Barack Obama is a rock star.
Thats the best way I can describe Tuesday nights rally for the Democratic presidential frontrunner at UW-Madisons Kohl Center. As political events go, Ive never seen anything quite like it. It felt as much like a concert or revival as it did a political speech. I mean that in a good way.
As soon as I was aware Obama would be appearing in Madison, I was determined to attend and take at least some of the kids.
My 15-year-old son, showing his first real interest in politics, has been actively campaigning for Obama in our household. Hes actually watching CNN, and pumps his fist at news of an Obama primary win or lead in a poll. He was quite dismayed to learn Id voted in the Republican primary in Illinois last week. Dont read too much into. Democrats are nearly extinct in Stephenson County, and I wanted to have a say in my County Board district primary. Yes, they actually have contested county board races!
My 11-year-old stepson chose Barack Obama as the subject for his Black History Month project. Hes fully on board the Obama bandwagon, and found the idea of being able to use video of a live event sweet. Or maybe it was tight.
Even though neither of them can vote, I feel a swell of pride in the fact that the boys are interested in politics. The opportunity to nurture that interest was too good to pass up. Afterward, I told them both that the thing I like the most about Obama as a candidate is that hes inspiring and motivating youth.
For the record, if Hillary Clinton comes to Madison Ill try to get them to go, too, but Im likely to have more luck with my 8-year-old stepdaughter, who is a Hillary girl and relishes in engaging in political smack talk. It carries over from football season, I suppose. Not that Id try to encourage that, or anything.
So two of my boys and I drove up to Madison from Freeport. As we walked around the corner and the Kohl Center was in sight, we saw the crush of people. At all of the entrances, people were packed 40 or 50 yards deep, waiting in the cold and snow to get inside. It was a polite crowd, and except for our toes going uncomfortably numb, we had a good time talking and waiting.
Once inside, we found the only seats left unfilled were in the uppermost sections of the arena. It was about 7 oclock, more than an hour before Obama was scheduled to speak. By 7:15, what was left of seats in the upper section were filled, too. There was an overflow room for people that were let in but couldnt find seats. Others, apparently, were turned away at the door.
Rock and soul music and even a little country blared over the loudspeakers when Obama ads or CNN election coverage werent playing on the center-court big screen. The audio and visual assault, along with the constant buzz in the crowd, reminded me of the arena rock concerts I used to attend in my youth. Well, some of them, anyway.
When Gov. Jim Doyle announced the next president of the United States, Barack Obama, everyone stood and Id bet it was as loud in the Kohl Center as it is after a Badgers buzzer-beating victory. It took almost all of U2s beautiful City of Blinding Lights for Obama to reach the stage, after shaking hands along the entrance line. The crowd still was roaring. For another minute or so, Obama who looked tired, having just flown in from Washington D.C. stood and waved to the cheering crowd.
When it finally was quiet enough to start his speech, Obama launched into an address hes probably delivered a hundred times on the stump. It certainly didnt disappoint the crowd, but frankly Ive heard it all before. I watch a lot of CNN.
But that man, wow, does he know how to work a crowd. His cadence is mesmerizing, and on each of his points he gradually cajoles the crowd into a finishing frenzy. The theme of the 25-minute speech, generally, was about the hope and promise Obama represents. Seeing a crowd at least half full of college students and looking at the kids next to me made me feel that hope and promise. I admit it actually choked me up a bit.
I love politics, and feel extremely passionate about government and the role it plays (and in some cases shouldnt play) in peoples lives. Regardless of my thoughts or anyone elses about Obamas policies, its heartening to see someone connecting so many people to politics again.
I suspect that act is going to be extremely difficult for anyone to top in the next few months.
Thats the best way I can describe Tuesday nights rally for the Democratic presidential frontrunner at UW-Madisons Kohl Center. As political events go, Ive never seen anything quite like it. It felt as much like a concert or revival as it did a political speech. I mean that in a good way.
As soon as I was aware Obama would be appearing in Madison, I was determined to attend and take at least some of the kids.
My 15-year-old son, showing his first real interest in politics, has been actively campaigning for Obama in our household. Hes actually watching CNN, and pumps his fist at news of an Obama primary win or lead in a poll. He was quite dismayed to learn Id voted in the Republican primary in Illinois last week. Dont read too much into. Democrats are nearly extinct in Stephenson County, and I wanted to have a say in my County Board district primary. Yes, they actually have contested county board races!
My 11-year-old stepson chose Barack Obama as the subject for his Black History Month project. Hes fully on board the Obama bandwagon, and found the idea of being able to use video of a live event sweet. Or maybe it was tight.
Even though neither of them can vote, I feel a swell of pride in the fact that the boys are interested in politics. The opportunity to nurture that interest was too good to pass up. Afterward, I told them both that the thing I like the most about Obama as a candidate is that hes inspiring and motivating youth.
For the record, if Hillary Clinton comes to Madison Ill try to get them to go, too, but Im likely to have more luck with my 8-year-old stepdaughter, who is a Hillary girl and relishes in engaging in political smack talk. It carries over from football season, I suppose. Not that Id try to encourage that, or anything.
So two of my boys and I drove up to Madison from Freeport. As we walked around the corner and the Kohl Center was in sight, we saw the crush of people. At all of the entrances, people were packed 40 or 50 yards deep, waiting in the cold and snow to get inside. It was a polite crowd, and except for our toes going uncomfortably numb, we had a good time talking and waiting.
Once inside, we found the only seats left unfilled were in the uppermost sections of the arena. It was about 7 oclock, more than an hour before Obama was scheduled to speak. By 7:15, what was left of seats in the upper section were filled, too. There was an overflow room for people that were let in but couldnt find seats. Others, apparently, were turned away at the door.
Rock and soul music and even a little country blared over the loudspeakers when Obama ads or CNN election coverage werent playing on the center-court big screen. The audio and visual assault, along with the constant buzz in the crowd, reminded me of the arena rock concerts I used to attend in my youth. Well, some of them, anyway.
When Gov. Jim Doyle announced the next president of the United States, Barack Obama, everyone stood and Id bet it was as loud in the Kohl Center as it is after a Badgers buzzer-beating victory. It took almost all of U2s beautiful City of Blinding Lights for Obama to reach the stage, after shaking hands along the entrance line. The crowd still was roaring. For another minute or so, Obama who looked tired, having just flown in from Washington D.C. stood and waved to the cheering crowd.
When it finally was quiet enough to start his speech, Obama launched into an address hes probably delivered a hundred times on the stump. It certainly didnt disappoint the crowd, but frankly Ive heard it all before. I watch a lot of CNN.
But that man, wow, does he know how to work a crowd. His cadence is mesmerizing, and on each of his points he gradually cajoles the crowd into a finishing frenzy. The theme of the 25-minute speech, generally, was about the hope and promise Obama represents. Seeing a crowd at least half full of college students and looking at the kids next to me made me feel that hope and promise. I admit it actually choked me up a bit.
I love politics, and feel extremely passionate about government and the role it plays (and in some cases shouldnt play) in peoples lives. Regardless of my thoughts or anyone elses about Obamas policies, its heartening to see someone connecting so many people to politics again.
I suspect that act is going to be extremely difficult for anyone to top in the next few months.
