Seeing Obama at Nissan

*note* Cross posted at Daily Kos, and my Blog, Politically Purple.

Photos I took at the event can be found on my pictures site.

 In 2007, I met two presidential Candidates, John Edwards, and Mitt Romney. I was in New Hampshire at the time, and I wanted to see how it was like to see the candidates up close. The ability to ask questions and actually touch the candidates was exciting. I ended up on CNN with Mitt Romney... not my greatest achievement in life, but it was fun to watch me awkwardly trying to get a picture with him.

Today, however, I was nervous. As I left work at noon, I hurried back home. I picked up my camera, and I headed off. My destination? The Nissan Pavilion. I knew that the parking would open at 2, and that the doors open at three. As traffic seemed to will me, and my Garmin showing me the way...  I made it to Nissan at 2:03. I parked at 2:09, and I went to stand in the line to enter the Pavilion.

Update: Here are some of the photos. I am updating them right now. There are a ton!

As with all lines I have experienced (outside Theme park rides that is), conversations began. I stood in front of a retired white male, with his Asian wife. He had a Masters degree in Computer Science, and once was the software developer of USAID.  He wore an Obama shirt, and he was so excited about finally meeting him. He gave over 200 dollars to the campaign and was looking forward to do it again. In front of me, there were two young white men, wanting to see Obama, but also smirking at the commotion it was causing. Every few minutes, an Obama volunteer (You knew them because they all wore Green shirts) came around asking if we were registered to vote, and if we were signed up to volunteer, or on their mailing lists. The two young men in front of me casually blew off several of these people, one time saying, "Why would I want spam?" 20 Minutes later, a middle aged man came up and asked the young man. For some reason, he consented, and his name went on the list.

As the young man was filling out his information, I asked the volunteer if he had ever done this before. "Never" he said, "They called me up on Tuesday, asking if I wanted to, and I said yes, I don’t even have an official shirt, but I wanted to help." And as I looked down, he had a faded green polo shirt. I asked him, why now... why Obama? He responded with "Because he’s real, and I can actually believe him. He has done what no other politician has ever been able to do, make me actual care about politics, and the future of this Country." I asked him where is he from, "Leesburg" he responded, and smiled at me. I knew what he meant, Leesburg is GOP land, and he was turning it Blue.  He added without provocation, "Virginia will turn Blue, mark my words."

Cheers came from the line and he continued down, asking for more people to volunteer.

The line started moving, and I went into the arena. I searched for an ATM, but they were all turned off. The concession stand only took cash, and with no cash on hand... I knew I would be in trouble. I went to the water fountain, got a big drink, and went into the arena itself.
For those unfamiliar with the Nissan Pavilion,  it is an outdoor amphitheater, with the first 2/3’s of it covered and the back is an open lawn. There is a pit, and then seating.  I got a seat on the left side about 25 rows up. A good spot, but far from the stage. Luckily, I had a lot of photo opportunities to make of it. I brought all three of my lenses, and I was excited.

The people sitting around me were a great mix of people. First, there was the Hispanic man, with a thick accent, who was so excited to be here to see Barack. He was quiet, but very interested in all the conversations about Obama, occasionally interjecting a "yes!" and a "Go Obama!"  To my right, there was two white men, one a college age man, and the other, a middle aged man. The middle aged man voted for Bush in 2000, and said, "I don’t consider myself a Radical or anything... but I trust Obama... I looked and him, and I could tell I could trust him." He went on talking about how hurt he was by Bush’s policies, and how we needed to change from that. He predicted that Bush would be the worst President ever... a statement affirmed by several around him.  The college age boy, offered me water in exchange for sharing my pictures with him. I gladly agreed.

Behind me where three black women, all who worked together at a company, and who took off work early, on a lark, to come see Obama. They were sassy, and fierce, and very opinionated. One woman was a Hillary supporter, but was going to vote Obama. "I am converting her ass." said the woman in the middle. "I told her that Obama is going to take it all!" She was definitely the ringleader.

There was a band who played for about 45 minutes. They played southern Rock, and early on, played the Theme song of "The Dukes of Hazzard" much to the amusement of the crowd. Ironically, quite a few people sang along (including me).

The stage was set, and Gov. Tim Kaine was introduced. Finally! I can use my large lens for good! But I quickly realized that I was too far to get very good pictures. Tim has enthusiasm, and he was a good speaker. Everyone was getting revved up. We were waiting for more people to get in. (I-66 was backed up) and I decided to try and get into the Pit to take more picture. Maybe my charming nature, and my stunning good looks would get me get in.

I made it to three women who were telling everyone there is no room left in the pit. Fire Marshall rules. Anyone who could come in would need a green bracelet. I didn’t have one... and I was sad. However, one woman had about 10 Bracelets left. I turned on my charm, and I literally got the last green bracelet.

I was in.

I didn’t rush the stage, because I wanted good quality pictures. So I stood right by the press, with their fancy camera, and I got a good advantage to see everything.  Then, out walked Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Jim Webb (OMG! I Knew he would be here!) and Barack Obama.

Jim Web gave an awesome speech. Talking about our military, talking about the need for change, and talking about the extraordinary year we are in. He talked about 1968, when he graduated from the Naval Academy. Today is the anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. He talked about Vietnam, and Martin Luther King, and he said that it was a tumultuous year, and he stood up for this country to try and change it. He said that though 2008 may not be the same, we have our own set of challenges that we must overcome, and that Barack Obama, the Next President of the United States, is the man to do it. Cheers for VP began right then and there.
Finally, Barack Obama took the stage.

The speech was a combination of his speech from Tuesday, his typical stump speech, and of course, huge deference to Hillary.  He went after McCain, in a policy driven matter, and not a personal matter. McCain congratulated him when he won the election, and both agreed to have a policy driven campaign. Not a personal smear campaign. I hope that remains the case.

I took so many photos of that speech, I am quite proud I was able to get that close.

I didn’t get to shake Obama’s hand, but I was ok with that.

Afterwards, as I was walking to my car... I realized that I was walking beside an elderly Black woman.

"It just gets you invigorated, doesn’t it?" I said to her.

"Oh you are too young to understand how this invigorates me" I haven’t been invigorated like this since I saw the Freedom Riders come off the bus in Richmond." She asked me how old I was, "27" I responded. She chuckled and said, "In 20 years, you will look back and realize you were here when History was made, and you help made it happen, it is an incredible feeling." She went on to tell me that she was "I don’t mean to offend, but I am surrounded by white people in my neighborhood."  And how she was knocking on doors in Prince William county to get out the vote in February. As we were walking towards the exit, she saw someone. "Come here honey, you need to meet History."

She introduced me to Henry Marsh, the first Black man to be Mayor in Richmond. She  told me, he was instrumental  in the de-segregation in Virginia. He smiled at her, and said, "We’re actually going to do this, aren’t we? It’s actually happening" He said I n a quiet voice. She was very enthusiastic and said "Yes, we are, it is amazing, coming from Richmond in the 1960’s to here?" He nodded and said, "One more step, and we will have it... next, we will get a woman in there!" He said. I introduced myself, and walked with the woman to her car. She and I hugged, and went our respective ways.

What was interesting to me, is that Obama is just one man, and he is fallible. He will make mistakes, he will not always be right, but it is the people who are coming out to support him. There was many people from different ages, social-economic statuses, from every walk of life. To say he is a Black candidate is to ignore the movement behind him. He is the everyman candidate. People are ready to change, and ready for something new. I am glad I went today, and I hope to see him again... maybe I will get to shake his hand.

 Here are three of my favorite pictures:

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