Recently, I was traveling to Chicago, IL on a business trip. While in town, I was considering traveling about 4 hours to see Obama in South Indiana as I blog on the www.barackobama.com site. Lo' there was a knock at the door! It was a polite newspaper delivery person. Listed on the front page...OBAMA TO VISIT GARY. That's Gary, IN... my hometown of years and years ago. It's only a 30 min drive.
Needless to say, I hustled down to the closest Obama HQ to obtain tickets... Behind about 700 other anxious supporters. Disappointed...NO. Frustrated...NOT AT ALL. Excited...You betcha!
The atomospere was a quarry of diverse supports of all races. The common thread was sheer anticipation of being at the event the next day. As I am sure that others were contemplating in their minds, I also was strategizing how to be first in line. Would I have to be there at 5am? 6am? 7am? After all, the doors were not to open until 9am for a Town Hall meeting scheduled to kickoff at 11am.
Then, there was a hidden blessing! As I enter the Obama HQ, I met my former employer, a lifelong politician and former County Commissioner, Rudolph Clay. Now, I could guild the lily here, but at 16, this poor young black boy was honored to work as his janitor at the county court house. Glamour. Not really. But, it paid off. This former employer was now the Mayor. What luck?
In cordial tones, we greet each other. I have my tickets in hand and I;m ready to scream at the top of my lungs. Even, my larynx shutters at the thought.
The next morning, I awake at 5am. To ease the excitement, I tried sitting down for breakfast. After all, it would be a long day. Stand...Stand...Stand...Sit...Shout...Appaul...Shout...Push to get to the front of the line to shake Barack hand... Then, call every friend I know to relive the dream!
Needless to say, it was an awesome experience. This blog will dedicated to those to share their experience of attending an Obama Rally or Town Hall or any live event. By the way, thanks to my former employer, I sat a few rows from the podium. And, YES...I got that handshake... Moreover, I met new friends in the battle that we label as "primary."
12 Hour Drive from Atlanta to Gary, IN... PRICELESS!
This comes courtesy of another Obamacan! Thanks for the info on Obama's experience per the NY Times! Did you know...
During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service in Illinois he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:233 regarding health care and public health,125 on poverty and public assistance,112 crime fighting bills,97 economic bills,62 education bills,60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,21 ethics reform bills,20 environmental bills,6 military and veterans affairs, and many others.His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included:**Coburn-Obama Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. A bill to require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds, S.2590 Sen. Coburn said on the Senate floor he introduced the bill for himself and Sen. Obama. Became Public Law No: 109-282. Sen. Clinton eventually added her name as a cosponsor.**Lugar-Obama Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006, S.2566 The term "Lugar-Obama" is in Senate records. The Lugar-Obama bill was included in the Department of State Authorities Act of 2006, Public Law No: 109-472, and was signed by President Bush in January 2007.**Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 S.2611 Passed by Senate. While Sen. Obama was not a sponsor, he played a key role in the crafting of the immigration reform bill that the Senate passed before the 109th Congress adjourned; he offered three amendments that were included in the Senate bill.In the (current) 110th Congress 2007:**Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2007, S.230 Introduced by Sen. Feingold for himself and Sen. Obama and two others to establish a "gold standard" for reform. This bill was sent to committee. The final bill that the Congress passed closely mirrored and drew key provisions from S. 230, and Senator Obama helped lead the Senate to pass the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, Public Law No: 110-81.**Nuclear Weapons Threat Reduction Act of 2007, S.1977 Sponsor: Sen. Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 8/2/2007) Cosponsors (2) Title: A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology. Latest Major Action: 8/2/2007 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
If you didn't believe that Hillary would do anything to WIN, think again? She attacks a 12 year rape victim despite your years of experience as a Child Rights Advocate. I had always admired her record in support Child Rights... until I read this article.
In brief, a Newsday article reports, "Hillary Rodham Clinton often invokes her "35 years of experience making change" on the campaign trail, recounting her work in the 1970s on behalf of battered and neglected children and impoverished legal-aid clients.But there is a little-known episode Clinton doesn't mention in her standard campaign speech in which those two principles collided. In 1975, a 27-year-old Hillary Rodham, acting as a court-appointed attorney, attacked the credibility of a 12-year-old girl in mounting an aggressive defense for an indigent client accused of rape in Arkansas - using her child development background to help the defendant."
Read the full article
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usark245589997feb24,0,2934440,print.story
My commentary is simple. She trained to be a legal advocate for children. Her prior experience was as a legal advocate for children. She was requested to defend a 41 year old man who was accused of raping a 12 year girl. The hospital concluded that the bruises and body showed signs consistent with rape. She still defended this guy, per the article, "like a bulldog."
Hilliary made up her own mind to ATTACK the victim's credibility. The story shows that she uses her prior knowledge of child pyschology against the 12 year old victim. Bottom line... the 41 year old serve less than 12 months in jail and 4 years probation. Currently, the victim who now 48 is in jail for her addition to Meth. The victim said, "Hilliary was just doing her job" and holds NO ill feelings about HRC. I agree, the ill feelings would lead to depression, resentment, self pity, and possible drug use. Wait a minute... this was the results!
I love to win. Take it from an accountant, winning at all costs leaves somebody... BROKE.
On Saturday, Feb 23, Tavis Smiley Presents host its 10th annual State of the Black Union meeting. This meeting of great African American politicians, professors, civil activists, and more is held to address issues facing the black community.
This year was a bit controversial because Obama was criticized for not attending while Sen Hilliary Clinton did attend, speak, and held a brief Q&A (questioned by Mr. Smiley alone). Honesty, I did not understand Tavis Smiley's critique given the "heat" of the upcoming Texas and Ohio challenges. Even, Al Sharpton said that he did not mind that Obama was not in attendance, but "Hilliary needs to be here to address the comments made during SC primary and regarding MLK." The crowd's roar was thunderous. Moreover, the panel went further to address that we, as African American, along with the media should not "marginalize" Obama as a black president. Many of the panelists went to great lengths to explain how Obama was a president for ALL people.
While there were plenty of "spontaneous" moments, I was proud that the crowd in attendance showed great applause every time Barack Obama's name were mentioned. How's that for a proxy! The show will re-air on Friday on CSPAN at 8 ET. It's a must watch!
Fellow Obamacans:
This “Shame on you” comment has me worked up! The fact is that Hilliary has shown “much” support for NAFTA. Here's some ammunition for the upcoming battle...
NY Times Best selling author, David Sirota of “Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government and How We Take It Back (Crown 2006),” writes an impressive article online.
A brief paragraph supports what Obama’s mailings have communicated:
During Clinton’s 1996 visit to Texas, United Press International reported that she “touted the president’s support for NAFTA.” In her memoir, Clinton trumpeted her husband’s “successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA.” The Buffalo News reports that in 1998 she “praised corporations for mounting ‘a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of NAFTA.’” And last year (2007), her lead Wall Street fundraiser told reporters that Clinton remains “committed” to NAFTA’s “free” trade structure. WEBSITE LINK TO ARTICLE: http://www.alternet.org/workplace/77499/
Moreover, Mr. Sirota polks humor by saying, “When it came to sex, Bill Clinton made us debate the definition of “is.” Now, when it comes to economics, Hillary Clinton wants to debate the definition of “long,” claiming this week in Ohio that “I’ve long been a critic of the shortcomings of NAFTA.”
In Ohio, 70% of the population believe that NAFTA costed their American jobs. Despite, President Bill Clinton’s 1993 Pledge, “”I would never do anything to cost an American a job,” Clinton pledged twice during his speech (to the AFL-CIO). “That’s not the business I’m in.” From MIT’s The Tech webiste, http://www-tech.mit.edu/V113/N47/nafta.47w.html
I believe that Obama will effectivey prove the facts on this issue in Tuesday’s debate. Then, watch the mass exodus from Clinton to Obama’s side.
Here is an article that both gives praise and "skepticism" to the Obama '08 rallies. You will note that both Clinton, McCain, and even the media are quick to proclaim that large crowds mean little to no consequence. What's your feedback?
I haven't attended a rally, but WOW it sounds like an experience!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022200160.html
