Story time: Come post about seeing your candidate in person/rally

[mckeown1128]

I think it might be fun and uplifting(considering the permanent flame war of GDP) if we all shared our "I saw Obama or Clinton in person stories"

Here is mine... Back in December I convinced my republican wife(not anymore...since she voted for Obama) and my 1 year old daughter(not a republican...because I say so) to go see Obama, Michelle, and Oprah at that huge rally in Columbia, SC. (The one where they had to change venues to a large football stadium..because they had so many people :) ) We waited in line in the heat(it was like 85 degrees in December) We stood in line for hours. And it rocked. I have never been to something that amazing before. Obama did is standard campaign speech... which I had seen MANY times before on TV, but it still rocked. Oprah gave an excellent speech. Overall I had a GREAT time.


So what is your story? (bonus-cool points for pics) I have no clue if anyone wants to share... so if not... let-it-sink.

[ClayZ]

1. Seattle Rally Obama

Subject: Seattle Rally
Message:
My friend Chikako (a green card carrying Japanese woman who says she will apply for US citizenship if Obama is President) and I were dropped off in front of Key Arena in Seattle while my husband went to look for a parking place. (hopeless) The line at 9:00 was winding like a snake throughout 3 blocks and many man made barriers. People were festive. The Rally was supposed to start a 11:00. We got in line and were gobbled up with any manner of merry makers. It was different than the Bob Dylan lines or the Rolling Stones lines I have stood in. We got in the door at about 10:00 and still no Husband. He soon called on the cell phone and said he was going to park downtown and ride the Monorail to the stadium. It was Standing Room Only inside. We crammed into an Isle overlooking a walkway. We had a front row stand on the 3rd floor. The mayor finally came on stage and said that the place was over capacity and that it was a good thing he had given the Firemen the day off or we would all be in trouble. The
crowd was FIRED UP. Governor Gregoir came on and announced her ENDORSEMENT for OBAMA and the crowd went wild.

The people who were crammed up against us, like sardines, were all very kind and equally happy to be standing there with us for an hour and a half.

Husband called and said they announced at the Monorail that the doors were closed at Key Arena. He said he was outside with about 5 thousand people and that there were 5 thousand on the other side of the arena. Obama stopped on his way in and spoke a while with the overflow crowd. It was freezing outside. Everyone stayed and watched the speech on monitors.

Barack Obama was the most amazing Politician I have ever seen. I saw Bill Clinton when he came to a rally at the Pike Place Market many years ago. I watched Al Gore many times and John Kerry on TV. Both men had my undying allegiance.

Barack Obama had 20,000 people in the palm of his hand, inside the Key arena, and 10 thousand more outside. He speaks to the people from a place OF THE PEOPLE. It was amazing. I have since enjoyed YouTube versions of many more of his speeches. I also love to find Michelle Obamas speeches.

Only one other speech would rank up there on my list and that is Lt. Watada's Speech on Citizenship. Find it in my journal.

My only regret is that I did not snatch my grandkids out of school and take them along to see our future president!

Yes We Can

[grantcart]

2. Went to see Shriver, Oprah, Michelle and Caroline at UCLA on Super Bowl Sunday

My wife and daughter are Thai and I had to bribe them that we would go to a Thai Restaurant afterwards as Thais are not very interested ni politics. We drove up early from San Diego and were worried that we wouldn't get a seat so went extra early. We among the first ones there and ended up sitting behind the speakers.

You can see us in this video of Shriver (who gave a great speech.) You can see us at 5:18 I am the fat white guy on the top of Shriver's head. My daughter Anne is sitting next to me readying her camera. Her mother is sitting on her right and can be seen briefly. It was nerve wracking to sit behind there and trying to play the role of thoughtful rally person clapping at all of the right times.

Stevie Wonder also was there and fell on the steps going up to the stage and then said that he had "Fallen because I had my eyes on Michelle".

At the end as we were walking out my daughter said, "Thanks for bringing me, I have never heard women speak with so much power before". And as that was my real agenda for the day I thought that in this case the mission was accomplished. She is now following the campaign and my wife patiently listens to some of my stories about what is happening.

Then we went off and had a great Thai dinner.

[FrenchieCat]

3. I wrote about here at DU at the time.......back in September.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3504434

Read the whole thread, if you have a chance. I get into the meat of what he said at the rally and my impressions much more in later posts.

[mckeown1128]

4. Kick...

and thanks for those who posted.