While Hillary and family have campaigned quite a bit in Indiana in the past few weeks,
yesterday, in the warm sun of Downtown Indy, it felt like the major kick off to the actual campaign. Blanche and I had heard about it the day before, and we made plans to leave work and walk down to the rally. Yes, walk! I actually live about 12 blocks from where it took place, and frankly, it is still so weird to think how close these candidates are going to be to us over the next 13 days. Anyway, I left work about 11ish to meet Blanche at 11:30, and when I picked up my mail, I was greeted with the very first campaign mailer from the Clinton Campaign. It was one on NAFTA, and it brought up the whole flap of Obama's surrogates and Canada. Go Hill!
Anyway, as we walked down Meridian St (the main thoroughfare of Indy), we felt kind of silly
with our pins and Hillary signs, but the closer we got to the American Legion Mall, we felt more comfortable around our kind of people. The American Legion Mall is a large green space in downtown that is flanked by the Central Public Library to the north and the World War Memorial to the south. Along it's edges are the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials. And yes, not only was Indianapolis designed by a counterpart of Pierre L'Enfant, who designed Washington, D.C., but we also have the most war memorials of any other city in the country besides DC. So, basically, it was the perfect place to kick off a rally to win Indiana.
After getting through security and losing our signs to campaign staff who wanted to control the
sight lines of the media, we settled in near the stage to wait until Hillary arrived. I was impressed with the number of gay people that I recognized, except for the gigantic, 6'6 dude who was standing near the dais obscuring all good camera angles. I appreciate people wanting to get there early and be up close, but frankly, if you're blocking the sun, you should be courteous and not take a prime place. It became a moot point anyway after Sebastian, a friend of ours who works on the campaign, moved us right up to the rope line where Hillary would walk in. Yes, we both got to shake her hand (that is my thumb in the picture). Alas, I don't have a good picture of her shaking my hand, because it is kinda hard to hold the camera, say hello, hold out your hand, and hit the button on said camera.
Anyway, I am not going to go into great detail about the speech, because it was your standard stump speech, but I am happy to see how well it integrates with the commercials that are
currently playing. It all makes perfect sense the points she is trying to make and reinforce to the electorate, and I have to say that, even though the it was midday on a Wednesday, there was a large and enthusiastic crowd there. Hillary supporters are never going to be the raving chanters that promulgate around Obama, but please believe, they are equally as passionate in their support of this candidate. I will say this, I am forever struck by how brilliant this woman is. Her grasp of the issues are so far beyond any other candidate, that it is, frankly, an abomination that she doesn't have this nomination already. On top of that, she didn't mention her opponent once, but if you saw the coverage from Obama in Indiana, you can see he is already going negative.
All in all, it was a great day, and I am ready for more. Give 'em HELL, Hillary! We're here for you!
yesterday, in the warm sun of Downtown Indy, it felt like the major kick off to the actual campaign. Blanche and I had heard about it the day before, and we made plans to leave work and walk down to the rally. Yes, walk! I actually live about 12 blocks from where it took place, and frankly, it is still so weird to think how close these candidates are going to be to us over the next 13 days. Anyway, I left work about 11ish to meet Blanche at 11:30, and when I picked up my mail, I was greeted with the very first campaign mailer from the Clinton Campaign. It was one on NAFTA, and it brought up the whole flap of Obama's surrogates and Canada. Go Hill!Anyway, as we walked down Meridian St (the main thoroughfare of Indy), we felt kind of silly
with our pins and Hillary signs, but the closer we got to the American Legion Mall, we felt more comfortable around our kind of people. The American Legion Mall is a large green space in downtown that is flanked by the Central Public Library to the north and the World War Memorial to the south. Along it's edges are the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials. And yes, not only was Indianapolis designed by a counterpart of Pierre L'Enfant, who designed Washington, D.C., but we also have the most war memorials of any other city in the country besides DC. So, basically, it was the perfect place to kick off a rally to win Indiana.After getting through security and losing our signs to campaign staff who wanted to control the
sight lines of the media, we settled in near the stage to wait until Hillary arrived. I was impressed with the number of gay people that I recognized, except for the gigantic, 6'6 dude who was standing near the dais obscuring all good camera angles. I appreciate people wanting to get there early and be up close, but frankly, if you're blocking the sun, you should be courteous and not take a prime place. It became a moot point anyway after Sebastian, a friend of ours who works on the campaign, moved us right up to the rope line where Hillary would walk in. Yes, we both got to shake her hand (that is my thumb in the picture). Alas, I don't have a good picture of her shaking my hand, because it is kinda hard to hold the camera, say hello, hold out your hand, and hit the button on said camera.Anyway, I am not going to go into great detail about the speech, because it was your standard stump speech, but I am happy to see how well it integrates with the commercials that are
currently playing. It all makes perfect sense the points she is trying to make and reinforce to the electorate, and I have to say that, even though the it was midday on a Wednesday, there was a large and enthusiastic crowd there. Hillary supporters are never going to be the raving chanters that promulgate around Obama, but please believe, they are equally as passionate in their support of this candidate. I will say this, I am forever struck by how brilliant this woman is. Her grasp of the issues are so far beyond any other candidate, that it is, frankly, an abomination that she doesn't have this nomination already. On top of that, she didn't mention her opponent once, but if you saw the coverage from Obama in Indiana, you can see he is already going negative.All in all, it was a great day, and I am ready for more. Give 'em HELL, Hillary! We're here for you!
8 comments:
How does she do it? I mean really. The hours that she has been keeping and she looks great! I'm jealous that you were able to get pics of her...all I got was the former Prez. ;-)
I know! She talked about how she was up late on Tuesday, and then up at dawn to go on the morning shows. Then she traveled to Indy, and then she had to go to DC for a vote. It wears me out, and I'm half her age.
Go Hills! :)
Okay, wall to wall it is.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hillary's gay problem
by John Aravosis (DC) · 4/23/2008 09:55:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: 73 Comments · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!
My friend Phil Attey asks why Obama keeps mentioning gays and lesbians in his speeches - speeches he makes to the public at large, not just gay audiences - and Hillary never does. Phil writes:
Last month, a gay Philadelphian LGBT publisher raised the issue that Senator Obama, though often addressing LGBT issues and including us in his major speeches, was not granting his publication an exclusive interview. Senator Obama quickly addressed the issue and granted an exclusive interview to the national LGBT publication, The Advocate.
Tonight, following the Pennsylvania Primary, Senator Obama once again showed his commitment to our community by including us in his address to the nation. Senator Clinton, speech, once again, did not include us, and it brings up the issue that hers never do.
Phil is right. And he's not the only one to notice:
But Obama speaks movingly of gay equality, and not just before gay audiences. He has raised the issue among white farmers and in black churches, where the message is both unwelcome and needed.
Clinton, by contrast, rarely raises the issue on her own, never does so before unfriendly audiences, and seems reluctant even to say the word “gay.”
Obama “gets it” in a way that no previous candidate for president has. Part of this is generational, but it is nonetheless real.
Obama mentions us in his speeches, a lot. And yes, Hillary will say those are just words. But you know, Obama was willing to chastize his own community for their homophobia in a speech given on Martin Luther King's birthday in MLK's own church to thousands of black leaders. Those are words that matter. Here's to hoping that Hillary can find it in herself to utter the word gay (and even lesbian) in a setting that isn't limited to a gay audience.
One more thing, watch this interview Hillary did with the gay cable network, Logo. First, the issue comes up about her never using the g-word, and she does use it, once during an entire 5 minute interview with a gay station about gay issues, while mentioning "gay organizations." But notice how repeatedly in the interview Hillary hesitates and stumbles at places where you would naturally expect her to say the word "gay" - she doesn't say it - she kind of stops, doesn't say gay, then moves on. Watch the video for yourself. She's not comfortable saying the word. Obama is. I think that tells you something about how they feel about the issue inside. It's likely generational - he's in his 40s, my generation, she's 60.
Blah...blah...blah
My life does not revolve around my gayness. And if you think either of these candidates are all of a sudden going to make it a utopia of gayness in this country, you are sorely mistaken.
The fact is, while Obama gives lip service to us in speeches, he avoides openly talking to the gay press. Hillary has not. She actually takes the tough questions...not powder puff questions from the Advocate.
Donny McClurken is all I have to say.
Bring it...bring it.
You can't believe what she says, don't you get that? She will dump you! She/they will do anything to make sure that Obama is damaged enough to lose the nomination or the election. I don't think gayness is your life, but I think she is blowing smoke, no matter what interest group media she talks to, whereas Obama has told the truth to his constituency about gays, which takes political corage -- and that she is very short on. I wonder if you aren't enthusiastic for her because she's a wronged woman who fights back rather than on what is best for the party and nation. Look at the performance of Bill during the campaign. What do you think we have to look forward to during a Clinton presidency?
I have to admit, I think she has done the job and that Obama is fatally damaged either for the nom or election. If she manages to beat McCain and win, I think you will be disappointed and we are in for a very unpleasant 4 years. But I expect that McCain will beat either one after this wonderful primary season.
Jason, guess what, the walls are not closing in on you. They are not out to get you. You have an acute case of Clinton Derangement Syndrome. You should take a good nights rest, and try to not think that someone is out to get you.
I get it. You don't trust them, but the thing is, I don't care. You're not going to convince me otherwise, because I believe that Hillary will do her best to guide this country. Obama will lose, and he will lose badly in November. If you want him to be the nominee, then go ahead. I'll be there in 2012 to vote for Hillary again.
And don't kid yourself. You haven't seen negative campaigning yet. Have you seen the ads in North Carolina from the Republican party? That is just the tip of the iceburg. Obama has taken us back to the coalition of McGovern with the minorities and college students, and we lost every election until Bill Clinton. Drink your juice, drink it fully. Obama is a lame duck candidate. He may get the nomination, but will lose badly in November. Mondale got DC and Minnesota. Obama will get DC and Illinois, and I will laugh at all of you who sat there thinking he would be a change agent. Do you really think he's going to fix the mess we're in now, change Washington, AND change your soul?
DREAM ON!
And for the record to all of you who think I'm some insane homosexual who supports Hillary because she is a wronged woman.
I support her because I think she is absolutely brilliant
On top of that:
* I was president of the Democratic Party at a largely conservative college in 1995
* I interned with Governor (now Senator) Evan Bayh in the summer of 1996.
* I went to Washington in the fall of 1996 and interned with the Democratic National Committee during the General Election of Bill Clinton's Second Term.
I dealt with more shit than any of you who pretend to tell me how to think. I believe in my heart and mind that Hillary will be the ONLY one who can lead us out of the cesspool that we are currently in.
Barack Obama is not ready to be President, and I am sorry that your cynicism has lead you to think otherwise.
Hillary is the model of tenacity. I really like that about her, I just wish Bill would melt down less.
I think both candidates are pandering to the gay community, and any other group of voters, that is what politicians do.
If your issue is gay marriage, don’t hold your breath. Marriage under its current definition is referenced in over 1,200 places in federal law, which means if you change the definition of marriage you must change lots and lots of federal law. Those kinds of changes almost never happen, the chances are pretty close to zero. Just like no one is going to simplify the tax code anytime soon. Besides there are larger economic issues that must be dealt with before any gay rights legislation is considered, like it or not.
I really don’t think that McCain can win in November unless a major scandal takes out the Democratic nominee (Obama or Clinton), you know like a dead body in the trunk of your car kind of scandal.
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