it as a hate crime because it does not appear as if the victims were the intended recipient of the racial slurs.”

The couple living at the home comes from a minority heritage.

However, Ortiz has a different opinion on the matter.

“A hate crime is a hate crime. I think it was probably racially motivated,” she said.

http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/500947.html?nav=5005