grandmother was from Mo. That's south. Midwest south, but south.
Remember the Missouri Compromise.
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30' north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. Prior to the agreement, the House of Representatives had refused to accept this compromise and a conference committee was appointed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_CompromiseFor good measure, and lest we forget, I add in memoriam
Dred Scot (c. 1799 – September 17, 1858) was a slave who sued unsuccessfully for his freedom in the famous Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1856. His case was based on the fact that he and his wife Harriet were slaves, but had lived in states and territories where slavery was illegal, including Illinois and in Minnesota, which was then part of the Louisiana Purchase. The court ruled seven to two against Scott, finding that neither he, nor any person of African ancestry, could claim citizenship in the United States, and that Scott could not therefore bring suit in federal court under diversity of citizenship rules. Moreover, Scott's sojourn outside of Missouri did not effect his emancipation under the Missouri Compromise, since reaching that result would deprive Scott's owner of his property.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_ScottRead the whole Wikipedia entry. It is not long and will refresh your memory as to the fact that Missouri was a southern state but also a key state in the abolition of slavery.
At the age of 12 , my great-grandfather accompanied his father, a member of the Union Army, and fought in the Civil War. He was injured, I believe in Missouri and ended up living there. I knew my great-grandfather. He lived to be a very old man. So this history is very important to me.
I have to make one more remark. Chicago, Illinois is far, far north of St. Louis, Mo. Completely different accent. Also, Obama grew up in Hawaii and went to school in the northeast. I think he is imitating his southern accent. He has heard others speak with that accent, but it is not genuine. Remember, even his father was African, not southern American. It's OK, but keep in mind, it is not his natural accent.
Edwards is genuinely southern. He even went to law school in North Carolina. If he ever lived outside the south during his developmental years, it was for a relatively short period. His southern accent is natural. Not that having a southern accent is particularly desirable. But why is Obama speaking in a southern accent? Did he live in the south for a long period of time? Is he imitating the speech he hears certain others use? When does he imitate it? All the time? Some of the time? Why does he switch to this accent?