Alice Palmer and Obama’s first campaign, when he knocked out the politician who recruited and introduced him to fundraisers and others who could help him (like Ayers, etc) —

“… “She went out and recruited Barack.”

So everything seemed set. Palmer would move to Congress and Obama would take her place in the Illinois Senate.

But then Palmer lost the special congressional election. Suddenly, this well-liked community leader faced being out of office after four years in the state Legislature.

…

Palmer finally asked Obama to halt his legislative campaign so she could run for re-election.

He refused. …”  Read more 

That’s going to be my theme for the day. (Scroll down for update)

Perhaps it’s a common enough story, but I’m one of those people who has in my past been both very popular in certain circles and very much an outcast in others. The most painful memory of being unpopular comes from my time in the Marine Corps. Think of that poor guy in “A Few Good Men” and you’re somewhat close to what it was like for me. I was naive and young enough at the time to not really notice until it was too late, and when I got kicked out I was actually quite stunned. I had thought that I was “part of something special” and that my friends would defend me. One young officer, whom everyone in the Company agreed was a wonderful example of everything that is excellent and right about servicemembers, did defend me, and to this day I hold her opinion above those who thought I was the ’wrong stuff.’ Such is life, by such surprises and disloyalty we learn that the world is often an unfair and lonely place. It was an important lesson for me, in that I learned that people frequently clothe themselves in the language and trappings of “honor” and “loyalty,” when in fact what they are really all about is getting ahead, even if it means stepping on their friends and colleagues to do so.

In other situations, I’ve known what it’s like to be “the belle of the ball.” Again, one learns important lessons in that role; there are pitfalls and challenges to being the person everyone wants to know and be seen with, and true friendship can be as hard to find in such conditions as when one is a pariah. Everyone loves a winner until the winner stumbles, and there is little that is more soul-destroying than realizing that without your (money/popularity/power), your “friends” would disappear like cockroaches under bright light. True friendship, and loyalty, are among the most precious things in the world. And nowhere are they more rare than in the world of politics.

This is a Great Test for Edwards.  Read more