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

[angelino]

I love the Obamers (my nickname for him). He makes me cry. Love, love, love him. Thanks for sharing this.

[ghenry]

This is a "come together, right now!" moment.

[breezyholler]

You got it "ghenry" and it cannot be said enough ..THE POWER TO CHANGE LIES IN THE HANDS OF WE THE PEOPLE !!

[MDHutchinson]

Great article! Wish I could have been there. My one semi-corre­ction--you note that Obama "veered" off his prepared remarks when he gave that powerful closing, which is not entirely true. I saw him speak in Reno on Saturday morning and he closed with that same exact paragraph. His campaign, as I was informed later, is understandably keeping him "on teleprompter" as a way to avoid a slip that could be taken out of context by an increasingly desperate McCain and Palin campaign. A smart move if you ask me, given the way the "spread the wealth around" comment to Joe the unlicensed Plumber has been seized upon in the last week.
Anyway, when I heard Barack deliver the above quoted paragraph in Reno, I was blown away by such eloquence. The fact that the remarks were not delivered extemporaneously shouldn't take away from their power. Obama has a quality all public speakers long for--the ability to enter the moment, even when delivering prepared remarks.

[jorge4u]

I agree with you that it is a great move. Keep him on teleprompter for now. No slip-ups right now.

[Yermammy]

I lived with a Polish family in High School (St. Louis) and learned they moved to this country in 1938. Talk about good timing! They are still as grateful today as they were when they got off the boat. They are true Americans. I'm ashamed of the hate people have for immigrants. You all were immigrants.

[situationcritical]

David - I have a great new wallpaper on my screen.

Thanks!

I'm off to read about an "even bigger mandate".

[Lexica]

The remarks Mr. Sirota noted as not being part of the prepared speech are, nonetheless, words he has spoken at nearly every appearance for the last couple of weeks. They really do go to the heart of what this country is supposed to be about, the possibilities that exist for anyone willing to strive for something better.

President Obama faces a daunting task. I hope the media, American citizens, and the world at large, will give him a chance to get his footing, and to begin navigating through rough terrain (the likes of which none of us could ever imagine) before complaining that he's not living up to his promises. In this age of instant gratification, we've forgotten how to be patient.

[breezyholler]

President Obama will need more than a chance.He needs our unwavering support. Complacency on our part just won't do. It won't do now and it won't do after the election..­.let's keep our eye on the ball..
peace@wellness to all

[LiberalDemIda]

Thanks David. I took advantage of your offer and have downloaded that oil-painting like background for my HP. It's absolutely beautiful.

I choked up when I heard Obama say those words because it touched me personally.

My late father and mother were immigrants too. They never became American citizens, but because of their brave journey to the United States to give us a better life, I was born here and am voting for democracy, for change, for Obama.

I was one of those about whom he spoke. This truly is the best country in the world and I am always grateful my dad and mom, both who didn't speak a word of english the first two years in the United States, took the long journey on a ship from Holland, from everything and everyone they knew, to NY port in 1960, then traveled by train all the way out to the west to California where I was born, to start a better life for us.

My father was always afraid of invasion by other countries. Japan invaded Indonesia, his homeland and where he spent three years of his childhood in concentration camps nearly starved to death. He knew NO ONE would dare invade the United States, that's why he wanted to come here. To insure his children's safety.

Because of their sacrifice and struggle, we, the first generation of American-born, are living the American dream, safe and secure.

That's all they ever wanted.

[furryone]

all I can say is
thank you

[urfree2speak]

I never thought I would see anything remotely like this.....I believe that all Americans of every race creed color are coming together to send a positive message to the world what we are made of ...all of US.

[Call me Sweety]

Just look at Obamas grassroots Presidential Campaign and how beautifully it has been run. Barack Obama is a wonderful person....­I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of months ago. I also got a hug woohooooooooo. I've been volunteering for the Obama Campaign for a year and a half now....and it's such a great experience to be a part of this Campaign. I've met people of all races who just show up at Obama events and want to volunteer for the day....it'­s incredible! After the day of canvassing we usually have a huge BBQ for all of the volunteers who worked so hard. The Friendships are great and it's wonderful to sit and learn all about politics. We have so many teenage volunteers who cannot even vote yet....and they spend hours with us learning about politics..­..it does my heart soooooo good to see these young people out there doing everything they can to support Barack Obama....G­od Bless them and everyone.

[breezyholler]

urfreetospeak. your perception is right on.We the American people are far, far better than what we've allowed to represent us for the past 8 yrs. especially. If we can all come together , we will be blessed ., and reclaim our good standing in the world..Pow­er to the people !!!

[GLS350]

I just wanted to say thanks for the post and thanks for the background! I know that the art style isn't the same but I get a hint of Rockwell from it for some reason... But that might just be me heh.

[edwarvir]

Beautiful post, Great picture, it makes you think
back to what America use to be. America that I believe
we will have again under Senator Obama.
America, America GOD shed his Grace on Thee!
I feel confident, but don't let up if you didn't
vote yet please do. We have to be in it to win
our COUNTRY BACK!

[unionave]

This is an awesome article writen by a mental giant . This story has feeling .

[beantowner]

Yes, any real change will be difficult to achieve, considering things have been going wrong for such a long time. But I think any change will be easier once Congress has a majority of Dems in office to help Obama implement his policies. It sure looks like that will happen on November 4.

I'm not saying the road ahead will be easy. But I'm extremely hopeful about the future - moreso than I've been in a very, very long time. I'm grateful to Barack Obama for giving me that hope. It's been sorely missing.

YES WE CAN!

[marnella]

Thanks for the post, Sirota.

I am a huge fan of yours and anyone that is not familiar with you, I encourage them to check out your stuff. Having listened to your perspective through radio/tv/articles, I think you are one of the most objective and educated people I have heard in a long time. This feedback is awsome! I know and agree with your reservations and to hear your optimism about the change Obama seeks to bring to our country makes this Obama supporter all the more encouraged that we are on the brink of something great. To me, what makes it possible for him to make change possible is his complete understanding of how difficult it will be.

I live here and am native to Colorado and have always been so proud of this state...it­'s awesome to see such tremendous support for Obama here.

[Girl28]

How inspirational! I welled up a little, too. This moment is so much bigger than any of us. I voted for a brilliant, inspiring, qualified African-American candidate for president today. As I walked into the building I was thinking, "never thought I'd see the day." I know that it will be difficult to do everything in Obama's platform, but it's just so amazing to be able to elect someone who wants to help me and my family more than any other president I've known.

Yes, We Can. Vote Early! Voter suppression will be in full effect on election day, that's why we have to get as many votes in now as possible. Let them steal Ohio, we'll give Obama Georgia and Arizona!! Yes, We Can!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!