Obama Event in Ames: Live Blogging

[pstans]

I am sitting in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Obama just finished speaking. I live-blogged the event at Century of the Common Iowan at http://commoniowan.blogspot.com.

12:17 Obama and his wife Michelle is introduced. A funk song is playing. I don't know the name, but the words are very fitting... "Give it up to the people, Give them what they want."

12:20 Fitzgerald is speaking. Fitzgerald announces that he one of the co-chairs of his campaign. Fitzgerald says that we don't know what problems we will face and we need someone who wil lmake good decisions. Obama was the only who was against the war from the get-go. Says we need someone who can bring the country together and Obama is the one to do that.

12:23 Tom Miller is up now. Miller says that great leaders step up when we face great challenges. Miller says that Obama has the charisma and can connect with people. Obama has the vision of a America where special intersets dont' rule and sees that our nation needs to be brought together. Says that Obama is the smartest person to graduate from Harvard law. Miller is giving a great introducion. Miller leaves by saying imagine Obama as a world leader. Obama would be a 180 degree change from Bush and would bring diplomacy and peace to the world.

12:28 Obama takes the microphone and immediately leaves the podium and walks around. He is wearing his typical casual, no tie look. Is thanking Tom Miller and Fitzgerald. Met Miller ate the Harkin Steak Fry, got some cheers, and said that he enjoyed the event and ate well.

12:31 Obama is thanking the college democrats and Jeremy Zeimmer, who leads the Students for Obama group on campus. Thanks Selden Spencer and says we need a good Dr. in Washington. Thanks the rest of the state legislators and Jan Bauer, chair of the Story Co. Democrats. Says that Miller was wrong, the smartest person to graducate from Harvard law is his wife Michelle. Tells the young men that their goal in life is to marry a person better than they and improve their DNA.
12:36 Obama is introducing his background and discussing how he decided to run for elected office in the Illinois State Senate. Says that he would talk to anyone anywhere and their first questions was about his funny name and then they would say that he seems like a nice guy, but why would he want to enter the dirty field of politics. Says that finding that common bound that brings us together is his motivation in politics and when we work together there is nothing that we cannot overcome.

12:40 Going through our challenges that we face.
Healthcare: Says everyone deserves quality healthcare. Energy: we are funding both sides of the war on terrorism.
Global Warming: we produce the most emmisions of any industrialized nation and know that this is not sustainable.
Education: must revamp our schools, pay our teachers more, make education work for all young people, and provide access to college to every student that is qualified.
Terrorism: Instead of going after the people that attacked us we made a mistake going to Iraq that has been costly. Our success depends on not just the might of our military, but the power of diplomacy.

12:44 We know the challenges, but why are we letting this happen? The oil companies write the energy policy, the drug companies write the health care bills. This must change and requires all of us to shake off the slumber, set aside the synicism, and get involved in this election. This is the reason Obama is running for President. Wants this campaign to drive this change and get people involved.

12:47 Says there is no reason why we can't have universal health care before the end of the next President's first term.

12:49 There is no reason we can't restructure the economy to benefit all people. Productivity has gone up, corporate profits are going up, but wages haven't. Needs to spread the benefits around to everyone. Lay broadband in communities. Discusses building the infrastructure for renewable energy that benefits everyone.

12:51 Talks about the need for a secure world, but that can't happen until we are out of Iraq. He knew it was wrong to go in and we need to get out and solve the problem diplomatically.

12:52 Says that he is an imperfect vessel for your hopes and dreams. He can't do it alone, he needs your help to accomplish these goals.

12:54 Is telling a story about campaigning for US Senate in Southern Illinois with Dick Durbin. Obama is a great story teller. Is telling the story about campaigning in Cairo, Illinois, where their was great racial tension in the 60's. Quotes Martin Luther King, "The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice." However, it doesn't bend on itself, it takes people to make bend the world into a better place when it comes to health care, education, and diplomacy.

12:59 Obama closes and the Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher and Ben Harper's With My Own Two Hands playing. No question and answer portion.

I will post my impressions of the event and pictures later when I get home

[IndianaGreen]

1. K&R

Thank you very much for the information, pstans!

I am very much interested in the crowd's reactions, and in how Obama does when he meets voters in small groups or one-on-one, at the "retail level" of politics.

:-)

[pstans]

2. I have some pictures posted now

Check them out at Century of the Common Iowan.