I just got back from the Obama Townhall in Westerville OH!!!

[mod mom]

First disturbing thing I noticed as I arrived; Hillary supporters protesting the Obama event (THIS FROM FELLOW DEMS OUTRAGED THE HUGE LINES OF SUPPORTERS!) There were ~ 6 that I saw with hand made signs. On a funnier noter someone made a 15 foot float based on Dr Strangelove showing John McCain riding a giant missile stating NO MORE WARS! Now back to the event:

I was suppose to travel to West Virginia @ 5am on errand for the campaign, but plans changed and instead I was called late last evening and asked to volunteer at the Obama Town Hall at Westerville Central High School. I was assigned a cushy job that had me end up in choice seats just to the left of Sen Obama. I discovered why I was going to be sent to WV-Senator Jay Rockefeller introduced our next president. Sen Rockefeller stated as a seasoned member of the Intel Committee he had urged Sen Obama to sit on the committee. He said although he did not, he was a regular reader of the information that they have access to. He spoke highly not only of Sen Obama's intelligence and thirst for knowledge but of his conciliatory nature of working with others and seeking opinions from those around him.

The media actually has a good clip of Sen Obama staying on a positive message of change. He has a great sense of humor and seems comfortable with his audience. He took questions from the audience: One was on taking care of returning Vets-he stated the whether they are active military, National Guard or Reserves we as a nation need to take care of those who have served. He believes each returning Vet should have an evaluation to determine what health issues need addressing. One question was from a mother of 4 with 2 in college and 2 in HS. He offered financial help to all students BUT with the understanding that they serve society upon completion of their education (soup kitchens, working with homeless etc). One question spoke of the need to change our education system to better serve students by rewarding excellent teachers and working to improve those who lack skills. He spoke how undervalued they were and this would change in his administration. One question asked about his selection of SCOTUS Justices. He said not only was knowledge important but he felt life experience was also valuable. He believed a woman needs to be on the Court. He added that all his appointments will feature the most qualified individuals and must maintain the highest levels of ethics and integrity.

I've got to get back to my mom duties but I have to say he spoke like a true populist and the crowds received him enthusiastically!

Oops...i forget to add: I SHOOK HIS HAND AND HE HAS A FIRM HANDGRIP AND SAID THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!

[Faygo Kid]

1. I'm envious. Thanks for your good work.

Yes we can.

Your work helps make it happen.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Thanks, mod mom for your work and for your first hand report. Love reading them!

[liberalnurse]

3. They both scheduled rallies today in Westerville.

Hillary did her Rally earlier.

So, I'm sure the Hillary supports were not embraced by the Obamarites by the way you tell the story.

[blonndee]

4. Thanks for posting this!!

What an exciting experience! And...Hillary supporters "protesting" the event? What's to protest? Democracy?

[Adelante]

10. We can't have that, can we?

Down with Democracy!!

[Cha]

22. That is so typical

of one of her supporters..it's not a surprise, and that can't be good.

[mod mom]

23. It was about the false report on NAFTA & the Canadian Embassy:

Canadian Embassy: Report On Obama And NAFTA Is False
By Greg Sargent - February 28, 2008, 12:47PM

Roy Norton, the minister of public affairs for the Canadian embassy, is flatly denying that any Obama campaign official spoke to the Canadian ambassador in recent days or told him that Obama's anti-NAFTA stump speech is merely "campaign rhetoric."

"No, none," Norton told me when I asked him if Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., had spoken to any Obama advisers recently. He added: "Neither before the Ohio debate nor since has any presidential campaign called Ambassador Wilson about NAFTA."

Norton did allow, however, that the embassy on the staff level had discussed multiple issues, including NAFTA, with the Obama and Hillary campaigns at various times, and had urged them to look at NAFTA in a positive light.

"We've impressed upon them the fact that NAFTA has been good for all three countries," Norton said. "They have made it clear that NAFTA is an issue of contention in the , and that inevitably there would be discussion and debate surrounding NAFTA."

-snip
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/canadian_embassy_report_on_oba.php

[writes3000]

5. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed reading this. n/t

[Lerkfish]

6. why would clinton supporters be protesting an obama event?

don't they realize their time would be better spent GOTV and campaigning for their own candidate?

sheesh, that in a nutshell right there is the crux of the problem.

[UALRBSofL]

18. That was Obama plants

set up to give Clinton negative coverage, despicable.

[Lerkfish]

25. link? proof? anything to back that up?

not saying you're wrong, just wondering what your source is.

[Lerkfish]

35. so, still no links or proof, eh?

[mod mom]

27. That's what Obama supporters said. This was a small event and while it was

going on throngs of Obama volunteers were out canvassing as part of his million door knock. Folks thought they would better serve their candidate out canvassing than spreading falsehoods about a fellow Dem. They certainly didn't change any minds with this crowd.

[roseBudd]

7. Obama Ohio PDFs for download here, they say Go Obama, Ohio Decides March 4...

Vote for Change

B&W & color versions

http://xsotek.com/posters/obama.pdf

http://xsotek.com/posters/obamaBW.pdf

[mod mom]

26. Hi ole friend!

You've been working hard making sure our votes count! My hat's off to you!

:hi: :patriot:

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. Thanks for that firsthand account modmom....

I'm jealous, and sad. When do I get my turn? NC usually isn't high on the primary fight list, because our primaries aren't held until early May. I even thought of traveling to SC to see him, but backed out......I now regret that decision. Recommended...
:-(

[Drunken Irishman]

9. A firm handshake, does this mean we can count on Hank Hill's vote?

Yup!

Lucky you...wish I could meet Obama.

:D

[blonndee]

LOL!!

[Kittycat]

11. Great report.

And WTH with the HRC Protesters? I think they could find better ways to help their candidate, but Oh well.

[From The Left]

12. I'm Not Surprised Hillary's Thugs Were Present

There's something not quite right with her supporters.

[goclark]

29. Rovian trained

[yourguide]

13. AMAZING!!!

But what was with the protesters?

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Sounds exciting!!

What was up with the Hillary protesters? That's nuts.

[Yael]

15. Thanks for the report!

Sadly, I am not surprised about the protesters. Saddened that they have been reduced to this, but not surprised. :(

[bigtree]

16. I like his comment on the Court

Sounds like it was a good rally. Thanks for posting.

[FrenchieCat]

17. Thank you!

You seem to share the same impressions that this Ohio Columnist who some have said is the best one Ohio has....stated in his OPed.

When the meeting was over, someone called and asked me what I thought. I was mildly surprised by my answer:

Yes, I said simply. Yes, he just might be all that.

In person, Barack Obama is even more charismatic than on TV. He is tall, lithe, coordinated. He is thoughtful and funny at the same time. His enormous appeal seems to be built on a combination of intellectual and social intelligence. One of the people present was, I knew, a Hillary Clinton supporter. Obama clearly sensed that, bore in, tried to win her over.

I asked him a question about the nation's decaying infrastructure; would he, if necessary, support something like a new WPA, the federal program that put the unemployed to work during the Depression? Obama responded with a sophisticated plan for a program that would assist states and communities to do just that, by using a pool of matching fund money.

His program made sense, but what impressed me more was that he had clearly studied the issue, assimilated the knowledge, and was able to call it forth without seeming like a policy wonk.

Bottom line, what he seemed to be saying was that he thought he could bring about change — because he thinks we are ready to bring about change, after the years of the lies and filth and greed of the Bush administration. Would he ask us to sacrifice?

Yes, he would. We're going to pay more for energy, for gasoline and electricity, and that's probably not all. He wants to give students a $4,000 tuition credit — and would require them to do a fair amount of national or community service.

He intends to do a lot of things, but adds, "My first job is to build a working majority. And despite having an unabashedly progressive agenda, I've been able to attract independent and even some Republican votes, in a way that I'm afraid Hillary Clinton can't." He never said a negative word about his opponent, except that she is "too polarizing a figure" to bridge the great divide in our nation today.
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=12518

[mod mom]

24. There were a bunch of folks in H2O tee shirts which on the back say Hillary2Obama

Being the simple minded person I am, I had to ask what they meant. They were former Hillary supporters who have switched to Obama.

BTW One of the questioners were a former Republican who although in her fifties have had several heart attacks and had a question of coverage on life sustaining medicines. (yes they would be covered.) He mentioned how absurd it is for the public to have to pay for those silly commerials of people running in a field of flowers for a drug no one know what it's for -he joked except for that one drug-we know what's that's for)

[bigbrother05]

19. I watched it on CNN

they didn't show Rockefeller, I would have loved hearing him, I quess Hillary supporter's didn't have any where to go/
It was great and his response about Scotus, not just the mind, but with the heart, and gut.

[crispini]

20. You know, it really makes me wonder why people would protest...

another Democratic candidate in a PRIMARY. It's basically a complete waste of time. People standing around waving signs are NOT going to change any minds, or get any votes. Why not get out there and phonebank or blockwalk? Much better use of time.

[roseBudd]

28. It's to be disruptive, young republicans were banging flip flops and yelling when Kerry came to

Cinti. I couldn't hear Kerry because of them. They were right up front.

[Independent-Voter]

37. Because they're fucking idiots? Not to be snarky, but the primary is in less than 24 hours.

HRC has shown complete incompetence regarding the recruitment and use of volunteers. That some people think she's capable of running the country is laughable.

BTW - great sig line. Been meaning to compliment you on that for a few days.

[Cha]

21. I'm so happy for you, modmom...all this

work you do for our country woven into your mom duties and Obama gets to shake your hand! Thank you for your most excellent report.

[zulchzulu]

30. That is fantastic! His town hall meetings are especially wonderful

Not only do you get his great speech, but you see someone in command of the issues and willing to take harder questions than the usual puffed, pre-screened and planted variety that Hillary's are known for.

Having shaken his hand a couple times, he has a great handshake as well.

GOBAMA!

[Avalux]

31. Yay for you! I attended a town hall meeting here in Texas.

It's wonderful when he takes questions from the audience. Thanks for all you're doing for Obama's campaign. Yes We Can! :hi:

[grantcart]

32. how large was the crowd

[eridani]

33. Pix of the float would be way cool

Pretty please with sugar on it and a cherry on top?

[mattclearing]

34. Glad you were able to get in and meet the Senator.

That's awesome. Sounds like a great event.

[grantcart]

36. kick