Here is my rundown of the event:
The time to get in line to the event was about 6 am. Pretty much everyone who got there at that point not only got into the event, but had decent position, either a seat in the bleachers or a standing spot close to the stage. There were three levels of tickets. Yellow tickets were for the standing area immediately around the stage, and it was these people who got the opportunity to shake Obama’s hand. Then there were red and blue tickets. I had blue, which was general admission, but I have no idea what red was for. There were very few of these red tickets, and some of the holders of these tickets got to enter the arena fifteen minutes before everybody else, but the rest of them entered with the blue tickets. So, I’m not quite sure what the distinction was.
All in all, there weren’t too many people there. The gym was large enough to hold a full basketball court and maybe eight rows of bleachers all on one side. And everything was filled except for the stage and the photography and television camera area. So, it wasn’t that big a venue. There was however a spillover area where you could see the president on a giant screen, and there were a few people in it, but not all that many. The vast majority of attendees got into the main arena to see Obama with their actual eyes.
Security was efficient. It was similar in some ways to security at the airport, but it wasn’t all that showy. It was handled by both TSA and Secret Service people. You weren’t allowed to bring in any large bags, which probably helped things a bit, but there were none of those stupid machines, and the process was fast. I couldn’t help but wonder if this were what a reasonably tight security checkpoint would be like, without security theater. I can’t say for sure, though. Maybe they just trust Iowans. (Many attendees simply left their bags outside, fully expecting them to still be there when they left the arena three hours later. And they were. That is something this Californian’s mind would never consider.)
It was interesting to gauge the reactions of the audience to the local congressional representatives, because I have no knowledge of any of them. The senator, Tom Harkin, got a huge ovation, right up there with what Obama himself got. He seems very well liked, although I don’t know why. A local federal representative (although I don’t think the one for Mount Vernon himself because he seemed fairly young and David Loebsack seems rather old) got some boos. I don’t really know why.
Obama’s speech itself played up on his strengths at the debate last night, as you might expect. The 47% didn’t work its way into it, but the binder of women most certainly did. He also talked a bit more about education, again, as you might expect, than he did at the debate, trying to show how he helped make college affordable for more students. The repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell” got a huge ovation, but healthcare reform got much less. It was almost awkward, which is why I was a bit surprised that Obama said that he liked the name Obamacare. “I’m Obama and I care.” It’s a straightforward and reasonable claim, but a bit strange given the tone of the room.
I also have to say that I was surprised by the duration of the speech. He spoke for about 25 minutes. Which for me seems like not all that long of a time. It’s hard for me to believe that it made sense to fly all the way from Washington to Iowa on Air Force One and then to drive, presumably, to Mount Vernon, just to talk to half an hour.
I have pictures on Photobucket. They’re not that interesting, but I said I’d provide them. Here’s the link: Photobucket | Make your memories fun!
All in all, it was an interesting experience, and one I’m glad I’ve had. I had the opportunity to listen to Clinton speak when I was in college, but I didn’t take it, and I’ve regretted that almost immediately. (This was the time that Air Force One got stuck in the mud in Champaign, Illinois.) So, going to see this president was a most serendipitous opportunity that kind of makes up for that poor decision of mine.