Obama Rocks Assembly Hall Bloomington Indiana Photo Diaryby
http://heartlandliberal.dailykos.com/">HeartlandLiberal
Thu May 01, 2008 at 06:44:09 AM PDT
End of last week, I was able to attend the Hillary Clinton rally in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. I posted a photo dairy of that event:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/25/164357/960/898/503528">Hillary Clinton in Bloomington Indiana Photo Summary
Last night, April 30, Sen. Barack Obama brought his campaign to Assembly Hall. I was able to attend, and below the fold are the photos and some reporting on the event.
I have included a large number of photos, my reason the same as I stated in the prior diary. The vast majority of Americans do not get to attend these events. Some of the diaries I have enjoyed the most on this site have been those with good photo documentation that helped give me a feel of what the place, the people, and the event was like. Attending these events lets us become a little part of unfolding history, and everyone should be able to share a little of that feeling.
At the end of the diary, I have added some comments on the speech, and what an amazing, electrifying event this was. I also have some comments on the amazing depth and substance of the speech.
(Welcome again, of course, to Assembly Hall, home of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball program.)
http://heartlandliberal.dailykos.com/">HeartlandLiberal's diary :: ::
I had conservatively estimated the crowd last night at definitely way over 10,000. The local newspaper the Herald Times front paged the rally this morning and reported the official estimated attendance was almost 13,000. Hillary Clinton drew only about 3,000 at the same site last Friday.
The stage for the event is the stage IU staff had already begun constructing the night before for this year's commencement exercises, which are coming up, this is finals week here in Bloomington, home of Indiana University.
I could hardly believe my eyes, but before 8:00 a couple of people were already in line at the South lobby entrance. Lines were set up to form with entry at both north and south lobbies, with the Secret Service bringing in and setting up metal detectors late afternoon. The crowd was allowed to start entering about 6:30, with the event scheduled to begin about 8:30.
In a previous diary, someone asked what is this Hall of which you speak. Assembly Hall is was built in the 1970's, and is the home of the basketball court of the Indiana Hoosiers, historically considered one of the strongest and most famous basketball programs in the nation.
Southeast of the hall construction is underway for a new facility that will house two full basketball practice courts, and new offices and locker rooms for the men's and women's teams.
To the west of the hall is Memorial Stadium, home of the IU football program. Note the cranes at the north end. Construction is underway to create new office space that will complete the semi-circle at the north end of the stadium.
Mid-morning the stage was still under construction. It was set up at south end of court. The floor is covered with protective mats for events like this.
The next three shots show the stage filled with guests in the hour preceding Obama's coming on stage. This is a good illustration of how well organized Obama's campaign staff is. No one was allowed to bring in their own signs. But staff distributed signs to every one of the people who would be seen sitting behind Obama. A staff member came out and led the crowd through a series of cheers, and coached the audience on the stage. Not that they needed coaching. This audience was there for Obama, ready and excited from the moment they entered the hall. The atmosphere was electric. Note the plastic balls being tossed around. These were provided to those of us on the floor in front of the stage (standing room only), and provided entertainment for the half hour before his appearance. His people knew how to prep and pump a crowd. The difference between this and last weeks Clinton campaign was absolutely like night vs. day. I was stunned at the qualitative difference in preparation and thought put into the rally as a media event.
The campaign had arranged for use of the scoreboard, something Hillary Clinton's campaign had apparently not thought of. Here you see it playing the famous viral video of the the 'Yes, we can' song.
8:30 passed and Obama did not appear. The crowd was ready, though. The people on stage kept watching the curtains stage right where he was to appear from. The men's basketball locker room is there, it was being used by Obama upon his arrival for preparing for the appearance. Every time the curtains hung over the entrance moved and parted, the crowd on the stage went wild. After the fourth or fifth time with no Obama, this started to drive the rest of us a litte nuts.
Here is another good example of 'know your audience'. Remember, the public was not permitted to bring in signs. But here are students in the audience reminding us (and any cameras present) that you are in the land of the Hoosiers!
The next six shots pan the audience starting in the south east corner and moving north up the east side of the stands, then swinging back down the west side. Check my photo diary of the Clinton rally and compare for yourself. And remember, there were probably 500-700 people on the floor standing in front of the stage as well.
Finally, a little before 9:00, Rep. Baron Hill, IN-09, came on stage, and proceeded to make official his pledge of his vote at the convention to Obama. He gave a rousing endorsement of Obama, pretty impressive.
Next a series of shots of Obama as he spoke for the next 45 minutes or so.
After Obama finished, Hill came back on stage to share in the applause, which was strong and prolonged.
Finally Obama came down the stage left side of the stage, and worked his way along the fence, shaking hands and talking. I got to shake his hand.
One final shot of the stage as the crowd began to disperse.
Just a few comments on Obama's speech.
I was blown away at the scope and depth of his speech. He covered all the key issues facing this nation, from the war in Iraq, to outsourcing, to health care, to supporting acquisition of a college education, to damage to the Constitution done by the current administration.
The depth of preparation by his staff was pretty obvious as he began. Before he got down to his speech, he used notes provided him and gave an incredibly accurate description of early voting in Indiana, including warning voters if they have moved since they got their photo ID to bring additional evidence with the new address, and he even read out the street address in the Curry Building where early voting takes place here in Bloomington.
My favorite moment, because it is what to me is at the heart of the disease on America the Bush/Cheney administration represent, was Obama's comments on the Constitution. To paraphrase, he said:
'I taught the Constitution. I love the Constitution. When I am in the White House I will respect the Constitution and the rule of law.' Explicit words. No varnish. Striking directly at what I consider the greatest issue facing us right now. Are we still a nation of laws, or not.
His speech was not without some humor. He pointed out at one point why it was so important, whoever was the Democratic nominee, to vote the Republicans out of the White House. As he said, remember, this fall, whatever else you see, you will
not see the name George Bush on the ballot. The crowd agreed with that by raising the decibel level to painful heights. Then Obama joked that we would also not see
his cousin Dick Cheney's name on the ballot either. Then as an aside he mentioned that was one family hunting party he was glad he would not be on.
What impressed me most was the total, in depth substantive nature of his speech. No pandering. No bullshit. Just point after point after point addressing the issues, and taking positions on the issues, including getting out of Iraq in 2009, while restoring the health of the military and putting our forces back on target on the real enemies facing us, e.g. in Afghanistan where the Taliban and Al Qaeda are resurgent. He outlined with specific figures, including the $28 per person bonanza, why he rejected the proposed gas tax holiday of McCain and Clinton for the pandering piece of fluff it is. Instead, he offered finally getting serious in his presidency about energy independence and alternative energy sources, promising that in his presidency action would actually take place on these issues, instead of repeating the same pattern we have seen since the 70's of the issue only being mentioned as vague promises during election cycles.
Which brings me to a diary published yesterday criticizing all the candidates for their lack of substance.
There was no lack of substance in this speech. It was incredible. It covered everything.
So I went home, grabbed a late snack, and found my wife watching an in depth seemingly interminable discussion on CNN on whether America could ever get over the tragedy of Obama (who, as we all know is a Muslim), having attended a Christian church whose pastor hated America.
Don't ever ask me why I no longer watch the traditional TV news shows. There is no news there. The American people do not hear the substantive words of the candidates because the traditional media simply no longer do reporting and journalism. It is really that simple.
I wish I could get my hands on a transcript of Obama's speech last night, and publish it. The substance is there. The will and passion and commitment and competence are there. This man is more than ready to lead this nation.
I forgot to add this final note when I first published this. Obama said, playing to the Hoosier crowd, that in his presidency, he would have to replace the bowling lanes in the White House with a basketball court. If you have been following the news on the Indiana campaign, the bowling controversy to end all controversies, and Indiana culture, you can imagine that went over pretty well.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/1/73145/05350/576/506901
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
