I did something I never have before- I went to a political rally this week on Monday. My husband and I live in Denver, and we felt we needed to go and support our candidate - we got to the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo very early, and already there was a huge line snaking around the grounds.
By the time we got to within viewing distance of the grandstands, the line behind us had grown so long it was looping in on itself many times over. The seating for the rally was not to start until 2:30, with the rally beginning at 4:30, but folks had been lining up since 9am, according to the volunteers. I'm not sure how many folks were there, but the arena was full when it started, from the grandstands to the 'standing room only' on the rodeo grounds.
We chatted in line with an older couple named Virginia and Eloy-he was a rancher, and they lived there in Pueblo. It was hard for them to get around and stand in the fierce sun, but it meant a lot to them to see Obama. They talked about their fear of having McCain in the White House, and of the shape our country would be in if that happened. We got split up in the security frisking-I hope they got in OK and were able to sit in the shade in the grandstands. The line was filled with average folks-families, kids, grandparents, all in every shade of color that us average Americans come in. I couldn't help but compare it to the RNC convention and the shots of the rallies on that side I have seen on the cable news.
We stood between the podium and the press on the dusty ground that more commonly sees rodeos than presidential candidates, and we waited. Adorable groups of kids appeared on the stage and showed off their dancing skills. There were a number of speakers, a prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance (though not in that order). Through the whole preamble, the crowd was present and attentive. The focus was on volunteering, and a number of folks signed up for duty (me, too)-it felt vibrant. Obama came on to thunderous applause and cheers on the crowd. He smacked McCain rightly on his assertion that the 'fundamentals of our economy are sound', and told us about his plans for our country, healthcare, and how he would address the problems we have now. Imagine that-a presidential candidate with a well-thought out plan! McCain has no real plan, except for Bush's, and no real connection to the people he thinks he can govern. I think that it is good to remind ourselves that McCain's VP choice was a flailing and desperate attempt to connect with what his advisors decided was real America, and an attempted shield from scrutiny of his lack of ability. The fact that McCain's campaign has even begun to try and co-opt the 'change' theme from Obama's campaign was noted by Obama and duly laughed at by all of us.
There were plenty of folks that made it out there from the supposed Republican stronghold of Colorado Springs, and others like us that came from other parts of Colorado. It was a wake-up call to me how important this election is for the future of our nation-that may sound like an abstract idea, it is not. If we have four more years of non-governance, our country will be beyond repair, the chance of us average folks making a decent living will be absolutely gone. If we are lucky maybe we can clean one of MCain's homes or mow the lawns of his and his lobbyist buddies houses. Seeing all the rest of the regular people out supporting Obama is an antidote to what we see on the skewed news every day. However, this election is for us, not Obama.
I feel bad for my family, all of whom got netted by the Republicans as they trolled church lists for people of faith during the last two elections. They have been conned into thinking that the Repubs=Church, as far as having their best interests at heart, no matter how foully they screw up the nation. I try to convince them otherwise, but they have been convinced that us Democrats care only to tax everyone into poverty with one hand, and with the other to turn everyone gay (honestly). I haven't gotten too far with them.
Winning this election is a must-we literally will not have a nation left if we do not. Remember that we are all the average American-and we all have to do what we can to get our country back.
PS-I have never published a diary before, and am really, really shy, so don't beat me up too bad, but let me know if I did it wrong.