Yesterday afternoon I went to a fundraiser for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who’s in a tight reelection campaign; the big draws were the President and Mrs. Obama. The event was at a big private home on a huge spread of woodland out in Chagrin Falls, a very rural area east of Cleveland.
Parking was at a nearby middle school, and shuttlebuses took people to the house after we showed ID and passed through Secret Service magnetometers. I got to meet and greet the Governor and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, a candidate this year for the U.S. Senate (who beamed when I mentioned that we’d both been to the same college and law school), as well as U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and my own Member of Congress. I spent awhile in the hospitality tent talking to a transportation union honcho and a local suburban mayor and his wife while we waited. Had a nice glass of wine, too.
It was announced that Air Force One had landed at the Cleveland airport. Soon enough the motorcade arrived – two police cars, three big limos flying U.S. and presidential flags, three black minivans that must’ve been Secret Service, a dozen vans carrying the press and White House aides, an ambulance, etc. Very impressive. A Coast Guard helicopter even circled overhead a few times. We were asked to get in line and then ushered into the house for photos.
The President and First Lady were standing in the long living room in front of a blue backdrop with the U.S. and Ohio flags behind them. They both looked great. I said hi and spoke briefly to Reggie Love, the President’s body man, while I waited in line. When it was my turn, I shook the President’s hand and said, “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. President. Keep up the good work!” He was slightly shorter than I would’ve expected, but had a nice smile and a warm handshake. He said, “Thank you. I’m glad to meet you. I’d like to introduce my wife, Michelle.” I thought this was pretty funny – as if I wouldn’t know who this woman was! Throwing caution to the winds I asked, “Could I give you a kiss on the cheek, Mrs. Obama, or would that be asking too much?” She laughed and said, “Sure you can!” So I smooched her and she gave me a nice hug. Then we turned and the photographer took our picture. I thanked them both and was directed out of the room by a Strickland staffer.
There was a big walled tent set up in the backyard, where I talked to some of the other guests before Gov. Strickland came out to give a little speech and then introduced the First Lady, who in turn introduced the President. He talked about continuing the work for change for which we voted two years ago, and praised Strickland to the skies. It was a good speech and got the crowd fired up. Then they left, I enjoyed some of the very good food on offer, and caught the shuttle bus back to my car.
When I got home my wife told me that our niece was waiting to see the Obamas on the Ohio State campus in Columbus downstate, so I called her and told her to be patient, that they were on the way!
All in all, it was a great way to spend a beautiful Ohio autumn afternoon.
