A Tale of Two Nations: Part I
Read Time:4 Minute, 42 Second
I spent last night at a Romney rally in North Canton, and the night before at an Obama tarmac stop in Cleveland. I’m socially liberal enough to know where my vote is going, but fiscally conservative and, well, just plain curious enough to indulge in the benefits of living in the battleground region of the battleground state just before a hotly contested presidential election. (Yes, it’s the big OH!) Two events, two cities, two sides of the aisle, and they couldn’t have been more alike nor more different. Today, the first of a two-part story.
Politics, Night 1: The Left
President Obama’s tarmac event helped me fall in love with Cleveland, and I can say with confidence it wasn’t encountering the downtown traffic at rush hour that did it. Waiting in the massive line for security, I was flanked by the lake on one side and the cityscape on the other, and fully enveloped in the beauty of humanity. Vendors navigated the lines, calling out their wares, from standard campaign pins, to posters, to beanie babies dressed in tiny Obama t-shirts. A patriotic few among the crowd purchased red, white, and blue feather boas, but most simply smiled as the vendors passed by.
The crowd was diverse in every regard. The quintessential interaction took place when a young black woman offered to find a chair for a frail elderly Indian woman who sat on the cement as she waited for the line to move. The offer was declined, as the woman explained in her thick accent that she was simply tired from spending the day running around the city looking for a hard copy ticket to the event, knowing full well that tickets could be printed from online but nonetheless determined to have the memento. She spent hours earlier in the day getting on and off buses, from one Obama office to another, until she finally tracked down her prize, which she proudly displayed to those around her.
Others chatted casually in line—all races, ages, and ethnicities—and it was with this crowd that I spent the evening, watching the sun set behind a massive American flag during an unusually mild Ohio evening, waiting with anticipation for the arrival of the President. Volunteers handed out free bottles of water, a nice touch, though I was convinced it would have been misconstrued by those on the other side of the aisle as a symbol of Obama’s “socialism.” Water for everyone? Horror!
The “opening acts” were admittedly none too impressive, a parade of congressional representatives reciting Obama’s platform and soliciting votes for their own reelection campaigns. A somewhat jumbled prayer was said, blessing the crowd and our great nation, but especially, of course, Obama. I said the pledge of allegiance for the first time since elementary school, and the national anthem was sung. The greatest excitement among the crowd came as we awaited the arrival of the President. Everyone was looking skyward, and in all of our minds, every aircraft became Air Force One.
When the plane finally approached, all that most of us could see was the sea of erected smart phones of those trying to take pictures. As it turns out, this would become the core of the experience for the remainder of the night. There were a lucky few who were seated in bleachers, and I would assume a few in the front row, but most of us were able to see only throngs of other people. The speaking platform was elevated, but not high enough, so the crowd began to entertain themselves by trying to get pictures of what they could not actually see by holding phones as high as their collective arms could stretch in an effort to get a photo of the President.
That entire night, I caught only two glimpses of Obama, in moments when the crowd moved in just the right symphony, and yet I was able to snap several photos by holding my phone far higher than my 5’2” frame. Based on the conversations I was overhearing, this was the crowd experience: People lamenting they didn’t have better zoom lenses; excitedly pronouncing when they got a glimpse of Obama; jumping to try to see above the crowd; and hoisting up their children (and in a couple of cases, other adults) to enable better views.
It was a good night, but it had little to do with hearing Obama repeat the same talking points and “Romnesia” jokes that everyone had seen play out a dozen times in the media. The crowd cheered when Obama mentioned jobs and women’s rights, with hands-down the most enthusiastic response going to Obamacare. Twice Romney’s name was booed by the audience, which was swiftly met with Obama’s clever line of “Don’t boo, vote!”
By and large, the magic of the night was in the collectivity of the people. This was America, and these were Americans, diverse but joined, willing to stand as one in support of a president who may not be perfect, but whom they know has fought for them. It was a crowd of 12,000 that seemed determined to return the favor on November 6th.
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I enjoy a good rally; cars, basketball, politics, but I’m not sure I could wait for hours to listen to someone I don’t freaking like. Do you like BHO?
I attended both Romney and Obama events that week, and both were worth the wait, if only for the better understanding of the “feel” of both parties. For me, it was more about experiencing the crowds than seeing the candidates, who largely spent their time restating the same things we’ve heard over and over (and over, and over, and over) again on TV…
I enjoyed reading this story, and am anxous to read the next one. Clearly you judge with your mind and not your heart. That makes you an analyst and a good writer. Thanks.
I can’t imagine a higher compliment. Thanks for the kind words, Parker! Part II is now available.
Great report G.L. No matter how fiscally conservative you are I know you will not get Romnesia. 🙂 🙂
Thanks for the show of confidence, Bill. Sometimes those around me get Romnesia about my immunity from Romnesia. 🙂 “Part II,” about my experience at a Romney/Ryan rally, coming up. Preview: Even the free Oak Ridge Boys concert wasn’t enough to pull me over to their side. 🙂
I worried that you were getting Romnesia :-)Now not so much.
I went to the convention in NC and it was awesome. You can’t help but be moved by the dems, lots of equality and no color discrimination, unlike the rethugs.
Agreed, Nancy! While my review of the Romney rally won’t be the horror story that some people might expect, the difference in the crowd was striking. I’ll take the melting pot any day.
I don’t know how you put up with those crowds. Not me. I watch from the couch, no chance of getting stepped on there, except maybe by my little dachshund.
So long as you aren’t the one stepping on the dachshund, to each their own. 🙂 The crowds were respectful, and I hung back from the real thick of things–the zoom feature on my phone made it look like I was deeper into the crowd than was the case. (I was surrounded, but still had room to breathe.) That said, the experience of having to park near the event was enough to make hanging on the couch sound pretty nice!
Whoa! Mike did you hire a political correspondent? This is equal to something I would read in the NYT! Good work.
Sincerely appreciated!
An alternative is to file every email itdamiemely, but to put a flag on those which need a reply; then to just work through your For Follow Up folder. This approach means there is no need to move emails first into the reply folder, and then move them again once you’ve replied to them though at the cost of having to set and later clear a flag.