Moments like this tell me I've made the right call

[Dbdmjs1022]

I was just watching Obama's speech in Harrisburg, and while it was amazing what really touched me was when the speech was over. Obama went around to every single person in the first couple rows to shake hands and just say hi. Despite his secret service detail obviously trying to get him to wrap it up, Barack kept pulling away from them so that he could see every person possible. When the guards finally got him to pull away from the crowd, he went and shook hands with the street cops guarding the rally. Then, and this is my favorite part, a gentleman in a purple t-shirt who was just standing on the street called out to him. Barack went around the security barrier to shake the guy's hand and give him a hug.

THIS is the man I want as my president.

[Erin Elizabeth]

1. Not only that, but those people are pretty sure bets

as far as votes go. So he could have thought "eh, I know they're supporters, no need to press the flesh quite that much."

I noticed Dean used to do the same thing. He would shake hands with EVERYONE if he could, LOL.

[ginnyinWI]

23. Kerry would do it, too.

He stayed long after the cameras would be turned off. And he'd go out and greet the overflow crowd in back of the building and greet them personally. He was always late, but hey.


I watched the same thing tonight with Obama. He's a class act all the way.

[RichGirl]

51. How special of Obama!

But, you know, Hillary does the same thing and so does Bill. They spend as much time as their schedule allows with THEIR SUPPORTERS. In fact, Bill is always late because he spends more time than his schedule allows. They shake hands, talk, hug, hold babies, take pictures with whoever wants it, etc.

Having seen many candidates, I can tell you that most of them do this. If you think this is something that comes from the holiness of Obama, then you really need to get out more.

[quantass]

2. Thanks for Sharing! President indeed!

[grasswire]

3. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

A politician shaking every hand.

[kmsarvis]

7. classy grasswire.

[cliffordu]

4. YEP - absolutely correct.

I am always moved by these stories. I am a bitter Vietnam vet moved back into caring for a country that I have had to turn my back on since they killed Bobby and Martin.

This man is made from the same whole cloth. I believe we can be a better people, again.


:patriot:

[BadGimp]

15. welcome back Cliff

you're right about the man being made from the same cloth...

[cliffordu]

16. Thanks, BadGimp!!!!

:patriot:

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I saw that too, that was nice

:)

[kentuck]

6. My thoughts were:

Does he have anymore to give. He is doing his best.

[mamalone]

8. He is a completely different animal

than the usual politician. I read somewhere that at some kind of a function he went out of his way to greet, shake hands with and *thank* all of the wait staff and even a cleaning lady that happened to be nearby. He amazes me with his responses sometimes... I can't wait to see what he does once he's in the oval office!

[YDogg]

11. amen

[tbyg52]

34. CEOs say how you treat a waiter can predict a lot about character

snip

How others treat the CEO says nothing, they say. But how others treat the waiter is like a magical window into the soul.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-04-14-ceos-waiter-rule_x.htm

"Class is how you treat people who can do nothing for you." -- Geof Greenleaf

Credit:
http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/5746

[Eurobabe]

46. Oh, but he orders orange juice and refuses the coffee

I don't know if PA voters can GOBAMA? :shrug:

:sarcasm:

:rofl:

[boppers]

9. No black limos avoiding the riff-raff?

God, I am so happy that we'll see a real presidency in my lifetime.

[otohara]

10. I Get Chills

every dang time.

President Obama, sounds lovely.

[redstate_democrat]

12. Yes I noticed the same thing.

I was just sitting here staring at the television like :o . he just kept pulling away to go back again and again and no one will ever know how much that mattered to those people in the crowd. I also saw when he went to those cops and gave the passerby a hug too. It was effortless. You could see how tired he was, but he just kept on giving. We need this man in the White House.

[DesertFlower]

13. thank you for sharing. nt

[milkyway]

14. Yes, I was watching the guy in the Lakers shirt taking pictures. He found a secluded spot away from

the crowd and waited. I was glad to see Barack make sure to shake hands with the uniformed cops (or guards?), and he then had to walk over to the Lakers guy to shake his hand and give him a hug.

Every time I watch these things, though, I can't help but imagine what it will be like after he is the nominee and the party is unified. The crowds will be massive, and Barack is very open to letting people hug him and grab him. While it is very uplifting, it's also worrisome.

[book_worm]

17. I missed it. Was it a big crowd?

[MagickMuffin]

27. Yes, C-SPAN will be rebroadcast it Sunday @ 11:39 AM EDT

It was a GREAT speech. I just watched the rebroadcast and they didn't show him shaking hands, so they probably won't show it again later either. But you should try and catch it anyway, C-SPAN showed a lot of crowd shots.

You should tune in a little early just in case they show it sooner.

[Sweet Pea]

18. Why?

"THIS is the man I want as my president."

If your criteria is something as simple as shaking hands with a ton of people after a speech and hugging some stranger on the street, you have a weird criteria.

[Dbdmjs1022]

22. Because

After 8 years of a president who quite obviously doesn't give a shit about the people, we finally have one who is a champion for the people. Not someone who claims he knows what's best while he screws up the country for everyone. And not one who doesn't think enough of the people to tell them the truth, and who says to just "screw 'em."

THAT's why.

[Sweet Pea]

31. You think Obama gives a shit "about the people"?

I happen to think his long-time association with a reverend who blames the US for 9/11 and who says "God Damn America" and who alls thsi nation "The US of KKK" is a "BIG DEAL". Obama doesn't, preferring to tell ME that this ISN'T a big deal, that I should forget about it, that I am a dumb shit for thinking it IS a big deal.

I happen to think his main military adviser, Merrill McPeak, is an idiot for suggestign the same tactics that McCain suggested (100 yrs in Iraq) but Obama doesn't, preferring to tell ME that he ISNT'T an idiot, and that I should forget about it, that I am a dumb shit for thinking it he IS an idiot.

You can take you're people-loving Obama and shove him. He's *absolutely positively 100%* no different from any other politician throughout history, loving the people who love him and hating those who throw the bullshit flag.

[ORDem]

33. Welcome to ignore sweet pee. :)

[Sweet Pea]

40. Great

Saves me from doing the same.

[Th1onein]

36. Couldn't help yourself, could you? Had to spew, didn't you?

It always comes out, one way or another, this hateful rightwing vitriol. How sad that you can't hold it in. At least until you get to that all important 1000 post mark! You guys always out yourselves. You can't say anything good about either Clinton OR Obama, can you? Just WHO is your candidate? McCain?

[Sweet Pea]

41. Hillary

You don't read many posts, do you? All you had to do is go back and read my archived posts, but I suppose complicated tasks like that are a bit beyond your ability.

[Th1onein]

47. Actually, I did a search on your posts....WHAT DID I FIND?

I have found no real support for ANY Democratic candidate, Sweet Pea. Now, ain't that interesting?

However, I DID find that you were against Edwards and Obama. But, nothing FOR Hillary.

Now, I could be wrong, so if you've said anything that can be remotely considered PRO-Hillary, I'm sure we'd all like to see it. So far, though, all I've seen is disruption after disruption, putting other posters down, sarcastic comments, etc.

[Sweet Pea]

49. LOL...

You just can't *stand* it that someone is not behind your beloved O-bah-ma! Its eating away at you!

I don't have to defend myself for you in my support for the only candidate who has a chance at winnging.

So you can keep on getting grumpy and accusing people who don't think like you do and walk like you do and act like you do and like who you like of being repubs.

[Th1onein]

53. No, I just can't STAND it when I see someone who supports

NO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE! You see, in searching through your posts, I found NOT ONE post in support of ANY Democratic candidate, and lots of ones lambasting Democratic candidates. Why is that? WHERE is just ONE post that is pro-Hillary?

[datopbanana]

43. he's a small, angry, bitter man. let him be. it's too late for him now...

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Th1onein]

48. Post JUST ONE of your pro-Hillary comments, Sweet Pea....

I dare ya!

Somehow, I don't think you're gonna be able to find one. I sure couldn't, even after searching.

You're outed, Sweet Pea. You know it and I know it.

[Zodiak]

50. Wow...what a screed Sweet Pea

First paragraph: Very few of us care about Wright. If you think it is a "big issue", fine, but most of the rest of us think it is a distraction. The fact that you bring it up as the first is telling, especially considering it is a criticism from the right.

Second paragraph: McPeak is not one of Obama's "main" advisors, as far as I can tell

March 10, 2008--As back and forth continued between the Clinton and Obama campaigns over who is best qualified to serve as commander-in-chief, the Obama campaign held a press conference with its top military advisors.

Above (L to R) former Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander, Jr. (Carter Administration), former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig (Clinton Administration), senior Obama foreign policy advisor Susan Rice, and former Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters (Clinton Administration) speak to reporters.

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/photos08/photo031008.html

Those are his four "main" advisors. I got the link by simply typing "Obama's main military advisors".

Third paragraph: Please link to Obama's "hate" for those that criticize him. I have seen anything but "hate" from him, but I am giving you this opportunity to clear it up for us Give us a link.

[tabasco]

52. Yes, the only people who care about America are the ones waving the flag and screeching we're #1 !!!

[Th1onein]

35. Always the ones UNDER 1000 posts, you notice?

The watcher is watching.

[TML]

19. Me too

That's awesome.

[stillcool]

20. there have been so many moments..

that I've caught in this campaign..on youtube..that just make me cry. The other day at a town hall meeting he was taking questions around the room..boy, girl, boy, girl. When it got to the last question there was no mike nearby so Obama walked over and passed a guy the one he was using. He introduced himself as a disabled vet...and the everyone started clapping, some stood up. You could tell he wasn't all that comfortable with it, but it was bittersweet. Then he said he didn't really have a question, he just wanted to thank the Senator for running. And the place went crazy.

[davidpdx]

21. I shook his hand at a fundraiser in Portland last September

It was about a year ago I decided to support him. I got my ballot in the mail the other day and am working on getting through all the issues and candidates, but I clearly know who I'm supporting for president.

[cyndensco]

37. I shook his hand in Waukesha, WI in Feb.

NEVER had I been interested to shake anyone's hand, but Obama was different.

[hulka38]

24. There should be no doubt

[grantcart]

25. He sure didn't seem like somebody that was about to lose a primary

I was thinking what does his internals tell him?


He looked pretty pumped.

[wanpete]

26. but, but, Chris Matthews says he has a huge problem, he cannot connect with the common guy in PA

:sarcasm:

[BlooInBloo]

30. Yah - the million dollar salaried elite media knows the common man soooo well.

:rofl:

[washingdem]

28. He is special and he is going to win the presidency.

[Honeycombe8]

29. Me, too! :) nt

[TragedyandHope]

32. K & R! Thanks for sharing

[Generic Brad]

38. You want a gentleman in a purple t-shirt to be president?

Okay. To each their own. ;)

[Frank Booth]

39. There are many reasons to support him, but the fact that he is a decent person means so much.

That's why I always liked Gore as well. It's a treat when you can support a candidate who is a real, decent, kind person.

[Hope And Change]

42. K & R!

:kick:

[mmonk]

45. Me too.

[liberaldem4ever]

54. Great post-K&R!

I feel the same way. I can't wait for him to be elected. I don't dislike Hillary Clinton or her supporters-I just think that Obama is a better candidate and will make a very great president.