Barack the Vote: One Girl's Recap of the Rally in Washington Square Park
As I sat stuck in traffic on 14th street on my way to see the one and only Barack Obama yesterday, I was thinking, "God, I should have gotten here earlier." It was 3:30 p.m. on a Thursday -- Senator Obama was still in Washington -- and already he was making waves in New York.
I finally parked near Union Square and leapt out of the car at 4:45, bolting down to Washington Square Park. Sweating the entire way, I thought about designing myself an "I Exercised for Barack" t-shirt. I got to the East entrance of the park at 4:57 and found my friend, Marie, who looked fresh-faced and thrilled to be there. She handed me my "speed-pass" for entry, and I strode in. Yes! In three minutes I would see Barack Obama! Aaaaah!
Hardly. Marie and I waited, along with thousands of others, for two hours to get through security. The Secret Service had set up an airport-style screening tent, and they were fingering each person's bag at an abhorrently slow pace. (Surprisingly enough, I did not get arrested for my "More like Sucky Service!" comment.) We couldn't have moved more than 20 feet the entire time we were waiting. Every once in a while there'd be a surge and then nothing would happen. (Just like in Iraq.) As 7 p.m. approached, the crowd outside the entrance started chanting, "Let us in! Let us in!" Talk about the Audacity of Hope! Then suddenly, just when it seemed like all was lost, the security tent opened like floodgates and we all ran through. It was a cathartic moment, with people screaming and cheering like they'd never been so happy in their lives. My friend Michele was filming the rush when we accidentally ran into her:
The park was packed with mostly young people, dying to catch a glimpse of the rockstar from Illinois. At exactly 7 p.m., Barack hit the stage under a pool of bluish light, and he looked every bit the glowing presidential candidate I hoped for. The Times focused on what Barack said about his experience level and The Associated Press said in Newsday that he received "thunderous applause" when talking about the U.S. Constitution. But truth be told, I wasn't sure Barack realized who his crowd was until he started talking about making college education affordable and helping people graduate without $50,000 worth of debt. In my estimation, that received the biggest cheer of the night, and he felt it. Up until that point in his speech, though I was thrilled to be there, he hadn't really said anything specific or thrilling or enlightening. Just a bunch of "Social Security and healthcare are broken" stuff that only old people care about. Barack, if there's one thing you need to know about New York, it's that no one here is old -- not even the old people. (80 is the new 70, after all.)
He also got big responses while talking about racial equality, the environment, the war (of course) and got a nice big cry of support from the teachers present when he proposed paying them more. I think the most touching moments of his speech were when he acknowledged the middle class and our financial struggles. He seemed to truly understand how hard it is to be an everyday person in America and reacts to that with great empathy. He spoke about telling the truth, about bringing the change we need in Washington. He insinuated that Hillary wouldn't bring that change, and she won't.
The most interesting thing about Barack is that despite his gorgeous face and his Bill Clinton-esque charm, he remains humble. When he said, "I am reminded every day, if not by events by my wife, that I am not a perfect man. And I will not be a perfect president," he took a serious pause, reflecting on his life. In the silence I shouted, "Yes, you will!" The crowd around me laughed, and Barack must have heard it because I saw him smile and chuckle a bit. That chuckle, dear Senator, is what will help you win the White House. Be humble, yes. But know your power. W. has moved mountains on not much more than a chuckle! You know that you have what it takes for America to be the ideal you describe in your speeches, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. No one is perfect, but you, Barack Obama, are perfect for right now.
He left us on a story that I can only imagine he must tell every day about a trip he made to a small town in South Carolina where he found himself at a rally of only 20 people. One of them was a 60 year old woman whose name escapes me, but whose chant I will never forget. "Fire it up! Ready to go!" Like an actor playing himself, really, Obama got the entire crowd of 24,000 shouting in unison, "Fire it up! Ready to go!" I haven't felt a collective moment that big in a long time, and my friend Marie and I both cried. If you can make girls cry, you're as big as The Beatles. And if you're as big as The Beatles, you can certainly be the next President of the United States of America.
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I have not as of yet signed on to support any campaign. What concerns me as an American Citizen is what little independent thought exists in truly evaluating in earnest the "empty suits" (see Fred Thompson) and "psuedo heroes" that the Establishment, Media and Military Industrial Complex foist on the American public while marginalizing any candidate that there is genuine grassroots support for like Barack Obama, Ron Paul etc. As Americans do we ever question why we are regularly pre-sold the Clinton-Giuliani matchup? Why? Because in either case the establishment in this country will have precisely what it wants, a candidate within a built in system that is rigged to work against the American people. And in all honesty, what experience does Hillary Clinton really have? What is her legislative record? Has she ever been a CEO, a Governor or held an Executive position? Personal ambition, access to the power structure and waiting your turn within the Democratic party are hardly the stuff of dreams.
As a New Yorker, born and raised in Queens and Brooklyn & residing in Manhattan, I can tell the difference between 'Original Ray’s Pizza' & another knock-off. While this race offers a lot of potential firsts: the first Female President, Black President, Italian-American President & three compelling persona’s with New York credentials, Hillary’s come off a little more like an Original Ray’s knock off. Hillary's connection with NYC is tenuous. Her experience, credentials and accomplishments are dwarfed by the senior Senator from NY, Schumer. Scripted and out of touch with every day people in NYC, Hillary is more in touch with power brokers in the Hamptons, Central Park West, Fifth Avenue & the same "Eagles" that put Bush in the Whitehouse. The eating is good in the media & money capital for people of her ilk.
Independent minded Americans want to switch gears and turn a page on the last 8 years. In 1992, while living in Boston, I went door to door in New Hampshire for Bill Clinton and spent my evenings dialing for dollars for the Clinton Campaign where many a volunteer wore buttons with the phrase “Vote for Hillary’s Husband”. His election night victory brought tears to the eyes of many a volunteer, including this one. While we felt like we were part of something historic, our hearts were later broken by his personal transgressions not only violated our trust but armed his enemies resulting in missed opportunities. The will of the American people was thwarted in the form of a stolen election in 2000 enabling the most corrupt regime in our history to seize power. Perhaps I will hold my nose and vote for Hillary. While another Clinton Presidency could be “interesting” & having a “New Yorker” in the Whitehouse might be great, I question whether she is the right person at this moment in history. Real New Yorkers have never gotten as close to Hillary as Obama allowed them in Washington Square Park. THE SPIRIT OF OBAMA, lives in all of us. MOST QUALIFIED New Yorker=BLOOMBERG sidelines. DREAM TICKET= BLOOMBERG/OBAMA
Yep! Barack Hussein will live on in spirit after he is crushed in the primaries by Hillary!
A well written personal memoir of an event. What I particularly like about it is that Obama has galvanised young people into action and participation in politics. The other side of the coin is this: elections should not be about celebrity and money. Our lazy media have already chosen the front runners. Watch the debates. The "front runners" are allowed to run overtime, to interrupt, to respond to criticism, and are given most of the airtime. I saw Obama speak at the Dems picnic a couple of weeks ago in Iowa.The campaign had paid to bring in busloads of young supporters, held a pep rally and cued them to march into the gathering en masse while others were speaking and later chant during Obama's speech--"Fired up" etc. That's just one thing about $60 million of campaign funding can do. It can also overshadow other candidates. Should they not all be heard?Obama is a good candidate. I happen to think that there are others with more substance. Who can walk into the oval office and begin work the first day. Give a moment to consider who is campaigning in Iowa, and still working on a political solution to Iraq, and was finally instrumental in getting it overwhelmingly approved. There's substance for you.
"Obama is a good candidate. I happen to think that there are others with more substance. Who can walk into the oval office and begin work the first day": TRUE ... Hillary!!!
Barack grew up in all sorts of environments - small towns, big cities, different countries, diferenct cultures. I think that's a part of what makes him so different. He has a different perspective on the world - a broader, more complete and less poisoned one.
Obama understands the yearning Americans have for a much more intelligent and up to date world view than Hillary - who by her rhetoric and her recent votes still sees things in black and white, us and them, enemies and friends - can offer our country. There's a whole generation out here who know there's a better way to interact with people, countries and cultures that are different from us than provacative legislating name-calling.
Unlike Hillary and all the other Democratic Conventionalists, this generation knows that not everyone we disagree with is our enemy, and that we can allow people in the world to view things differently, and not fear them, as long as we are well prepared to defend ourselves vigorously against an attack.
They also know that Republicans are not our enemies, they are our partners in this country, partners with whom we disagee, but partners who have the same desire that we have to make this country the best it can be.
Hillary looks to the past and says "we have to keep doing things the way we always have." Edwards looks at the present and says "We have to go back forty years, to how things used to be."
Obama looks to the future, and says "There's a new way, it's better, and we can get there together."
"Obama looks to the future, and says "There's a new way, it's better, and we can get there together" ... wow! Sounds so good! OK, now that the fluffy rhetoric is over ... time for substance!
What is the new way? How do we get there? How will we get there "together"? Like I stated, hot air does not win elections!
Hot air does not win election,true. Obama gives people hope and a chance for America to be together again.
To rally or inspire people, you have to put your feelings into words. It is something Obama does well it does not mean he is all talk.
Tell me what Hillary has done? What are the major legislation she has passed in her 7yrs in the senate?
I live in Illinois. Senator Obama is what he seems to be. I very very intelligent and savvy man who can play against the republicans very easy.
Do not mistake someone who makes everything look easy for being a lightweight. He is a very gifted and experienced legislator and a constitutional professor so knows this document better than just about all the politicians around today.
His understanding of the issues is much deeper than Hillary could hope to have and his ideas are solid and much praised. You just done't hear about it from the press.
He has done alot more leglislation in 3 years in the US senate than Hillary ever did in 7.
He is not easily played and don't mistake his charm for being easy prey for the republicans.
He can hit very very hard. He just doesn't grandstand about it. Afterall, before he even announced he put FOX in their place and has easily smashed down anyone who tries to mess with him. He is just very elegant about it and doesn't make a show of it.
Senator obama is exactly what this country is dying for. We need someone who is charming, witty and stylish but, intellectual, experienced ( more than Hillary has), has done successful health care, is savvy and has the understanding of the issues facing us.
Anyone who underestimates this man is either very stupid or ignorant.
Do not trust the press to give you the right information. They are bought and paid for by the Clintons.
"Do not trust the press to give you the right information. They are bought and paid for by the Clintons"! LOL
"He has done alot more leglislation in 3 years in the US senate than Hillary ever did in 7"!?! OK no 'LOL' this is beyond pathetic!
"Senator obama is exactly what this country is dying for"! OK this is 'LOL'! And he cannot promise to bring all those back who are dying for their Country ... atleast not till 2013!
Could you please link to a list of the legislation that HIllary Clinton has AUTHORED which has come to the floor in the past 7 years and voted into law?
It's easy to co-sponsor someone else's legislation, or to endorse legislation. Writing it and getting it passed is what makes a leader in Congress.
The commenter you mock is correct, and you are wrong.
You did an awesome job with this article, Carolyn.
Carolyn Castiglia, you are really good!
Awwwwww! Now that'll make her cry again!
I was reading the poll of who are the favorites democratic candidates for the REPUBLICANS.
Obama number one with 26% the Richardson 25% and Eduards and last Hillary.
Funny think that republicans prefer a black community worker and a pro immigration latino oh YES....
From the waters of the Nile
a dog was drinking and running
mean and ugly crocodile
drink still was him advising
Hillary is last on the Repugnants list?! What a surprise!
Incidentally, when you read such polls think in reverse! The highest percentage they "favor" is the one they think will be the easist to wipe the floor with!
Hillary is a wimp who hasn't got the minimal political fortitude of her husband. The Republicans whom you rudely call the repugnants, have wiped the floor with Hillary every single time.
Made a fool of her in 1993 when she introduced a ridiculous healthcare plan; fooled her to vote for the Iraq war; tricked her to choose MoveOn.org over a highly decorated General; also got the coward to pave a path for Bush to go to war with Iran by voting to declare the Iranian Rev. guard a terrorist organization. Anyone half the brain of a chicken could see the hidden side of that resolution.
Like this young lady, I was at a campaign rally for John F. Kennedy in October, 1960. He talked about the missle gap (which was a totally bogus issue) and asked for the people's vote. He was elegant and sparse in the use of words. And I was transfixed.
In retrospect, he was not charismatic so much as I was searching for a brave, and great leader for our country. Kennedy attracted the idealistic, rootless and unconfident people among the other citizens of self-confidence, self-esteem, and inner-balance representing American citizens of growth and achievement which made him president.
Now Senator Obama has apparently attracted a core of the same categories of constituency. But his poll numbers are stagnant, unlike Kennedy in his primary campaign. Why? I am not sure. But I shall venture a guess. Most striking, his campaign promises much and asks for little from our membership. Kennedy asks much of all Americans. Second, he has no answers or even acknowledgement of the decline of our Republic: economy, industry, decent jobs, or the gross incompetence, graft and corruption of the present Administration. In spite of the strongest economy in the world, Kennedy found fault with the 6.5 percent unemployment. Now the real unemployment is 13+ percent.
Nor does he mention the outrageous Nation destroying trade deficits, fiscal deficits, and private debt and indebtedness. Kenneday would have made such stark facts a campaign issue of the first magnitude. If he would explain that the Iraquis hate us as arrrogant and incompetent invaders and the only way for peace is to remove ourselves from their sacred land; that the war is turning us into a poor bankrupted Republic; then discuss domestic economic, financial issues towards turning our Nation towards a renewed renaissance in citizen, industrial, and technological achievemet and development.
Such a campaign would make him President. Without such a program, Senator Obama can look back to having undergone a noble learning experience while disappointing a helluva lot of fellow citizens.
"Most striking, his campaign promises much and asks for little from our membership" ... true! Because that's all he does ... make fantasy land promises!
Thermo, how much of Obama's website have you read? Seriously, how much of it have you read?
I read all the presidential campaign websites, both parties, and Obama's is probably the most specific, while Hillary, the Dem frontrunner, keeps everything thin and light. Your tired attacks on Obama don't wash in the face of the cold, hard facts.
Also, Obama has every speech since he entered the Illinois legislature on his website. Edwards - not so much. He's kept every speech from his past hidden. He even deletes the links to his past speeches off of the Wikipedia site regularly. How open and transparent is that?
Lastly, Kennedy was virtually unknown six months before the first primary.
Great speeches, nice website, all glitter, all fluff ... no substance! I agree ... Barack Hussein's hot air is fizzling out though ... most America barring the right and far left fringes is fairly sensible and can see through the hype ...
Nominating Barak Obama who is no doubt a smart and great person is giving the election to the republicans,
The republican fear machine will destroy him in two seconds.
They are hoping we nominate him.
The republican candidate will take the high road and let the dirty racist card being played by swift boaters.
Before we know the muslin communist black label will be tattooed to his face in the eyes of many white Americans, while the republican candidate will "denounce" this unfounded and baseless attacks with a smile on his face. And it will work as always.
Jeez, people. Get a grip on yourselves. Obama IS a lightweight who is disingenuous. Hillary Clinton IS a hawk who triangulates too much. There are other candidates out there. Don't give up on John Edwards.
That being said, I'm prepared to support Obama if he manages to win the nomination and I don't think drooling articles like this will utimately help him. He made you cry?!? Please...
Yes. His comment "we are better than this" brings tears to my eyes when talking about torture.
I have no problem with that -- my grand-uncle spent a year and a half in a German prison camp for something better than this. Barack may not deserve my tears.
But the ideals he speaks for? I fear you underestimate their power.
Rhydderch69, can't you see how manipulative this is? If he had the courage of what he says are his convictions, he'd be doing the job he was actually elected to do. He'd be leading the senate to impeach Bush and Cheney. He'd be voting on the important votes. He'd use his unique position to actually do some good. Nope, not Barry. He's going for all the marbles AND playing it safe. When I first met the Obamas they didn't impress anyone in the room. Some of us on Chicago's south side, in Barry's neighborhood, still aren't impressed.
It will be a tough challenge, Rhydder. Some of this country and it's citizenry would much prefer the comforts of familiarity as opposed to real change.
The kind of change Obama speaks of threatens many, from corporate execs accustomed to multi-million dollar incomes to those who wish incremental adjustments rather than an entirely new generation in power.
Stay strong. We will win in 2008!
I completely understand the feeling she described. I met Obama and it is an eperience I will never forget. He is everything she described and more. He is truly inspirational.
As far as making her and her friend cry...hell, he even made my husband cry during one of his speeches.
And they'll all continue to cry when he fizzles out in the primaries! Actually Edwards will push him into third place!
Needless to say, first being Hillary!
Edwards is not to be trusted.
When Edwards
a) discloses the donors to his "charities," and the amounts they donated
b) posts all his past speeches on his website
c) posts the list of all the legislation he personally authored that has passed into law
c) marches on congress with his followers and his Iraq message that is supposedly so different from Hillary's
then I might trust that he means what he says.
At the moment, though, in my view he's all rhetoric and no history or action to back it up.
GreatFutureForAll
I don't think you can justify Obama's campaigning for Lieberman by saying that he was reaching across the aisle. When this standard is applied to Hillary Clinton it is quite rightly called triangulation or pandering. It is no less so for Obama.
Hillary Clinton's vote for Lieberman's bill is appalling.
But Barack Obama's not taking a stand on the issue is, in my view, no less appalling.
I disagree with you that there are people more to the right of Lieberman when it comes to war and peace - life and death. He has firmly allied himself with Bush and Cheney - and Obama's support for him is a blot on his reputation in my opinion.
I'd much rather have someone that was lukewarm about Lieberman's bill than someone that was so gung-ho about it that she saw the need to leave the campaign trail to support a possible third war.
This makes her in full support of wars in both Iraq AND Iran.
For me, the choice is too easy.
Both Edwards and Obama supported Lieberman in the primary fight. Once Lamont won the primary, both supported Lamont.
No reaching across the aisle about it. It was the right thing to do, for both Edwards and Obama.
It was wrong for Edwards and Obama to oppose Lamont in the primary fight. It was wrong and unprincipled to support Lieberman's re-election.
Lamont pulled it together, but no thanks to "against the war from the beginning" Obama and the apologetic Mr. Edwards.
Changing from Lieberman to Lamont once the fight was over is hardly a profile in courage. It is merely playing the game.
There is a very serious issue in this post... You ran from Union Square to WSP and it took 12 minutes? Walking briskly is only 10-12 minutes, even hitting the lights.
On the Barack issue, he completely refuses to take strong stands on any policy issues...occasionally he'll take what Hillary says and move slightly to the left, but thats about it. America doesn't need "hope," we need concrete policy that can fix this mess (but if maybe atleast one top tier candidate would do this I would have hope!)
Well sorry to be bearer of bad news, but if you're actually looking for sustainable governing disciplines in this circus of getting the party brass ring - the Holidays are going to be dismal for you.
This is about hype right now - not actually substance. It's about political bankers handicapping the horses for the real race. This is largely an enterprise of general statements seasoned with the occasional fact - and is an art form of Neo-impressionism that is the theoretical antithesis of Pointillism. Here the further you step back the less you see.
That stated, it would seem that we have to largely base our decisions on life-style, character and the ability to convey meaningful, albeit general, messages of duty and principle. The concrete policy you so appropriately demand will come from a team assembled by the next President and intermittently praised or scorned by the accompanying Congress.
All we have right now is hope.
American people have been traditionally in the wrong side of issues. Thanks god the elites have always managed to get around the stupidity of the masses. The real issues must not be discussed in the public opinion sight but at close doors.
Had the people got his way America would be a rural backward society. The people was against industrialization, expansion, immigration, WW2, Abolition, Civil rights and now is against global economy, we common people cannot look at the geopolitical implications of policies but only at our month to month bill payments. We do not see the future of our nation all grass roots movements in America like know nothings and the clan were wrong from the historical and even moral perspective. Elites: politicians, millionaires, academics, media tycoons made the decisions that made America great. Look at the magazines at your cashier's supermarket Lindsay Paris Britney i could not find a decent reading waiting for my turn not even national geographic.
Thank god for the elites that rule this country.
It was extremely crowded (people filling the streets) which made it more difficult to get anywhere as fast as normally you would. But once we got there, there was nowhere to go. This is due to the fact that the security being provided was a crony favor to the Corrections Officers Union whose President just happened to be onstage endorsing Barack. If the security hadn't treated everyone like a suspect trying to get in to see a prisoner and instead treated people like fans and curious particpants of democracy trying to see a candidate they may potentially vote for, then there would have been more enthusiasm for his speech. The wait sucked the energy out of people, even causing young primary school students from the Frederick Douglass school to turn around and leave. This is unfortunate because this event may have well been their very first exposure to the political process, one where it was revealed to them to cold-hard reality that politics is for a lucky few while the rest stand on the outside looking in.
The Barack campaign's inability to understand it's base and prepare for the onslaught that they eventually received relying instead on favoritism in regards to choice and methods of security (not to mention how insulting it is to use metal detectors--the first time used in any rally this year- in a public park), shows that he's more business as usual. He's charasmatic but not substantive enough on what really matters most. If he can't run a rally effectively, he can't run a country.
It would seem that Obama is not quite as practiced a politician as the rest of the field. Good, bad, I'm not qualified enough as a prognosticator or political scientist to have anything more than an opinion - unlike many of the sages that post here. But as I see it, he has brought a new healthy dynamic and has been a careful marathon runner in his approach. Even the sharp criticisms don't have enough meat on the bone to be viable after the new year when the focus will narrow. He seems to conserve himself as the good long-distance runner, and that's why I think he may very well be successful. He's not prone to episodes of distemper. He's not driving his campaign crazy with damage control and he's getting a better an better rhythm. I'm also encouraged that his family isn't muzzled.
One thing about this environment of high energy and rallies and raising dough - as it were. It is not the environment of governing. It is the environment of marketing - which is a large part of getting to office. Professional marketeers, talking heads, news cycles and eliciting endorsement. Often we let the traditional media frame the conversation even though they edit the candidates to suit their tack.
Missed votes or purposely not voting. Well if everything is about marketing, it's amazing how many opportunities one will have to shoot oneself in one's own foot. The differences that the Democratic Candidates argue are largely based on their past. Obama has less of that visible so he can largely rest on his principles - not a litany of principles that he has abandoned.
Perhaps a candidate with the excitement of the Beatles is exactly what we need. It was nice to hear that a politician made the author cry - but in the nice way. I'm looking forward to one of THOSE cries too.
Well, I really want to believe that he is all of those things that I am hoping he is - the catalyst for change, more idealist than professional politician, the great uniter. I still have my doubts, but if Hillary is the only other choice - well...urrgh. His name really is Barack Hussein Obama though - which is so friggin hilarious!
Hey, at least he gets some free name recognition.
I hope you;re right but thirty years ago we were saying the same thing to our parents.
THe real issue for Sen. Obama may be this: Can he get those young people turning out in droves for him into voting booths?
Enthusiasm minus votes means nothing.
Well, you're right here.
I have to say though that in my own involvement with the Obama supporters in my area - only a few are young people. Most are middle aged working people.
That said, if Obama gets the twenty-somethings to the primary and caucus votes, he'll win in a landslide. And to get that done, he needs cold, hard cash.
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