The President of the United States came to Chicago for a fundraiser for Alexi Giannoulias. Please note that I was in the upper peninsular of Michigan, although I did receive an invitation, and I did not send a contribution, not even of $25.

For many reasons Obama was obligated to do this. I was not. It is three months before the election and only a million was raised. I doubt if you’ll see Obama do another fundraiser for Giannoulias. The Democrats I am supporting are running for the House of Representatives: Bean, Foster, Halvorson and Seals especially.

I don’t want to win the U.S. Senate, although there are certain seats I don’t want to lose because of the individuals running, namely, Feingold, Sestak, Reid and a few others. This is a confusing year and I promise to make myself clear on every contest no later than October 15.

Michelle Obama’s Travel Expenses

I don’t want to hear one more word of criticism on the cost of Michelle Obama’s travel expenses, or those of her daughters, mother or husband, whether for official or unofficial business.

Bill Clinton, quoting Harry Truman, said the White House is the ‘crown jewel’ of the federal penal system. The Secret Service determines what is necessary, adequate and hopefully sufficient security for the first family, and they have every right to move about as we do.

There are three hundred million people in the U.S. If it cost every one of us $1 a piece per capital to ensure the safety and well being of Barack, Michelle, Marion, Sasha, Malia — even Craig and his family it is a bargain. Of all the sitting presidents no one has come under more, or more serious threats than Barack Obama, and no one, even his most vociferous opponents should want any harm or evil to befall him.

I never questioned the travel expenses or security costs for President Bush (both of them), their wives, children and families, whether for official business or going to Camp David or Crawford Texas.

I am especially proud that Michelle took a real vacation and didn’t feel a need to add on an ‘official business occasion’.

I have no doubt that the President and his wife and their daughters would like too be able to walk out the White House Door and travel anywhere they want by bus, cab, or any other form of transit, but this is obviously unrealistic and impractical.

The President is fair game on public issues. His ability to travel and the security he needs should not be in question for any reason. Period. End of story.

Gorbachev and Mandela, Thank you!, Thank you!, Thank You!

Gratitude is a quality not expressed sufficiently. I want to express my gratitude to two great men while they are both still alive.

The first is Mikhail Gorbachev, who more than anyone brought down the Iron Curtain including the Berlin Wall. It is often expressed that Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher deserve great credit for this, and there is truth is this of course. But it is important to remember that Gorbachev did not offer resistance to glasnost and perestroika but conceived it, encouraged it and made it possible. There was no resistance or war. Of course now we need to deal with terrorism, but the Cold War is over, and it wouldn’t be over if it weren’t for Gorby.

The second truly great man of our time spanning two centuries and two milennia is Nelson Mandela, affectionately known as Mandiba. Eliminating apartheid without a single death, instituting democracy without rebellion, emphaziing forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation was done in such a way that he has become the one former political leader who can go to any nation in the world.

I wish the great powers of the US, China and Russia would use Mandela and Gorbachev more in working out the remaining problems with which we are plagued, but this cannot happen until we acknowledge the great debt we have to them. I’ve never met Mandela and I have met Gorbachev three times, and words cannot express my appreciation for their contribution to the betterment of society.

Beauty

I am also grateful for God and nature, neither of whom I can fully comprehend. The last five days I’ve been able to spend as a guest of good friends in a log cabin hand hewn in 1928 facing one of the great small lakes in the Upper Peninsula. I truly wish that every one of of the world’s individuals be able to share the beauty that is to be found almost everywhere, both natural made and man made.

And to all of you who take time to read me, whether it be a few or many, best wishes for full and happy lives.

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Phil Krone is a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Observer