Spring Break
Tatyana Ali stops at OSU to speak for Sen. Obama
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star speaks on Obama, politics, leadership, acting, music
Daniel Acee
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
Tatyana Ali, best known for her role as Ashley Banks from the hit sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," made a visit to OSU yesterday to campaign for senator Barack Obama.
Working with the Obama campaign, Ali has been canvassing cities and universities in Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and Oregon, according to her blog.
Ali explained her experience in government and politics on a KBVR radio interview that she gave after her speech.
"I am a big fan of the 60s, I studied government in school [Harvard University] and Afro-American studies," said Ali. "Not just the civil rights movement, so much change happened in such a short period, it was an incredible time for America."
She also spoke of what she values in a good leader. She has grand visions of leadership from the leaders in the 60s.
"The ability to inspire large groups of people and engender a feeling of hope, possibility, integrity, capability and brilliance, I think a leader should be brilliant." Ali said.
She told KBVR radio why she chose to support Obama and why she thinks he should be the next president of the United States.
I believe he speaks from his heart. He is brilliant, genuine and has a lot of integrity and courage," said Ali. "He opposed the war when no one else would, and that shows a lot - that's true leadership. You get a sense he is not just playing the politician game - he's not just in it to win, he wants to make things better, and that's kind of been his lifelong career."
She further stated that she wants Obama to win because he has experience working on the ground to make things better for people.
On her travels, Ali went door to door and called people to encourage them to vote in their state's caucus. She has had many different experiences and reactions from the people she talked to.
"The weirdest thing that happened was when we were at a University in Iowa, and we were canvassing the dorms," said Ali. "I knocked on this door, and three girls answered it. They didn't want to go vote, but we were able to make a trade. I sang the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' song and they went to vote in their caucus."
After talk of politics ended, Ali spoke of her acting and music career. She told KBVR radio that her first kiss was on "The Fresh Prince." The set of FPBA laughed until they cried every day because of the many improvisations from Will Smith, she said.
Ali was told it was supposed to rain yesterday, but was surprised with the sunshine and impressed, saying that the OSU campus was gorgeous.
In a final note in her KBVR radio interview, Ali was asked what she would do to make things better for others in the U.S. if she were a leader.
"Well, my skills are different [than Obama's], but I think laughter and love makes everything better."
Daniel Acee, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Working with the Obama campaign, Ali has been canvassing cities and universities in Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and Oregon, according to her blog.
Ali explained her experience in government and politics on a KBVR radio interview that she gave after her speech.
"I am a big fan of the 60s, I studied government in school [Harvard University] and Afro-American studies," said Ali. "Not just the civil rights movement, so much change happened in such a short period, it was an incredible time for America."
She also spoke of what she values in a good leader. She has grand visions of leadership from the leaders in the 60s.
"The ability to inspire large groups of people and engender a feeling of hope, possibility, integrity, capability and brilliance, I think a leader should be brilliant." Ali said.
She told KBVR radio why she chose to support Obama and why she thinks he should be the next president of the United States.
I believe he speaks from his heart. He is brilliant, genuine and has a lot of integrity and courage," said Ali. "He opposed the war when no one else would, and that shows a lot - that's true leadership. You get a sense he is not just playing the politician game - he's not just in it to win, he wants to make things better, and that's kind of been his lifelong career."
She further stated that she wants Obama to win because he has experience working on the ground to make things better for people.
On her travels, Ali went door to door and called people to encourage them to vote in their state's caucus. She has had many different experiences and reactions from the people she talked to.
"The weirdest thing that happened was when we were at a University in Iowa, and we were canvassing the dorms," said Ali. "I knocked on this door, and three girls answered it. They didn't want to go vote, but we were able to make a trade. I sang the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' song and they went to vote in their caucus."
After talk of politics ended, Ali spoke of her acting and music career. She told KBVR radio that her first kiss was on "The Fresh Prince." The set of FPBA laughed until they cried every day because of the many improvisations from Will Smith, she said.
Ali was told it was supposed to rain yesterday, but was surprised with the sunshine and impressed, saying that the OSU campus was gorgeous.
In a final note in her KBVR radio interview, Ali was asked what she would do to make things better for others in the U.S. if she were a leader.
"Well, my skills are different [than Obama's], but I think laughter and love makes everything better."
Daniel Acee, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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