Home > Political notes > Archives > 2008 > April > 17
Thursday, April 17, 2008
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered”
Closing music brings an end to the rally.
He stands on the stage with Price, Butterfield and Watt. Cheers all around, signs dance in the air, and the press takes the stage to shoot photos, lower microphones and get the best vantage point of Obama as he moves through the crowd.
Clearly the folks here were moved by his speech, cheering at times, lapsing into respectful silence when Obama began to discuss the needs of disabled veterans, single-parent families and others.
Those who are not filing to the doors are milling around, hoping, it seems to get another glance of him as he works the crowd. He did not head for the door, but dove into the herd of students to meet, greet and sign autographs.
They are moving in waves, trying to get ahead of the group, craning and leaning to see him, cell phones in the air to get even a chance of a photo.
He is leaving now for a gathering of Democratic VIP supporters who paid for thie privilege of dining with Obama.
As he exits the arena, supporters send up one more cheer, then head for the exits themselves.
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That’s what hope is
“…imagining, and then fighting for what didn’t seem possible before.
There is a moment in the life of every generation when the spirit and the light come through…
This is our moment. This is our time.”
“You and I together, we will transform this country, we will transform the world.”
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“My job as Commander in Chief is to keep you safe”
It means training soldiers properly, and treating the properly when they come home, but also means using our military wisely.
“The war in Iraq is unwise. It distracted us from going after Bin Ladin … fanned the flames of anti-American sentiment around the world.”
“I was opposed to this war in 2002; I will bring this war to an end in 2009.”
“I don’t just want to end the war; I want to end the fever of fear that has gripped our foreign policy.”
“I will meet not just with our friends, but with our enemies. Some people said, “You can’t do that, and I said, yes I can. Watch me.”
Says we will lead in shutting down nuclear arsenals, battling hunger and the murder in Darfur. Adds that he wants to see the restoration of civil rights.
On the Democratic party:
“We are going to bring this party together. Whatever the differences between myself and Sen. Clinton, they pale in comparison to my differences with John McCain,” who, he says is a respected American and war veteran, but basically running for a continuation of George Bush’s administration.
“We don’t want to be the party of yesterday; we want to be the party of tomorrow.”
That’s why I’m running for president and that’s why you are here today. So let me close by saying, “Oh, Obama, you said people were angry and people were bitter. I may not have phrased things exactly perfectly, but I was absolutely certain about what I meant and what I said.”
“People are angry, people are frustrated.”
“This campaign started because we wanted to transform that frustration into hope.”
“The reason I talk about hope is because, if you think about it, there is no reason for me to be standing here today.”
Says he was raised by a single parent who gave him two things: education and hope.
“The idea was, if you talk about hope, you’re naive somehow. Hope is not blind optimism…I know how hard it will be to change this country … good intentions are not enough. But I also know that nothing in this country, except somebody, somewhere was willing to hope.”
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Building new infrastructure, discussing education
“If we’re spending $10 million a month in Iraq, we can afford to spend $10 a month in America” building infrastructure that will give all areas access to the Internet, to good roads, water and sewer.
Millions of jobs we can create in a green economy … training our workers for green jobs of the future, increasing fuel efficiency of cars …
… all of this we can do if we have a president who has a sense of urgency, that every child in America has the best education this country has to offer. If we invest in early childhood education, we can give youngsters a head start.
Wants to reward teachers with incentives.
Criticizes No Child Left Behind. “I don’t want teachers teaching to a test. I want our students to learn art and music and civics…”
“And (big cheer) I believe it is time to make college affordable for every American.”
“…. young people, you’ll have to give something back in return. Community service. We’ll invest in you, you invest in America, and together we will move this country forward.”
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“We’ve got to change”
… how business is done.”
“The American people through $25 donations, $75 donations and $5 donations have funded this campaign. You have shown it can be done.”
“We have registered 78,000 new voters. I met a man backstage who said he had taken a week off his vacation time to go and register voters … said it was the best vacation he had ever had, because he’s feeling ready to bring about change.”
“So there is something in the air in this election.”
“We can tell those lobbyists that this is over, because they have not funded my campaign, they cannot run the White House… when we have a Congress answerable to you, we can do something about it.”
Outlines his health plan by saying Congress will enact subsidies for those who do have insurance and provide opportunities for those who don’t.
“If you’re ready for change, we can make an economy that is fairer.”
“CEO is making more in a day than a worker makes in a year … if the company goes belly-up, the CEO goes away with a golden parachute, and the worker loses his pension.”
Tax breaks not to companies who go overseas, but those who invest in Greenville.
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“When we come together”
“There is no challenge we cannot meet, no destiny we cannot fulfill.”
“I am here to report, after 15 months…. I am here to report … my faith in the American people has been vindicated. Because everywhere I go, we are ready for change, we are ready for something new ….”
Applause, cheers drown him out, but he continues nonetheless.
“Young people have been getting involved like never before. But those of us who are young at heart have been getting involved, too.”
“…because when we go to the polling places in November, the name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot. The name of my cousin, Dick Cheney, will not be on the ballot.”
…”That was really embarrassing. If we have a family reunion, I won’t be going with the hunting party.”
“…We come together tonight not just to be against something, but we want to be for something. We’ve got big problems to solve in America. People wnat to know how they can pay the rent, how they can pay the medical bills…How many people used to work in a plant, and the plant gets up and goes overseas … they don’t just lose their jobs, they have to compete with their kids for a job at Wal-mart for $7 and hour.”
“The biggest problem we have is not how we solve the energy crisis or the problems of heath care. That’s not our biggest challenge. Our biggest challenge is that our politics don’t work…the partisanship and bitterness is so deep… that it’s hard for people to get out of it.”
“The status quo resists change.”
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“I’ve been running for 15 months now”
Why did he start so long ago?
He says he’s running because of what Dr. King called, “The fierce urgency of now,” because, “I believe there is something wrong with being too late.”
“We are at a defining moment in our history. Here at home, our economy is in shambles. George Bush just figured this out. Wall Street just figured this out, but people on Main Street have known it for a long time.”
“Because people are working harder and harder just to get by, paying higher prices for gas, health care … and now, suddenly the housing market has collapsed.
“Goes to show you that, under George Bush, pain has trickled up.”
“We can’t afford to wait. … we cannot wait to end global warming…. to bring this war in Iraq to a close… and that is why I am running for President of the United States of America.”
Part of the reason I decided to run because I believed the scope of our challenges had oustripped the scope of our political systems to overcome.”
Pause. From the audience, as he points out someone who needs EMT help, “I love you Barack!”
And he answered, “I love you to.”
“Politics is not about tearing each other down, but about lifting the country up.”
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He looks taller on TV
He’s here. To the tune of “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen
Noise is deafening, but he’s pausing to greet and sign autographs.
Wow, it’s loud in here, like bottling a Pirates football game, compressing it and releasing it in a phone booth.
He’s on the stage. I swear, he looks like he is 18 years old.
If noise could elect a candidate…
He waves and tells folks to sit down and thanks Gurganus for his introduction, the students, faculty and staff of ECU (loud cheer), Chancellor Steve Ballard, Mayor Pro-Tem Mildred Council, Reps. G.K.Butterfield, Mel Watt and David Price.
One last order of business, he says, is early voting. Wants every person here to vote tomorrow. One-Stop-Shopping here in North Carolina, he says. You can go, register and vote at the same time. “How much easier can we make it for you?”
Whoops. Tries to give his early voting phone number, 1-800-NC-EARLY, and stumbles over spelling early (says he almost pulled a Dan Quayle).
Now for the speech.
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Warmup Act III
NOW he’s in the tunnel.
HEeeeere he comes! I think.
Maybe.
Um.
OK. Never mind.
Must be now. Here comes the national press, filing in with their cameras to a niche next to the stage.
Goldsboro man, Franklin Gray, is speaking now, saying he is a reformed Republican who is a Barack Obama supporter.
SURELY, he’ll be here soon. Whoa. Here come the suits with earpieces. Surely, with all of this security around…
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O, Barack …
“Yes we can! Yes we can!”
Music rocks the area; cheers go up … and we wait.
… but not for long. He obviously has been spotted. Like the football team waiting in the tunnel, he is churning enthusiasm before he even emerges…
The crowd reacts to the slightest provocation. “Change We Can Believe In” signs have been distributed and are being waved in time to the music.
Does he have a theme song? Should we wait for “Purple Haze?” Wait. Wow. They are bumping the whole joint with the bass line.
OK. So maybe he wasn’t in the tunnel after all.
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Warmup Act II
The chant goes up: “O-Ba-Ma!, O-Ba-Ma!”
Nathan Lean, president of ECU’s students for Obama group, leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ivy Simmons of Greenville speaks, too, saying we are excited to have him here. Other staffers talk about early voting, encouraging folks to take advantage of the opportunity.
Barack the Vote event tomorrow, 11-3 at the bottom of college hill. Fun, food, games and rides to the early voting polling places. AND, for seniors, from 11-3 there’ll be Barack the Vote at the county senior center, and one for families, same hours at Jaycee Park.
Pull out your cell phones, they say. Text NC to 62262, and you can be looped in to the Barack Obama Campaign.
Want everyone here to fill out a form to commit to early vote before they leave today.
Rep. G.K. Butterfield has taken the stage to introduce Obama, discussing his bond of friendship with the senator. Rep. Mel Watt, 12th District of NC, also is here. Watt and Butterfield high five.
Watt reminds the audience of yesterday’s endorsement of Obama. Cheers drown him out. He introduces U.S. Rep. David Price from the Triangle.
Obama, Price says, “is a leader who can bring the change we need. … restore America’s moral leadership in the world … bringing us back from the diplomatic meltown … of President Bush.”
“Barack Obama can win! This Obama campaign has swept this country; it has gone on for a long time. The youngest generation of voters is overwhelmingly in the Obama camp.
“We’re going to turn North Carolina blue, and Barack Obama is going to lead the way.”
Glad you can hear me over all this noise.
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The introduction
Looks like Barack’s warm-up act is hitting the stage.
Mildred Council, longtime member of the Greenville City Council and Mayor Pro-Tem, is onstage to welcome us to see Sen-A-Tor Ba-rack-a O-ba-ma.
“The road to the White House runs through America’s hometowns,” she said, quoting a publication. “Good evening to the people of North Carolina, and Eastern North Carolina in particular.
“We are a community of progressive strength in the aspects of courage, healthcare and leisure. We are working toward an all-inclusive city.”
WHooops! She called him Doctor Obama. “Barack Obama, I’m sorry!”
“Today is a special day for all of us. … to see a person of great fortitude … commanding leadership… to become the next presidential nominee… and, in November, the president of these United States of America.”
“… we want to thank him for his commitment to our men and women in uniform. We admire his ability to engage and to appeal to Democrats, Republicans and Independents of every demographic group.”
“… if we give him this opportunity to be president it will only broaden and be a positive force in all of our futures.”
“Greenville is the hub is eastern North Carolina. … as Southerners, we welcome Barack Obama with open arms and want him to feel right at home Down East.”
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Of every hue and color
One of the coolest parts about this gathering is the number of folks of all backgrounds, ethnic persuasions and ages.
There are a number of what President Bush once refered to as “women of cover” (No comment.), black kids, white women with silver hair, elderly African-American men who have seen yesterday … and love today … rednecks, bewildered, tired staffers, Secret Service and, of course, the press. Dailies, weeklies, local TV, networks, Oh. Excuse me. Networks …
Cheers are going up from time to time as folks THINK they hear or see something.
5 EMS calls so far, mostly fainters from the heat, and one diabetic seizure.
More than 1,500 folks are waiting outside. They’re setting up a sound system so they can hear the speech.
Anticipation is building. 20 minutes until O-hour.
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Stemming the flow… except for CNN,CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, DEFG
Looks like there is a higher power here in Greenville.
The Fire Marshall.
Though there seems to be some space available on the floor, the fire marshall has told staffers (and the Secret Service — take That! Homeland Security) that it’s time to pause and review. How many are here? How many are waiting? There is talk of moving them to the “overflow” area, but we’re not sure where that is.
The national press is filtering in and starting its setup.
And Linward Barnhill, 73, of Greenville, showed up in his American flag shirt. Obama staffers grabbed him and escorted him to the bleachers behind Obama’s podium, where he’ll be seen by TV cameras. He told us, “It’s a day to be patriotic.”
Meanwhile Sen. Obama is entertaining questions from our reporter. Odd. Somewhere near the Pirates’ locker room stands a presidential candidate and a small town journalist. Welcome to America.
He’s due to take the stage in 40 minutes.
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Purple … Gold! No…Wait!
Did I say pep rally?
The wave has encircled the arena already stirring us into a sea of folks, but folks seem to be confused about why they’re here. They’re yelling, “Purple!” and being answered with, “Gold!”
I guess that has a better ring than “Demo!” … “Crat!”
Our reporter has just been summoned for his one-on-one with Sen. Obama, so he must be in the building — or at least nearby.
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The Eagle wanna be has landed
Welcome to Greenville, Sen. O’Bama.
You have a coliseum full of people who’re being blasted with your mix tape music, an army of volunteers, at least one of whom is wearing your campaign buttons as earrings, and an atmosphere that approaches that of a giant pep rally.
There’s room left on the floor now, and a few seats in the upper reaches, but he’ll face a packed arena by the time he arrives.
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This just in …
He’s in the air!
The flight tracking site has revised his take-off time, and already, he’s nearing PGV airspace.
Maybe he’ll make his 6 p.m. appointment after all.
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Obama’s Mix Tape
Here’s what we’ve heard today, though we’re told much of it was played at the Clinton rally… still, if the candidates’ policy proposals aren’t all that far apart, can we suppose that their taste in music … nah.
Here you go:
Walk On, U2; It’s Gonna Be a Lovely Day, S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.; Change, Blind Melon; Back in the USA, artist unknown; American Land, Pogues (we think); Rockin’ Me, Steve Miller Band; My Hero, Foo Fighters; Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who; Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson; You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, BTO; Times Like These, Foo Fighters; Boy in the Bubble, Paul Simon
…. so far.
The crowd of youngsters on the floor is now about 10 deep, still in that arc around the stage. Already, cell phones, cameras and other electronic equipment is being hoisted above heads for photos.
Williams Arena, which seats a is about 75% full. It seats about 7,500. People are filing in steadily, still.
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Flight delayed
… well, at least according to the Internet, it is.
Tracking what we believe to be the plane bringing Obama to Greenville, we find that its departure has been delayed by about 40 minutes. Given the size of the plane on which he will be flying, we’ll have to wait for him to deplane along with the army of national press that’ll be traveling with him.
The rally is supposed to get under way at about 6 p.m. We’ll see.
Seats are still filling steadily here in the coliseum, with a crowd that seems to be divided about 60%-40% African-American to white, about 65% under the age of 30. Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” is blaring from the speakers, and youngsters, now allowed onto the floor of the coliseum are crowded around the semi-circular stage area like a five-deep arc of people.
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“Obama is my home boy”
The seats are filling as Obama supporters and others pour into the arena. Doors were opened about 3:45; selected folks are being allowed onto the floor level, where the bleachers are open on three sides (press is on the other).
Most people are being asked to go upstairs, and the front rows are filling quickly — well the REAL front rows, those reserved for Pirates supporters who donate big bucks for great seats at basketball games, are still empty, so they must be holding those for similarly well-heeled Obama supporters.
The line outside is huge, with folks carrying portable chairs, umbrellas to protect them from the heat, and wearing t-shirts saying, “Obama is my home boy.” The Secret Service has more than 30 members of the transportation security administration manning metal detectors.
Volunteers are herding late-comers to the back of the line. One volunteer stood at the front of the line shouting, “To the left! To the left!” urging folks to “listen to the words of Beyonce. (It’s for sure that, at an Obama rally, they wouldn’t herd anyone to the right.)
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From inside Minges
We have been admitted to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum, having been sniffed, frisked, wanded, ID’d and sent along our merry way.
The seats are all empty save for 50-75 stragglers (probably volunteers) who’ve gained admittance and are staking their claim. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people have been waiting outside in the sun for hours. One couple, we were told, was here shortly after midnight. When the Obama staff workers found them, they sent them home with a promise of front-row seats tonight.
There are probably 100 press types wandering in this area, which is cordoned off by waist-high steel fencing. Two rows of tables are lined up behind, with “traveling press” afforded front-row seats, while the lowly local press is relegated to the back.
Obama signs dot the arena, student volunteers are wearing purple and gold “O” ECU for Obama t-shirts.
Anticipation is building already; sound checks and camera hook-ups are under way.
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Lines indicate packed house at Minges tonight
East Carolina University officials are expecting a packed house with at least 1,500 people in line at 2:15 p.m., an observer said.
J.J. McLamb with ECU facilities was warning Minges coliseum would fit 8,000 people tonight.
Campaign organizers were dividing the crowd into two lines, one for students and another for the general public. They were keeping folks busy by having them fill out forms, an observer said.
The “Ticket for Change” form asks people to become activity involved in the campaign by either pledging to early vote for Obama, volunteer to go door-to-door on election day or house a volunteer.
It also requests the name, telephone number and e-mail of individuals.
ECU security officials were monitoring the situation and working to figure out how to direct the two lines once the doors opened.
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Lines forming for Obama
Three hours remain until the doors open for Sen. Barack Obama’s speech in Greenville today, but people are already lining up for the event.
Approximately 200 people are sitting outside of Minges Coliseum right now, and there are already members of the parking and transportation staff directing traffic around the facility.
The lot directly beside Minges is full, but there are still plenty of spots available next to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and in the Minges lot next to Charles Boulevard.
Check back here for more updates as they become available.
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Debate recap
Did you miss last night’s debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton?
Watch the highlights from TPMtv below:
Do you think Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos were too harsh?
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More details about Obama appearance
Officials from the campaign for Sen. Barack Obama say they expect him to take the stage around 6 p.m. today.
The Democratic presidential candidate is speaking during a campaign rally at East Carolina University’s Minges Coliseum.
Doors open at 4 p.m. for the general public, and admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
For security reasons, officials are requesting attendees not bring bags, signs or banners. They also suggest people limit personal items brought to the event.
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Parking should be plentiful for Obama rally
Anyone heading to Minges Coliseum today to hear Sen. Barack Obama speak should not have any issues with parking.
East Carolina University officials said they are making the lots normally reserved for students near the coliseum and Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium available to the general public.
Officials are also offering shuttle service beginning at 3:30 p.m. from the Curry Court overflow parking lots near the Belk Building at the intersection of Charles and Greenville Boulevards.
“We anticipate that should be enough parking,” said Wood Davis, interim director of ECU transit. “With all of the parking near Minges and Ficklen and all of the parking at Curry Court, it should be enough. It is also during the evening hours, so that will help, because a lot of the students will be gone from the lots.”
Doors open at 4 p.m. Campaign officials have not said when they expect Obama to speak.
More details about today’s event will be posted as they become available.
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Democrats gear up for John Pierce celebration
The John Pierce Fellowship lunch, a longtime celebration of Democratic Party politics, is scheduled for May 2.
Celebrating its 85th year, the event started as a birthday celebration for Pierce, a merchant and cotton broker from Ayden. It evolved into a celebration for Democratic powerhouses that brought senators, congressmen and governors to town before the primary elections.
This year’s event is being held at the Richard McLawhorn Farm on Norris Store Road, off N.C. 903 South in the Ayden township.
Registration and a reception begin at 10:30 a.m., the program starts at noon and lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $10.
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Campaign RSVP will generate mailings
If you went online to RSVP Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign in anticipation of attending his rally in Greenville, expect to hear more from the campaign.
People who sign up at the www.nc.barackobama.com will be notified about other North Carolina events, campaign spokeswoman Katherine Lyons said.
Organizers of today’s Obama appearance at Minges Coliseum say they ask for attendees to RSVP so they can determine whether additional rooms will be needed to hold the expected crowd, which will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
But those who filled out the RSVP will continue to receive information, she said.
The Web site asks people who want to attend to consider carpooling because of limited parking space. It also says to not bring bags, signs or banners for security reasons, and to limit personal items brought to the event.
The coliseum’s doors open at 4 p.m. Campaign officials have not confirmed what time they expect Obama to speak.
Congressmen endorse Obama
One day before Sen. Barack Obama returns to North Carolina, the Democratic presidential hopeful picked up a pair of congressional endorsements in the state.
Congressmen David Price, who represents the 4th District, and Mel Watt, a 12th District representative, each announced their support for Obama today during a conference call.
The lawmakers are both North Carolina superdelegates who previously endorsed Sen. John Edwards.
Their decision gives Obama the support of six of North Carolina’s 17 superdelegates. Only one of the state’s superdelegates is backing Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The rest are uncommitted and many have said they are unlikely to endorse a candidate until after the state’s May 6 primary.
