The Moment Obama Grabbed 100,000 Coloradoans

I just got back from the Obama rally at Civic Center Park here in Denver. The Denver Post estimates the turnout was 100,000 people, which is really just astounding considering the total size of the city is about 550,000 people and the total size of the metro area is about 3 million. Here's a shot that gives you a sense of the crowd - and let me just remind you, it's not a short distance between City Hall, where the speech was, to the steps of the state capitol:

Here's an up close photo from the speech:

Most Americans have seen Obama speak, and millions at this point have been to his events, so I won't bore you with my opinion on the details of his promises (pretty progressive) or of the energy at the event (high). But what I will say is that while most of the rhetoric was standard Democratic stuff, what really seemed new and "transformative" (to admittedly use a cliche description of Obama) - what really seemed to capture those 100,000 Coloradoans (including me) - was his discussion about struggle. I may be an old seadog from the many campaigns I've worked, and I may have learned enough to not be easily mesmerized by politicians, but I will admit right here: the flash I saw from Obama at the end of his speech really blew me away.

Indeed, as he was closing his remarks, he touched on how making change is incredibly painful and incredibly grueling - and how it always has been throughout our history. And the best part - the part where the audience was most silent and rapt - was when Obama veered off his prepared remarks and made it personal:

"Maybe some of your parents or grandparents, they were born in another country without freedom of speech or freedom of worship, but they said, you know what, we know there's this land across the ocean called America, where it's a land of opportunity and a land of freedom, and we're willing to take the risk to travel to that place to create a better future for our children and grandchildren. In this audience, there are people whose parents or grandparents couldn't cast a vote, but they said to themselves you know, maybe my child or grandchild, if we march, if we struggle, maybe they may be able to run for the United States Senate, maybe they might run for the Presidency of the United States of America."

Those references to the courage of immigrants and the civil rights movement are clearly personal to Obama, and they are rarely voiced in Colorado politics - an arena that has often been about bashing immigrants. That he departed from his prepared text to talk about those issues, and tied them to a discussion about how difficult change is - well, it suggests that very "transformative" possibility of the Obama candidacy.

Whether you believe Obama represents real change or not, I came away believing that he understands the challenge of actually making change, should he win. That is, he understands that if he really attempts to fundamentally alter the status quo on major issues, it is going to be a very tumultuous and difficult process - one that only begins on election day.

I'm not 100 percent sure, knowing how hard this will be, that Obama will move into the breach. My heart hopes he will, and my gut tells me its more than likely he will, because Republicans are helping create an even bigger mandate for an Obama presidency than Obama ever wanted. But we will never know if he will unless he gets a chance - a chance which, since early into the Democratic primary, I have believed he deserves (even though I stand by my concerns/objections to some of his specific positions). If he wins, I am sure we will have a president who grasps how tough it will be to make progress - and I am becoming more confident we will have a president who will try to make that progress a reality.

UPDATE: I fiddled with one of my pics from the rally, and made it into an artsy kind of image for my desktop. You can download it here if you'd like to do the same. It depicts not just Obama, but the massive crowd - and in that, it is more a picture of democracy, than of an individual candidate.

UPDATE II: For those who want to try to make their own poster version of the photo I took, here's the raw photo (it's cropped from a larger photo). Good luck - and feel free to post your version and then link to it in the comments for everyone.

Comments

[longislandlol]

He does fulfill the dream of the diaspora---his father was an immigrant

[Nomccain]

Jmpfjoy, I'm 65 years old and I agree with you on some points. The main reason I voted for Obama is because I KNOW what the Republicans have done and feel relatively sure of what another Republican, John McCain WOULD do if elected. They've (Republicans) made a giant mess out of this country, depleted our military, spent and borrowed us into the poor house, made us the most hated nation on earth, let wall street crooks run free and then bailed them out. They've ruled Washington (the white house) for 20 of the last 28 years and had total control of congress for 10 of the last 12 years. (actuall 12 of the last 12 years since the democrats only had a one vote majority which was ineffective) Secondly, Obama represents hope for change which I no longer have with the Republicans. Hope is something that all people need and change MUST be made if we are survive. Washington is filled with men who lack patriotism, loyalty to the U.S,, lack honesty, lack integrity, and lack character and morals. It's time we began to hope for change in those areas. To me and millions of others, Obama represents hope for that change. Obama/Biden 2008

[gwr72]

Thank you. Well written. We need the Obama presidency.
Saw and heard him speak at the college of DuPage, in
the heart republican territory. He was sensational. Lets
hope and pray he is the one to put country back on the
path of truth and justice.

[old lady]

sure outclasses "blah,blah,blah"... anybody still dubious about the choices on the table?

[annabella1966]

LOL!!!

[ryanpage]

people speaks!!!!

(nice wallpaper)

[robbie44]

"MUSIC FOR THE MASSES"

[jmpfjoy]

I am fify years old and have seen many things, but never has a politician had such an impact on me or the people I know. I truly believe he is a man of historic proportion, and his Presidency will be taught to our descendants as a benchmark for change in a time of great dissension and turmoil.

I first saw Obama on Oprah; and this was even before he declared his candidacy. Even then I got goosebumps when I listened to his vision for America, and I knew he was destined for greatness. He has done something no one else has been able to do- he has gotten the youth of America, our future, excited about their country.

I hope all of us remain committed to this for the long haul, through the bad times as well as the good. There are times I wonder why anyone would want the job of being President, especially now. We have to remain consistent in our support for our new President, as there will always be those who would like to see him fail.

God bless Obama for standing tall to the challenges ahead. We are with you, Mr. President!

[jobecky20]

"I first saw Obama on Oprah; and this was even before he declared his candidacy. Even then I got goosebumps when I listened to his vision for America, and I knew he was destined for greatness."

If you saw him speak at the 2004 DNC you would have known even then, like so many others, that this man was destined for greatness. After his keynote address, many Americans suspected that they were looking at the future president of the United States.

[anney]

jobecky

I agree. I was blown away by his speaking at the 2004 convention. I didn't know he existed before then and he seemed to appear out of nowhere. It was a riveting realization, though who would have guessed he'd be the Democratic presidential candidate four years later!

[old lady]

After O's 2004 keynote address I was so impressed, I called my adult children and told them "you just heard the next president of the U,S"

I'm over 60- we cut our teeth in school on the eloquence of Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson,both Roosevelts and were so thrilled to JFK we stampeded to answer his call to serve.

Glad we found our groove again.

[GoCards1978]

Barack Obama's '04 address sealed the deal for me as well (I'm 52). My niece, who lives in Chicagoland, gave me the heads up two years earlier after attending the Iraq War protest in the Loop.

[newsfox]

"I called my adult children and told them "you just heard the next president of the U,S"

Being a fervent political nut, I remember that speech very well. At the time, I thought "wow," he'd be a great president. But, I didn't think he would ever have the chance. I'm so glad I was wrong about that. Back then it still wasn't completely clear just how badly the GOP had botched everything it touched. Obama has one helluva task in front of him, but I believe he can handle it very well.

[TopDog]

Thank you for the pictures David.

[Londonboy30]

Well, thank you David! I'm glad I found out what the rest of his speech said, because Fox/McBush/Palin News was the only channel showing the rally live on TV in London... 3 minutes in they unceremoniously switched to a live OB from some random talking head about the Syrian diplomatic crisis, in what seemed a deliberate attempt to stop Obama getting his message of change out over the airwaves.

I was disgusted with the level of disrespect they could show to a man who will in just over a week become one of the most powerful men in the world, and I'm sure if it was McBush talking they wouldn't flick the switch. Haters.

Anyhoo, not long now...

[breezyholler]

Great coverage , David...Wish I could have been in Denver, but you delivered the scene nicely. As a retired White male, I'm taken back to my Hippie days , 1968 especially. Back then , 40 yrs. ago , there was revolution in the air. WE THE PEOPLE WERE MAKING OURSELVES HEARD. WE had simply had enough. Enough segregation and inequality, enough of the evil Vietnam war(,the taking of tens of thousands of our youth ,and getting us nothing in return). The stifling of the voices of women, All these ills were sustained by self serving politicians, it serves these power mongers well when WE THE PEOPLE are out of balance and afraid. We are more easily governed when in that state..
Now , 40 yrs. later we have the same political scenario, WE still have not come together on a lot of racial , ethnic and gender issues, and we have another useless, and unrighteous war on our hands , and we have the republican party going about spreading fear and division . I'm perplexed by all this , and it's the same feeling I had when marching in protest back in '68. Yet as it seems that We The People are being awakened from some Rip Van Winkle syndrome; I feel revolution in the air again, We will all need to do our part to help Obama with the huge task that he faces.

[swfsenior]

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE 60'S and our children have found common cause. I have that same feeling of doing something great that I did back then and get to do it side by side with my kids. This election has re-energized me and energized a whole new generation. That's a wow feeling! I am amazed by the depth an breadth of intelligence and commitment of this new generation.

[anastomosis]

If you want an even more "visual" Obama crowd try the one in Paris earlier this year.

[Londonboy30]

You mean Berlin right? 200,000 people!

[owlsocks]

Beautiful moment. Beautiful desktop background...thanks!

[MCTSilverlakeCA]

Colorado listened to Mr. Obama because he had captured not only their attention..but also their hearts.

I've watched many candidates run and act as President -but there have been few that have captured my heart as well as my vote... when John F. Kennedy was in office I wasn't much older than Caroline Kennedy but as I grew older (though he was assassinated in 1963) his words "Ask not --what your Country can do for you--- but what you can do, for your Country" inspired me to achieve several good careers where I have helped, and continue to help fellow American's every day ...

Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden's outlook and heart-felt sympathy for those of us who are struggling to make ends meet, their plans to help restore the Economy, their empassion'ed pleas for the Public to stand behind them and work for the restoration and betterment of America - together - across political lines, across racial lines, across our fears and agonies ... proves what kind of Men they are, and what kind of People we want running our Country, leading us, and holding out their Hands and Hearts to us..

So lead on Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden... we're with you... just tell us where we can help...

[livesbythec]

Thank you David for sharing your experience with those of us who could not be there. I did see the speech on TV, and I got goose bumps when he started talking about how we are not a "Black" America", or a "White" America, or a "Poor" or "Rich" America, but instead, we are the "United States of America." To see him inspiring thousands in Denver, and then to turn the channel and see McCain spending most of his time knocking down and doubting Obama, amidst loud boos and shouts of "Socialist:!" presents such a stark contrast between the energy and vibe of the two campaigns. I'll take the "hopeful" message anyday!
We all need to take action this week, whether it is going in to the phone bank to make calls. or making calls from home. I'll be making more calls tomorrow. We can do it!!!!!!!
Obama/Biden '08

[augiemarch]

We're all going to have to be patient after Obama becomes President. Expectations will be very high, but resources will be limited due to the hole the Republicans have dug us into. The fiscal and monetary goals will take a while, but there are "process" benchmarks that can be met and can stand as major accomplishments; moving against torture and excessive secrecy, shoring up the role of the courts in FISA, repairing the damage to the regulatory agencies. He should repudiate "signing statements" - Obama should repeat often and emphatically what he said to the lady at the town hall meeting in Montana; he was asked for his position on signing statements- did he favor them ? He was silent for a moment ( I hope many of you saw this and remember it ) and then said crisply "No", and he proceeded to deliver a brief critique of the practice which was a tour de force all by itself. The wonky stuff will leave many impatient, but it is no less a part of the repairs that we will have to make to our legal process and, indeed, to civil society.

[Attilatheblond]

Good point; it will take time and a lot of work to fix the mess the neocons have made. My kool-aid drinking brother already announced he was "gonna hold all Obama supporters responsible for every screw up he makes". Translation: Rush has given the kool-aid chorus their orders: stonewall progress.

We will be dealing with people 'holding all Obama supporters responsible'. They will be the same folks that refused to hold bush responsible for anything.

I replied to my brother: Did you hold bush/cheney supporters for all the damage they have done to the nation and the world? No, you won't even face the reality of just how much damage they did. You will whine when Obama can't fix it ALL on day one, but you never even acknowledged the mess until it became obvious that the next president wasn't gonna have an R after his name.

We will ALL have to work hard to solve the monster problems the neocons have left in their greedy wake. We will have to deal with constant whining from the 29%ers that the mess (they wouldn't admit to while their poster boys were in power) isn't being fixed RIGHT NOW; suffer the self-centered outrage of those who refused to grow up and deal with reality.

But, damn, for the first time in a very long time, I am optimistic about the future of our great and beloved country.

[DBtv]

And when That One went off book to tell his personal story, it truly electrified the crowd as no other part of the speech did.

This event was a watershed in Colorado politics, American politics and World politics.

CHANGE IS NOW.

[breezyholler]

I see in Barack Obama something I've not seen in a politician since Bobby Kennedy.There is such a thing as a natural born leader..Obama is a man of and for the people. He talks with us , not down to us .