I have to tell you, Dean on television is fiesty and red-blooded, but on the ground with him face-to-face, he has got to be the nicest, humblest politician I've met in my lifetime. I was so impressed!
I arrived about 8 a.m at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains yesterday. The long line already outside the church was not discouraging. There were buses from Cleveland, TN, and from Chattanooga, TN, where I'm from. Reporters and Dean supporters were mixing with members of the church. And there were visitors who came to hear Bill Shaw sing. He is the only surviving member of the Blackwood Brothers, giving the event a truly southern feel. Others came out of patriotic curiosity. Most came to see Dean. Lots of blue buttons.
After a thorough security check, our group of Dean supporters (my uncle, his friend Joe, Geoffrey Bays, and his wife Deborah) sat on the members' side of the church. There we would see Dean four rows in front of us during the "preaching" part of the service. Dean participated like an old hand at church services, singing with Rosalynn Carter next to him.
After church, everyone rushed Howard, Jimmy, and Rosalynn. I talked with Dean for a few minutes, sharing with him our delight that he would be coming to Chattanooga on Feb. 7 as we are going to raise $100,000 for his campaign.
Dean was delighted as well as delightful, a very warm man and inspiring. Strange too, since so many media portraits are of an angry or fiesty man. And I guess there is some of that. He is a man of conviction, dedicated to saving our country from radical right tendencies and drunken spending sprees. More centered than I had expected, Dean touched people personally, not the way Clinton does--more viscerally for Dean. For doubters, they need only meet the man personally.
Chip Carter and Georgia's state coordinator Kimberly circulated among reporters while Dean talked with Plains folks and guests. Dean did not make it to the famous Mom's Restaurant, but we did. At Mom's, Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter sat with friends at a round table while we scuttled through a long line for fried chicken, okra, lima beans, boiled greens, and corn bread. The atmosphere was magically southern. People were drinking sweet tea and buzzing with excitement about the Dean phenomenon, the locals asking us for Dean buttons and bumper stickers. We handed out about half-dozen "the Doctor is In" buttons and a dozen "Christians for Dean" buttons and lots of other materials.
I had about five pictures taken--four with Gov. Dean and one with President Carter and First Lady Carter--if anyone is interested.
John Bailes
3638 Weldon Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37412
423-493-0266
wbailes1@comcast.net