Yesterday, May 13, 2009, was a beautiful day for a political rally. I arrived at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College a few minutes after 2:00 pm. That left me time to find a parking space in the visitor parking lot, read, and walk around the campus before the rally. After 3:00 pm I met a friend from my college days at American University and we waited together in line until they collected are tickets and we could enter the gate for the rally.
Cross posted from Blue Commonwealth
A priest prayed the opening invocation, a member of the IAFF Fire Fighters union spoke on Terry McAuliffe's behalf, and Bill Ballard encouraged members of the crowd to become more involved in the campaign through phone banks and door to door canvassing. While the priest was praying, I was praying as well for Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton and the crowd of people behind me who came to hear them speak.
There was a ten-minute break between the opening speakers and the main event. The audience chanted, "jobs, jobs, jobs" introducing former President Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe who stepped up onto the podium and found their places in front of the microphone. I was standing in the second row behind the barricade in front of the podium. I had a great view of these two friends who addressed the large crowd behind me. From a friendship born on the golf course in the nineties (see chapter 17 What A Party! by Terry McAuliffe with Steve Kettman) that has lasted and blossomed today, I was excited to see them rally the crowd onto victory for the June 9th Democratic primary.
President Clinton addressed the crowd first, with Terry McAuliffe nodding by his side. See President Clinton's speech posted at Blue Virginia in the article posted by Lowell entitled Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe in Virginia. Bill Clinton said that after a traffic delay while he was going to the first rally at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, he has become a one-issue advocate for better transportation in Virginia. Terry McAuliffe strongly supports high-speed rail in Virginia. President Clinton also told the crowd something that I didn't know before. He said that Terry McAuliffe's father came from a working class background and never made more than $30,000 a year in his lifetime. It's amazing how far his intelligent son has come from that humble background.
Terry McAuliffe, the gubernatorial candidate, spoke next. He told how proud he was to receive the recent endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters, the police union, SEIU and other endorsements. He spoke of his big ideas to bring jobs through alternative energy to Virginia, his education, transportation and other policies outlined in his "Business Plan for Virginia" posted at his website Terry McAuliffe He included his outrage at the fact that $125 million dollars is now going to other states because of the poor decisions the Virginia Assembly, led by Bob McDonnell, made in April. President Clinton had mentioned in his earlier speech that he supported the economic stimulus package initiated by President Barack Obama.
I was excited and encouraged to see both of these very intelligent men lead the fight for Democratic victory both in the primary on June 9th and again in November. I believe it is crucial for the Democrats to win in November. A Democratic loss in November signals the end of the battle and defeat for all the good work that President Obama will do for all Virginians and what we all fought so hard for last year. Encourage all your friends, family members, coworkers and others that you know to vote Democratic in both the June 9th primary and again in November.
It is imperative that we cannot let the GOP, under the leadership of Bob McDonnell, win in November! All Democrats need to overcome the present voter apathy and get out and vote! I will be voting on June 9th and in November. I will be voting for the candidate of my choice - Terry McAuliffe our next Democratic governor after Governor Tim Kaine leaves office at the end of the year.
A volunteer and supporter for the Terry McAuliffe for Governor of Virginia campaign.