Obama Caught Up in Bizzare Baby-Surfing Ritual in Butte, Montana

[bigtree]

The Democratic presidential hopeful spoke to some 8,000 people stuffed in the University of Montana’s basketball arena, and another 500 watching a live broadcast on the Jumbotron in Washington-Grizzly Sta-dium. In some ways, his speech resembled a sporting event more than a political rally.

Tickets to the event sold out in a matter of hours. Music blared. Outside, vendors sold souvenir buttons and T-shirts. Inside, cheering fans waved signs and passed the time by doing the wave. The scoreboard in each corner of the arena read “OBAMA” and the clock read 20:08.

There was even crowd surfing sort of.

As Obama shook hands with supporters after his speech, a parent several rows back passed a baby for-ward to have its photo taken with Obama. Afterward, the senator handed the infant back to the crowd. The baby was then passed back, presumably to the right parent.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/04/05/top/42st_080405_obamababy.txt

[SwampG8r]

1. my god man

think of the children
lol

[undeterred]

2. I know that baby- he likes to 'mosh' at campaigns.

[bigtree]

4. he does have that look on his face

. . . like he's done this before

[GarbagemanLB]

3. Every Obama rally begins with the sacrificing of a baby. Didn't you know this?

[bigtree]

5. it looks like fun

[TheDonkey]

15. LOL

[quakerboy]

6. Well hot damn

I may just have to run out and get me a baby so's I can pass it to Obama.

[Raine]

7. Aw...so cute!

:loveya:

[MadBadger]

8. I just dont get the whole Kissing the baby thing.

Do parents thin it "blesses" their child or something?

[my2sense]

9. I agree....It's all kind of wierd

Who passes their child off like that. Hell it's a child not a beer. Maybe folk get caught up in the moment or something. It's just strange.

[MADem]

16. Hell it's a child not a beer!!!!

My thought, precisely.

[AllentownJake]

11. At the Allentown Rally

Someone had made an Obama baby onesy and walked around with his Baby held high over his head. My best friend who I took to the rally told me when she has a child if her husband ever did it with their child she would ensure there would be no more children after securing her baby.

[catgirl]

20. Yah right. Good try

I doubt someone is wound up that tight.

[AllentownJake]

23. She is

I picture her buying the $800 car seats....when she has children...over protective will be the word.

[sandnsea]

17. It's historical

In 20 years, their kid will have a picture of themselves and the first AA president. I'd love to have a pic of myself with JFK or RFK, wouldn't you? The closest "Presidential" picture I've got is my dad and brother with Billy Carter, lol.

[flygal]

10. That was in Missoula - not Butte

He was in Missoula earlier in the day to speak at U of M.

[RichardRay]

26. And GOD KNOWS don't confuse Butte with Missoula!!!

If you ever get to Montana and have a chance to visit both places it will be clear why. In Butte the parent would have just pegged the baby over the heads of the crowd and figured the baby could handle it if the senator missed!!

[MonkeyFunk]

12. At least he didn't go long

for a pass.

[druidity33]

22. heh, heh

He would 've made the catch of course, but FAUXNEWS would've looped it and called into question Obama's executive abilities because he wasn't able to prevent the child from being lofted into the air and chose to extend the game by CATCHING the kid instead of expressing disapproval by letting the baby land.

:shrug:

Then they would've blamed Clinton for being late and forcing the crowd to entertain themselves...

Start calling both of them a danger to babies and families...

:eyes:

[MonkeyFunk]

24. Well they would've rightly called him on

on spiking the ball.

[druidity33]

27. ouch!

but he's too gracious to be grandstanding!

:)

[goletian]

13. lol, damn. that parent was desperate for their child to be in a historic photo op. - nt

[Bolo Boffin]

14. This really is precious - Obama's Iwo Jima of Hope. n/t

[Political Heretic]

19. LOL!

[bigtree]

28. heh

for sure

[flpoljunkie]

18. Thanks for the article. I read somewhere that Obama signed the man's "Trout for Obama" sign!

Those who made their way to the stadium were rewarded, however, when Obama made a surprise stop there after his speech, shaking hands with members of the overflow crowd, including Dan Taylor of Mis-soula, who held a sign reading: “Trout for Obama.”

Brian Borsett has lived in Missoula for 25 years and in Washington, D.C., before that. Never has he seen a candidate generate this kind of excitement, especially among the younger generations.

[hedgehog]

21. Has any columnist noted that although the Obama Nation is as

mad as hell and we aren't going to take it any more, we also have a lot of fun? I really think what irks Hillary supporters the most is hearing us laughing and having a good time!

[JBoy]

25. Professional stunt baby. Got his union card. It's OK.

[Bonobo]

29. Reminds me of those Big 10 football games...

[slinkerwink]

30. that baby's going to be a major rock music fan. His first crowd-surfing!

[shugah]

31. "bizarre baby-surfing ritual"

:spray: