President Obama gave the commencement address this evening at Joplin, Missouri High School, held at the Missouri Southern State University campus, one year minus one day after the disastrous tornado that hit that Southwest Missouri city of 50,000 on May 22, 2011, a short time after graduation at the high school of the Class of 2011.
Thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses were destroyed, and 161 citizens lost their lives in the worst tornado to hit the nation since 1950.
Obama came to honor the city for its heroic recovery, and to emphasize that when people work together, and overcome their differences for the betterment of the entire community, that no obstacle stands in the way of progress.
Obama honored individuals who overcame adversity, added some humor to his speech, and showed the city what he is best known for, his empathy and sincere concern for the welfare of those less fortunate.
This trait in Barack Obama will be the magical factor, along with his likability, that will re-elect him to a second term in the White House, and it is possible that in a state, Missouri, which John McCain won by a few thousand votes in 2008, that the President might just carry the state this time. It certainly is in play, and don’t count Obama out!