Something familiar, something odd at the Obama event
I attended Barack Obama’s appearance at a rally for State Senate candidate Dave Koehler this afternoon outside the Peoria County Courthouse.
I made the decision that If I wanted to shake Obama’s hand, I was going to have to stand next to Peoria City Council members Barbara Van Auken and Gary Sandberg, both of whom have met and worked with Obama before.
My strategy worked, as I did get to shake his hand. Barbara warned him to watch what he said, cause I was one of those bloggers. I, however, was far more wit. I said “Nice to meet you.” Classic line. I don’t think Obama actually said anything to me.
So perhaps one day I will be able to say I once met the president of the United States. Perhaps this will happen after inauguration day in 2009.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t have time to listen to the whole speech, as I had to leave to get a freelance writing project done and emailed off. What I did hear was classic Obama. Plenty of talk about the value of electing candidates who are more concerned about representing their constituents in Washington and Springfield than in representing Washington and Springfield to their constituents.
He also spoke about candidates who base their votes on their values, not on deal making with lobbyists.
I’m sorry I didn’t get to hear the whole thing.
There were plenty of politicians there. In addition to Van Auken and Sandberg, I saw City Council members George Jacob and Bill Spears (running for state representative, and who also got a mention from the podium by Obama). I made a bad joke to Jacob about whether they frisked him, considering he’s a Republican. Bad taste, I admitted.
I also caught sight of G. Douglas Stephens, who came close to defeating both Bob Michel and Ray LaHood in separate races for the U.S. Congress from the 18th District. I think Stephens would be able to wipe the floor with LaHood were he running today.
I ran into Joni Paris, another 1981 Woodruff High School graduate. She’s apparently working for Dave Koehler now. We were chatting and Koehler was standing there, wondering how he could politely excuse himself from a conversation about high school.
As Obama and the others were speaking, I caught site of some odd goings-on along Jefferson Street outside the courthouse. I saw Sheriff’s Department personnel wearing gloves treating an injury to the hand of a man I took to be a member of Obama’s entourage. Eventually, someone from the fire department showed up to help, and a police officer stopped by. At about the same time, I saw sheriff’s department personnel run buy and run into the courthouse.
I have no idea what happened, and it spooked me a little.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
&*^%$ work. I would have loved to have been there.
Billy-you’re one liners are sooooo smooth!
how many people were there?
Not if Hillary or the “The Real” Uncle Bill have anything to say about it
OSAMA OBAMA HAS AS MUCH CHANCE OF BECOMING PRESIDENT AS DID MARIO CUOMO DID. OUR LOSS!
There were probably about 2000 folks there. Obama is truly a great speaker.
And his final message – if we want to take the country back, to the democracy that we all know and love – paraphrasing here – kick off your slippers and put on your marching shoes. Vote early so you can get out there and work to support Democrats for election day. Lick envelopes, stick stamps, go door to door, make phone calls – just get off your ass and do something. (the “get off your ass” bit is mine).
Angie: You know it, baby.
I didn’t do a headcount, but there were at least several hundred. They standing in the street.
It amazes me how goofy everyone gets over a politician who can walk and chew gum at the same time. People went nuts over Cuomo’s speech at the Democrat convention, how smooth it was, etc. Same with Obama. I can find thousnds ofcollege thespians who can wow a crowd. But I wouldn’t necessarily want them to be President.
As you may have noticed, I’m a liberal. But I’m not convinced Obama is the man for the job in 2008. Vice President maybe. But he’s too young (although older than moi) and I don’t think he’s ready for that.
Give me a little gray in the temples of my presidents, thank you very much.
Obama is the next John Kerry: On immigration reform; Senator Barack Obama has voted in favor of giving illegal aliens further rewards and other incentives to come such as in-state tuition, educational benefits, welfare and health care services.
Today he said “We need to secure our border”. Can you say “running for President”? Or is it easier to say “flip flop”?
I seriously doubt we will have a “minority” president before a female president. But, caucasions in American will soon be the minority, so I could be wrong, which, of course, happens often.
When you can rig an election, anyone can win JW-good point though.
[...] Also, Peoria Pundit has a post on his encounter with Obama at the Peoria rally Wednesday. [...]
I agree with “some guy” & JW If George Dubya Bush can be declared a presidential election winner as he was in the last race, then I highly doubt we’ll see a woman or minority in office. Rigged rigged rigged…… I still vote although I don’t think it counts anymore.
Cindy,
‘W’ beat Kerry in the last presidential race both in the Electoral College and in the popular vote.
If you want to step back to 2000 and the Gore/Bush race…well, get over it. I got over it when we elected Clinton in ‘92 with just 42% of the popular vote.
“Rigged” when you lose and ‘a system that works’ when you win.