PHOTOS: Obama Rocks Seattle Event

[MadBadger]

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/08/obama-rocks-seattle-event-in-caucus-preceed/

?v=0



SEATTLE

For a Bainbridge Island foursome traveling Thursday to take in the Barack Obama experience, their support was staked on what the candidate will inspire them to do as much as what he could do as president himself.

"Facing the day with an optimistic outlook is an important attitude change," said Cindy Ford, who took the Bainbridge ferry with her husband John and friends Jon and Sue Cretarolo. "He gives us a sense of optimism."

Many on the 8:45 a.m. boat had their Obama gear ready, from buttons to T-shirts to copies of the Illinois senator's books. Just hours later they joined a boisterous crowd in KeyArena chanting, waving signs and even dancing to rock music blaring overhead as they waited Obama's entrance to a U2 song around 12:30 p.m.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, drew about 5,000 people to a Thursday night stop that left some turned away. Obama seemed to have no trouble filling the 18,000-seat Key Arena as well as the venue floor, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels told the audience another 3,000 were turned away.

Obama measured up to the islanders' ideals, saying he went into the run for the presidency because he believed Americans would work together for change.

"Basically, Seattle, I was betting on you," he said. "I believe change happens not from the top down, but from the bottom up."

He said that Americans were decent and generous and would accept the challenge to be better.

"That was the bet I was making one year ago," he said. "I am here to report the bet has been paid off an my faith in the American people has been vindicated."

He spoke of improving education and rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Obama said he'd negotiate with drug companies to get lower drug prices and premiums for Americans and health care that focuses on prevention.

"We're going to have a health care system, not a disease care system," he said.

He said he'd end in the war in 2009.

In the midst of talking about how he'd talk with America's enemies, Obama noticed a woman standing toward the front who was struggling. He stopped his speech and asked for a chair, for someone to help the woman. Help arrived, and he carried on.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Obama outdraws the Sonics!

[NJSecularist]

19. ROFL

Very true. :)

[K Gardner]

2. Nice pics ! Thanks !

[d_b]

3. teh cult is hugh!!!!!11

[BringBigDogBack]

64. taht was teh funny

:)

[bigwillq]

4. Nice pics.

Thanks for sharing.

[ellisonz]

5. To the rafters!

[TwilightGardener]

6. Awesome--thank you.

[Scurrilous]

7. Beautiful!

:thumbsup:

[grateful581]

8. good pics

Go Obama!

[KAZ]

9. I don't know. Looks kind of Pokemanish.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4487330

Soon, the MurkinFishLassoist will come to set you straight.

[sandnsea]

10. The Sleeping Giant ROARS!!!

And another generation rises to carry forward the promise of America.

Yes WE CAN!!!

[Critters2]

11. Sorry, but this just creeps me out:

[MadBadger]

12. Why does it creep you out?

[Critters2]

13. It's a political campaign, not a revival meeting.

Or is it?

[MadBadger]

14. You have no idea what is going on inside this person's head.

I'm not an African American, but if I was, I would feel an enormous amount of pride in seeing Obama contest for the Presidency. He could actually win this thing, and I could see myself getting emotional over that.

Jeez.

[Critters2]

15. I've been to an Obama rally, and LOTS of people were weeping.

Not just African-Americans. In fact, there weren't many African-Americans there. But there were a lot of tears.

I find it creepy.

[hedgehog]

27. I get weepy every Fourth of July when NPR has a group of people

with different regional and ethnic accents read out the Declaration of Independence. Do you find that creepy?

[Critters2]

28. Yeah, a little. But not as much as weeping for a political candidate. nt

[hedgehog]

42. They are not weeping for the candidate. They are weeping tears of joy

for the image of America he evokes.

[jackson_dem]

58. How do you know?

[windbreeze]

65. After Wes Clark came to Tacoma

AFTER he got out of the race himself...I wept...it was that important to me, that he run...sorry, I can see emotion becoming part of the whole thing...yes, I can....hell, our lives may just depend on what the next president does for this country...and I do believe that justifies emotion...wb

[Barack_America]

16. So I'm sure you're aware that photographers search for people...

...who are moved and/or crying. It's in no way representative of the entire crowd.

Some people are easily moved to tears. Like, well, Hillary has been lately.

[Critters2]

18. I've been to an Obama rally. Lots of tears. Lots of emotion.

Not much substance.

[fenriswolf]

20. sure your not describing hillary

:rofl:

[tekisui]

67. Rallies aren't meant to be policy lectures.

They are supposed to motivate participation in the political process and energize supporters.

There are many other places to find detailed policies, his website for one.

[kurth]

69. It's Love

Maybe Infatuation.

[izzybeans]

35. So its okay for a candidate to cry about how much the world needs her and not

for this person to find inspiration in their candidate? Interesting double standard.

[faithfulcitizen]

36. Have you ever thought what his candidacy might mean to you if you were a young AA woman?

It's moving. I was a Biden supporter, and wished Obama would have waited. But I too am moved that so many in this country are looking beyond color, his upbringing, etc. and are voting for him in droves. Perhaps this country needs to be "revived" after what we've been through these last 8 years.

[Drunken Irishman]

41. I don't know, you tell me.

How many Edwards supporters discussed on this board how they cried during his drop out speech?

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. delete

[MrsT]

17. Yes, there is no reason anyone, let alone a black person, should be moved by Barack Obama

after all, Obama is a horrible speaker, has accomplished nothing, and black candidates winning persidential primaries all over the country are a dime a dozen.
:sarcasm:

[NJSecularist]

21. Thank you

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[Critters2]

22. He's my senator, and just yesterday I was involved in a discussion

with several people here of how little he's done for this state since being in the Senate.

And as for his speaking skills, he plays on people's emotions, but I'd like some substance.

[MadBadger]

23. delete

[MadBadger]

25. And Yet he won his state with 65% of the vote in the primary.

[Critters2]

26. Yeah. People are disppointed. nt

[WillyT]

72. Uh Yeah... I'm Sure The 35% Were Disappointed By The Uppity 65%

:wtf:

[sandnsea]

43. You don't want to see substance

It doesn't match with your Edwards is the Only True Savior rhetoric.

BEEF, in YOUR State.

[Critters2]

45. We were discussing how his service in the US SENATE has benefitted Illinois.

And really, it hasn't. Dick Durbin is the only one representing Illinois in the US Senate. He's done a lot more than vote "present".

[sandnsea]

47. The "present" votes were in ILLINOIS

And Obama has worked with Durbin on all the issues that affect Illinois, like increased transportation funding, new veteran's benefits calculations, getting wind farm radar studies underway, disaster declarations, summer school, a bunch of stuff. You don't know what the hell you're talking about. The Edwards people just ginned up a bunch of bullshit reason to hate Obama and some of you can't figure out that it's time to put that election aside and figure out what was true and what was campaign rhetoric. Yes, the holy Edwards DOES spew out campaign rhetoric too.

[Skwmom]

63. And Edwards doesn't try to play on people's emotions?

[Yael]

24. Better said than I could have

We have no idea what this girls' life and expectations have been. She is seeing history being made and I am sure it was a little overwhelming for her to see a black man in serious contention (and poised to win).

[aaronbees]

54. Great post!

:thumbsup:

And seeing the photo nearly moves me to tears. Nothing wrong with seeing (and being moved by) something great in history unfolding.

[MagickMuffin]

29. For an Edwards supporter I feel you don't understand the human condition at all

Did you even consider what Barack might have been saying to stir the emotions in this young woman?.?.?

How dare she show her emotions. How dare this young woman feel anything at all.

Sheesh, I have been an Edwards supporter and I felt every word he said that caused an emotional upheaval in my soul. I've cried listening to John's stories about the tragedies he encountered thru his travels.

I also felt compassion expressed thru this young woman's tears. The African Americans have suffered for generations at the hands of our represented government. Maybe those tears were an expression of ALL the injustices they have endured.

[Whisp]

39. did Hillary's tears creep you out as well? nt

[Critters2]

46. A candidate worn out from campigning is different

from someone who is weepy over the candidate.

[Whisp]

53. how do you know that woman in the photo wasn't worn out too?

nt

[JI7]

60. you don't know why the person had tears

perhaps he mentioned something that hit them personally and brought back feelings.

[graywarrior]

48. I've been weeping since Election Day in 99

[jackson_dem]

57. It creeps me out too

I went to an Obama rally last week. They have a few campaign workers incessantly chanting slogans ("fired up!") every couple of minutes. It is eerie. Constant repetition is something cults use to reinforce loyalty to the cult leader...

[Rose Siding]

66. I was there and was moved to tears too.

It's weird, but I can't imagine getting the "creeps" over something that you found moving. peace.

[RestoreGore]

68. But Hillary Clinton can't cry?

[workinclasszero]

30. I am in ur arenazz winin ur electionz!!111

GOBAMA!!!
1'|\/| 1N J00R 4r3N42 \/\/1nn1N' j00r 3L3Ct10N2! Yes We Can!!!!!!:party:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

31. Which other candidates have had 21,000 strong crowds?

[RestoreGore]

71. Yes, balloons and confetti always draw out people...

it's after the hype is over that you see them go home and not come out. Where have they all been the last eight years?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. Which other candidates have had 21,000 strong crowds?

[workinclasszero]

34. Nobody But Obama

Baby!!!! :applause: :woohoo:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

38. There ya go baby! Clintonand the Republicans are just jealous

[Critters2]

51. But the Republicans are going to join in, right?

Isn't that the beauty of Obama, that he'll get Republicans to vote for him? Which will help, after alienating lefty Democrats.

[smalll]

52. Obama gets 21,000 - in Seattle? The very fount and origin of Latte Liberalism?

Big whoop.

[jackson_dem]

61. Which candidate has received 300,000 less votes?

It isn't Hillary...Hillary's base is less likely to be able to afford spending hours going to a rally, lining up, waiting for the candidate to arrive, listening to the speech, tackling the traffic on the way back home. The voting booth is the equalizer between the two candidate's bases.

[Quixote1818]

33. When a politician can draw more people than a Pro Ball Game

he/she has one hell of a following.

[TexasObserver]

37. He's the next President of the United States.

Hallelujah!!

[Colobo]

56. He's Our Next President indeed!

[Thrill]

40. He'll need football stadiums during the GE

[workinclasszero]

44. No doubt! nt

[bullwinkle428]

49. While McLame will have trouble filling Knights of Columbus banquet halls...

:rofl:

[workinclasszero]

50. ROFL!!

:rofl:

[JI7]

62. HAHHAHAHAHHAHAH

[Colobo]

59. As a 24 yr old black Latino guy, I'll be crying my eyes out

when Obama gets inagurated... some people will never understand how big that will be for millions of people around the planet who never thought they would live to see this.

[WillyT]

73. BINGO !!!

And as a white guy, I'll be crying tears of joy right along side of you!

:hug:

[grantcart]

70. k and r

[alphafemale]

74. My daughter is in that crowd somewhere. Clinton was going to speak at her campusin Tacoma.

She said most students were going to Seattle to see Obama.