Obama's Community Service Called Under Question
(CBS) CHICAGO Some say Illinois Senator Barack Obama gave himself a little too much credit for his work as a community organizer. Obama's past work in the troubled Altgeld Gardens housing project is a staple of his presidential stump speeches, and a significant part of his first book.As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, at least one resident who worked with Obama back then is unhappy with the senator's recollection.Hazel Johnson and her daughter Cheryl are disputing some parts of the version of events Obama tells. They do not, however, dispute that he worked hard at Altgeld Gardens and say they are supporting his presidential campaign.I like Obama. And I think hes a young, bright and intelligent man, and I wish him all the luck in his endeavors, Johnson said.But, Johnson says in his book, Dreams from My Father, and in campaign stump speeches, Obama gets some things wrong about the months he spent working in Altgeld Gardens in the 1980s.She and her daughter Cheryl produced a document, for example, showing Obamas 1987 salary as an organizer in the development to be $25,000 not the $13,000 he often talks about.There is a very simple explanation for that, Obamas aides say.
Obama's Community Service Called Into Question
(CBS) CHICAGO Some say Illinois Senator Barack Obama gave himself a little too much credit for his work as a community organizer. Obama's past work in Chicagos troubled Altgeld Gardens housing project is a staple of his presidential stump speeches, and a significant part of his first book.At least one resident who worked with Obama back then is unhappy with the senator's recollection, reports Mike Flannery, political editor with WBBM-TV, the CBS station in Chicago.Hazel Johnson and her daughter Cheryl are disputing some parts of the version of events Obama tells. They do not, however, dispute that he worked hard at Altgeld Gardens and say they are supporting his presidential campaign.I like Obama. And I think hes a young, bright and intelligent man, and I wish him all the luck in his endeavors, Johnson said.But, Johnson says in his book, Dreams from My Father, and in campaign stump speeches, Obama gets some things wrong about the months he spent working in Altgeld Gardens in the 1980s.She and her daughter Cheryl produced a document, for example, showing Obamas 1987 salary as an organizer in the development to be $25,000 - not the $13,000 he often talks about.There is a very simple explanation for that, Obamas aides say.
N.H. backer laments loss of Vilsack
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack called Gary Hirshberg on Thursday night to tell him he was ending his presidential campaign. Friday morning, the phone rang again: it was Sen. Barack Obama, who waited just two minutes after Vilsack's public announcement to ask for Hirshberg's support. Hirshberg, the founder and chief executive officer of Stonyfield Farm yogurt, was one of Vilsack's earliest and most prominent New Hampshire supporters. He said Vilsack's departure from the race was disappointing both personally and in terms of what it says about the political process. Vilsack told reporters that his inability to raise enough money to compete with his top-tier rivals was the sole reason for his decision to leave the race for the Democratic nomination. According to his most recent financial documents, Vilsack raised more than $1.1 million in the last seven weeks of 2006 but had less than $400,000 in the bank.
When a No-Win State is a Show-Down State
When the 2008 general election comes around, Texas will most likely remain red. But its capital Austin is the blue heart of this very crimson state and has been regarded as solid Clinton territory for campaign contributions and support. After all, this was where Bill and Hillary cut their political teeth as McGovern organizers. On Friday, however, U.S. Senator Barack Obama staked his claim. This isn't about electoral votes. It is about money, convention delegates, more money, and proving who can best inspire a vital national Democratic constituency, Hispanic voters. So far, Hillary Clinton has appeared to be holding all the cards in Texas. Nevertheless, against the backdrop of the Geffen flap, Obama has pulled up a chair at the poker table. It seemed more rock concert than political rally as 20,000 Texans gathered Friday afternoon in that same downtown Austin park for what Obama's campaign dubbed a "Kick-Ass Rally." The crowd was predominately young, the music by Cyril Neville and Tribe 13 first class funky, and the misty rain was infused with the occasional aroma of marijuana.
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