He visited his grandmother, his sister, and all the major tourist sites on Oahu!
1) Catherine Toth questioned Obama's "local credentials" in her blog!
In Hawaii, questioning someone's "local credentials" is like saying "you're not one of us"
http://dailydish.honadvblogs.com/2008/08/11/obama-local-%e2%80%94-or-trying-to-be/#comments
It’s not breaking news the U.S. senator — and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee — has Hawai’i ties. He was born at Kapi’olani Medical Center and graduated from Punahou School.
But I’m sure few of us knew about his affection for all things local.
In his 16-minute speech on Friday, he mentioned plans to get a plate lunch, maybe stop by Zippy’s or Rainbow Drive-In, maybe get some shave ice.
He said he wanted to go bodysurfing — then hung out at Lanikai Beach this weekend — and even called his grandma “tutu.”
But would you consider Obama — who didn’t campaign here at all, by the way — “local”?
Sure, he was born here and returned to the Islands to attend Punahou for seven years. But is that enough for Obama to claim Hawai’i as his home?
I did find it interesting that he dropped so many “local-isms” in his speech. Shave ice, Zip Min, tutu, “howzit.” It’s obvious he wanted to relate to his audience. But I doubt he uses these words and phrases in his everyday life.
But what do you think about that? What makes him — or anyone — “local”? And do you think his reference to local foods and places was appropriate? Misleading? Cheesy?
You tell me!
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Those sentences highlighted in orange obviously questioned Obama's local credentials and are very insulting!
This was my reply to Catherine Toth
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Let’s think about this scenario — A local Asian or Polynesian grows up in Hawaii, and lives his/her whole adult life on the mainland.
Would that person’s “local credentials” be questioned in the same manner & tone in which Catherine Toth’s questioned Barack Obama’s local credentials?
Look, I’ll withdraw the race card if Ms Toth questions the local credentials of Norm Chow (Punahou grad who has been coaching college & pro football in the mainland for DECADES), Duane Akina (Punahou grad played college footbal @ Washington and coaches @ Texas) and all those other local Asians & Polynesians who left Hawaii after high school and never moved back!
Some say I don’t “look local” ( i’m of Latin American & European ansestry) but I’m born here, I’m more local than most of my high school classmates (McKinley, mostly immigrant school) and I’m a UH grad (making me more local than some local Asians &Polynesians who went to mainland colleges)
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just to clarify things, I’m NOT putting down non-locals or any racial groups, nor am I questioning the humanity of those who move to the mainland! I’m just pointing a double standard of whose considered “local”, a double standard that is perpetuated by Ms Toth’s blog!
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/8965/40/
I know his grandmother lives in Hawai'i, and I know Hawai'i is a state. But it has the look of him going off to some sort of foreign, exotic place."
Roberts went on to say, "He should be in Myrtle Beach if he's going to take a vacation at this time."
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Foreign? While Native Hawaiian activists want Hawaii to be separate from the US, they're only a minority (though a very vocal one) of Hawaii's population!
Those who question Hawaii's "American-ness" needs to understand a few things!
Some of USA's gold medals in the just-completed Olympics came with the help of Hawaii athletes like Brian Clay (decathalon), Natasha Kai (women's soccer), Clay Stanley (men's volleyball) as the silver medal in women's volleyball (with Robyn Ah-Mow-Santos, Heather Bown, Lindsey Berg and Kim Willoughby)
But more importantly, some of the troops who died for the USA in Iraq & Afghanistan (as well as previous wars) come from Hawaii!
If Obama didn't visit his relatives in Hawaii, the news pundit would criticize him for "lacking family values", or "being an angry black man who couldn't get over his racial loneliness growing up in Hawaii" Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't! Barack Obama did the right thing in vacationing in Hawaii! That's where his family is, that's where he grew up!
The idea that Obama could win a single vote by visiting Myrtle Beach (in South Carolina) is silly! It would only give him an image of elitism, it's located in one of the most conservative states in the USA, and it wouldn't give him a swing vote!
I know, Obama won the Democratic primary in South Carolina! However, that state is dominated by Republicans! Most of the state population is conservative European-Americans, whereas most of Obama's support from that state is from its African-American community. While South Carolina has more African-Americans than most states, they're still outnumbered by very conservative European-Americans!
Obama might have a better chance of winning North Carolina, Virginia, or Georgia! While they're usually Republican states, their liberal population is increasing. And an increased African-American voting turnout would help too! And it wouldn't have mattered if Obama visited Myrtle Beach!
Florida, while a swing state, might fall to McCain. Though that state's Jewish and Cuban population is not as conservative as its European-Americans in the northern areas, they might prefer McCain on foreign policy issues! Though an increased African-American turnout, plus other liberal voters in Miami metro area could help Obama!
