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supporters. Childs, noticing the look on the candidate's face, yelled out to those assembled, "Fired up!" The room responded, "Fired up!" Obama, surprised by the enthusiasm, turned around to see Childs as she continued, "Ready to go!", to which the room again responded, "Ready to go!" Soon after the campaign stop in
Greenwood, the same chant was repeated at a larger Obama rally in
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In July 2013, the South
Carolina ethics commission leveled a fine against Childs for what it found to be inappropriate spending of "in district" funds. The commission found that she used $ 100 to make personal donations to nonprofits outside Greenwood County. One of the contributions was $ 50 paid to
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in
Greenwood, where she studied health; and graduated in 1967. After retiring as a licensed practical nurse she became local activist in her community. She started an anonymous hotline in Greenwood County to help seniors who were being preyed on by criminals and feared retribution if they called
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In June 2007, then-Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama visited the small town of
Greenwood, South Carolina (population 29,000) as part of his campaign efforts. When he arrived at the town's civic center, late at night and in a driving rain, he was surprised to find a room of only 30
166:, the president of Greenwood's Fujifilm plant translated it for her. In December 2009, almost a year after he assumed office, President Obama invited Childs to the White House for the first holiday celebration hosted by the Obamas. She has been described by
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Much of her efforts have centered on establishing after school programs for the community's youth, providing holiday meals for the unemployed, obtaining funding for a new rec center and providing school supplies for underprivileged youth.
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In 1994, Childs ran for an at-large seat on the
Greenwood School District 50 board of trustees. She served on the school board until 1998. In 1999 she ran for and won a seat on the Greenwood County Council, representing District 1.
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In March 2022, Childs announced her decision not to run for re-election to
Greenwood County Council. She was succeeded by Democrat Teresa Griffin.
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182:. There she led the 'fired up" chant again, but this time in front of 20,000 delegates and their guests and a national TV audience.
142:. Before long, volunteers were carrying signs and wearing shirts printed with the slogan. The national press picked up on the craze;
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police. After retiring as a licensed practical nurse, she studied criminal justice and became a private investigator.
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485:"Obama, First Lady Michelle, invite Edith Childs--she coined "fired up, ready to go"--to White House"
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President Barack Obama and First Lady
Michelle Obama greet Childs at a holiday party in 2009.
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356:"What's next for the rec? Community wants something to be done at dilapidated facility"
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515:"Edith Childs, the surprising star of President Obama's State of the Union address"
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Childs was chosen by her party to be part of the South
Carolina delegation to the
300:"From Our Kitchen: Greenwood Soup Kitchen provides 375 free Thanksgiving meals"
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as a "symbol of the power in each
American to change our country".
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put an advertisement in the program for a local beauty pageant.
382:"Edith Childs won't seek reelection, plans to focus on family"
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also interviewed her. She flew to New York to appear on
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Childs was born in 1949 in South
Carolina. She attended
162:. When a Japanese reporter wrote a story on her, in
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549:African-American people in South Carolina politics
462:"Greenwood activist still 'fired up' about Obama"
433:"Ethics commission findings perplexing: Our View"
277:"Not a boys club: Women in politics commonplace"
574:21st-century African-American women politicians
554:20th-century African-American women politicians
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408:"Griffin wins seat on Greenwood County Council"
330:"Great things can happen when community unites"
435:. Index-Journal. July 30, 2013. Archived from
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251:"Brewer banquet draws more than 150 alumni"
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584:20th-century African-American politicians
569:21st-century African-American politicians
513:Andrews-Dyer, Helena (January 13, 2016).
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579:21st-century American women politicians
275:St. Claire Donaghy (October 20, 2013).
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406:Dominguez, Damian (November 8, 2022).
146:interviewed her in Greenwood, and the
544:People from Greenwood, South Carolina
7:
380:Dominguez, Damian (March 31, 2022).
224:Abcarian, Robin (13 December 2007).
180:2012 Democratic National Convention
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298:Russell Cox (November 25, 2011).
521:from the original on 2016-01-13.
460:Adam Beam (September 6, 2012).
358:. Index-Journal. Archived from
332:. Index Journal. Archived from
253:. Index-Journal. Archived from
354:Matt Bruce (August 18, 2013).
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226:"She put words in his mouth"
68:, county council. President
37:1949 (age 74–75)
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198:see the Aiken video here:
174:2012 Presidential primary
125:2008 Presidential primary
66:Greenwood, South Carolina
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564:South Carolina Democrats
82:"Fired up! Ready to go!"
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72:has credited her with
140:Aiken, South Carolina
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155:The Washington Post
62:American politician
16:American politician
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93:Brewer High School
64:who served on the
489:Chicago Sun-Times
412:The Index-Journal
386:The Index-Journal
230:Los Angeles Times
149:Los Angeles Times
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340:2014-03-29
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261:2014-03-30
235:2014-03-29
208:References
87:Background
46:Democratic
519:Archived
164:Japanese
74:coining
60:is an
186:Notes
419:2022
393:2022
152:and
76:his
34:Born
160:CBS
144:CNN
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