Last Monday night (19 May 2008), I had the privilege of seeing Barack Obama in Bozeman. I’m lucky I got in–the free tickets disappeared almost instantly. The line for the 7:30 pm appearance started forming at 10:00 am the morning of, and wrapped around the block when I showed up at 5:30 pm.
Oh, but the wait was worth it.
After a surprise appearance by Michael Keaton, Barack came on stage to cheering and deafening applause. He spoke for a full half hour, before leaving the stage to shake hands in the crowd.
At times, listening to Obama speak, I felt as though I could have been sitting in a rally for George C. Wallace in 1972, or even William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Thoroughly charismatic, Barack brought the audience to our feet time and time again–barely giving us time to find our seats before bringing us again with another thundering denunciation or demand.
He spoke on behalf of the “little man”–the everyday blue-collar worker from Dillon, MT. The factory worker in Detroit. The single-mother who works two jobs and still can’t afford health insurance for her son. He decried the wealth-mongering greed of oil companies, or drug companies. He demanded stronger government regulations, and more accountability for politicians to their voting constituents–rather than lobbyists and corporations.
He spoke highly of Hillary Clinton. The audience erupted in applause and cheers when Obama assured us that, whatever happens in November, the name George Bush will not be on the ballot. The audience was cautioned, however, that John McCain is “running for George Bush’s third term.”
I’ve long been excited about Barack Obama. My enthusiasm has ebbed and wained over the last few months–but I’m once again full of enthusiasm. Barack Obama’s candor and neo-populist politics set him apart from any other politician in my lifetime. His track-record of community service and tough reform legislation assure me that he’s sincere in his commitment to the every-day, working class American. His positions on education reform, health-care reform and foreign policy are, to my mind, spot-on.
For these reasons, I’m excited to be voting for Barack Obama in Montana’s primary on June 3rd, and I’m excited to vote for Barack Obama for President this November.
William Jennings Bryan in 1896??? You alive then? Don’t believe what you read. There is barely a discernable difference between the candidates. I will/do support Obama, but the US political landscape needs a change, a serious chenge. If not, 20 years from now we won’t be the #1 world power. I know it won’t happen this November, but 2 parties has got to stop. You care enough to post, be part of the real change.