Okay maybe “Title Thief” is a bit harsh, completely inaccurate, and not really the topic of this entry. I took the afternoon off from work and headed over to the West Adams area of Los Angeles to partake in a Barack Obama rally for his 2008 presidential campaign.
An appropriate hat in frame
I had heard of him years before but my initial interest in Obama started sometime during fall of last year’s political and media hype. It has recently matured for many reasons, mostly for what my dad articulates as “depth in any topic he discusses.” Really, that isn’t common nowadays. Depth is good, real good. Like totally, you know, good.
The crowd on my left side
This initial interest brought me to his 2004 DNC speech (Part I, Part II) which allegedly inspired his book title The Audacity of Hope. Or did it? Today, in Obama’s own words:
I wrote a book called ‘The Audacity of Hope’ and it was drawn from a speech that I gave but actually I’m here to confess to all of you, I actually stole the line from my pastor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright.
Some dude holding Barack Obama’s latest book
Thief! 
Anyways, the political rally experience was quite interesting taking place in a lot at the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex. I was surprised to see massive security precautions outside the complex, but when I got inside there wasn’t even an ID check, metal detector, bomb sweep, or anything. I kept scoping for some plain-clothed security but either they did a good job with them plain clothes, or they just weren’t there.
The crowd on my right side
I also got a chance to talk to some fellow rally goers who waited hours to see the Jr. Senator from Illinois speak. Some were hoping to get their book signed, some to get voters registered, but most were there to see Obama speak in person. The crowd was pretty very diverse: Occidental College students, fraternity members, online organizations, high school students, senior citizens, babies in strollers, Asian, Black, White, and Latin Americans, and a lot of local supporters. All local supporters? There was also this lady standing next to me with a Cal-Poly Pomona sweatshirt on!
The speech, although inspiring, was in many ways what I expected. He presented his domestic vision through health care and education, and he discussed his foreign policy focusing on Iraq, the War on Terror, and human rights and Darfur. But although almost every politically-cliché subject was touched on, his speech lacked that marketing pitch vibe. Obama’s speech had this straight forward and personal approach, without much of the rhetoric you typically see in politics.
Sure it’s early and the primaries are far from over and he can give such speeches without the political backlash. Regardless, it was…how do you say…good.
Obama after his speech
Check out the videos page for parts of his speech today at the Rancho Cienega Sports Arena in Los Angeles:
