Live from the Grant Park Obamafest: Part IV
Reporting from Hutchinson Field, 10:27 PM:
At 10 p.m. when CNN called the race, a lion's roar swept through Hutchinson Field.
Strangers hugged me, tried to high-five me and danced around me.
"I just can't believe in my lifetime this is happening," Chicagoan Gina Jackson told me.
"I'm thinking about my grandparents and great grandparents, they just wouldn't believe it," the black woman said.
"My mom passed away in May. She didn't think it was possible. I didn't think it would be possible."
As we waited for Obama to speak, tears rimmed the eyes of Frank Orrall, the lead singer-songwriter of Poi Dog Pondering.
"I am tearing because this is a regime change, and everyone got involved," the Hyde Parker said.
But he also knows that the road ahead is not going to be easy.
"I'm glad that the bad things happened while Bush was in office. People need to realize that because Obama has such a huge job -- Iraq, the budget -- things won't be great right away and people need to know that."
Live from the Grant Park Obamafest: Part III
Reporting from Hutchinson Field in Grant Park, 9:05 PM:
CNN is on a huge Jumbotron on the southern corner of the field.
At 8:34 p.m., the network projects an Obama win in Ohio and the crowd goes wild, shouting, hooting and waving America flags.
The mood: Festive but not rowdy. Chicago residents are treating each other well.
After that, there's a lull as we wait for more results.
People continue to stream in, filling up the field.
I'm about two-thirds of the way back from the stage, packed in tight behind a metal fence but with easy access to get out, in case this doesn't go the way the crowd here hopes.
But that's not looking likely.
Live from the Grant Park Obamafest: Part II
Reporting from Balbo and Columbus, 8:29 PM:
I've moved one block south and was greeted by one squadrol, 10 mounted police officers and more horse dung.
Despite promises of an ascetic event, country music is pumping through the air, and Chicago pride is running high.
"When will this ever happen again? It's our hometown boy," said Barb Kimball, a retired teacher who is here with two of her friends.
"There's such a special connection to have the president from Chicago."
By 8:23 p.m., 45 minutes after getting to the start of the line, we arrive at Hutchinson Field, and the crowd streams in like it is a rock concert.
Live from the Grant Park Obamafest: Part I
Reporting from the ticket holder line near Columbus and Congress, 8:12 p.m:
"Welcome to Election Night at Grant Park" is the message broacast over loudspeakers greeting the giddy people lucky enough to be standing in the ticket holder line to get into the festivities at Grant Park.
The crowds are black and white, young and old, bikers and T-shirt hawkers.
In the middle of the crowd stands 37-year-old Brenda Shiller, a black teacher from Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. She is protectively hugging her 10-year-old daughter, Justice.
The girl's t-shirt says it all: "Obama '08: Grant Park, I was there."
Brenda Shiller said "tonight is one of the most important nights in the lives of African- Americans, win or lose."
"A month ago I thought this was important because it is the first time black children can believe they can be president," Shiller said. "But then I realized that Obama must have believed that when he was a boy.
"This shows the barriers between us aren't real. I didn't think this would happen in my lifetime," she said, before she and her daughter disappeared into the crowd.
One obstacle the crowd has to step over: large amounts of horse droppings from the numerous mounted police patrolling the area.
This blog brought to you by the Sun-Times editorial board (click on names to read bios):
I was in Grant Park last night for the SPEECH!! IT WAS THE BEST EXCITEMENT I HAVE EVER FELT IN MY 23 years of living! IT WAS WONDERFUL ALL RACES united as one! I hugged and cried with complete strangers, it felt so good! I am happy to be a Chicagoians and a OBAMA SUPPORTER! YESSSS CHANGE IS HERE! AND CHANGE IS COMINGG!!! I truly believe I can now do anything! THANK YOU OBAMA!
Does anyone know the name of the music and the composer for the music that was played at the time Obama and Biden and then families were on the stage last night at Grant Park - at the time of the acceptance speech? Fantactic choice! Appreciate hearing what it was - thanks, Sue
What an historic event. The world has come together to try and bring our economy back to bloom. This is not about race, creed or color.This is about giving someone a chance to make a difference. Someone we believe can identify with the average "Joe". I am a struggling single mother, and I woke up this morning in prayer with renewed strength, just knowing that someone wants to make a change for the better of the world. We must not put too much pressure on our newly elected president Obama, and realize that he cannot turn things around overnight - not even in one term. We must be paitiet and do our part to improve this economy and be prepared to relect him again. Thank you Mrs. Obama for loaning your husband to America, because I know behind every great man is a great woman. Any you're an inspiration to me.
Wow! As a Chicago native who choose to stay in front of my cozy fireplace last night, I am so happy to have witnessed the event via TV. Kate, great job in capturing the dialog of yesterday night.
Woo-hoo!
As I watched the people leaving Grant park on TV last night, I couldn't believe the sheer amount of garbage and filth left on the grounds. I thought democrats were supposed to be 'environmentalists'!!! What a bunch of hypocrates!
I'm sure Dems can expect the same level of respect and cooperation that they gave President Bush from his first day in office on.
Okay so about the trash- I was there last night and they did NOT provide us with trash cans on the way in, and asked us to just leave it and someone will "come by and clean it"
As for on the way out - I saw ONE garbage can. They should have been more prepared. I asked for trash cans, and they said they couldnt do anything about it.
This is a wonderful and glorious time for our country. As children we were told by various teachers, parents and mentors that "when we grow up, we can become president of the USA" - well, as a African American imagining and visualizing such a goal was far beyond our (African American) belief, not to mention our reach.
Barack Obama winning the highest office to be held in the USA and he himself being African America, this begins to restore our faith not just as one race but collectively as American’s. This victory comes at a time when Americans need a lift, encouragement, healing, and a positive outlook towards restoring the nation. For those unhappy with the idea of a Black man running the country, you are not a true American and surely you are not “Patriotic” based solely on the color of your skin. Please review the history of America, this land originally belong to Native American and if anything they are the only race to truly have the right to be bitter about how this country has turned out. This is a “New Day” and the “Change” is coming.
This country is a “melting pot” and we are far too intelligent to continue being “ignorant” were race is concerned. Blacks (African Americans) as well as other nationalities have been here for centuries, and will continue to grace this land for many centuries to come. It’s about time that we all try something NEW, hatred is “cancerous” and takes too much energy.
GOOD JOB HOMEBOYEEE. I'M PROUD TO BE A NATIVE OF CHICAGO. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT CHANGE AND HOW IT IS POSSIBLE. YOU GOBAMA
You gobama. Thanks a lot for change.
That was the most amazing night of my life! I can't believe I was there, I don't think it's all sunk in yet either. We did it! I've never been so proud to be an American.
"Nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change." - Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America
Foolish Frolicking Liberal Frogs
By Michael Tetrick
Liberalism is deadly, dangerous and insidiously fatal.
An election night observation ...
As the gathering masses of liberals jumped up and down in Grant Park celebrating Obama's victory on election night, a vision of frolicking frogs danced through my mind. Do you remember that story about throwing a frog into a pot of boiling water and it struggles to get out, but if you place one in a pot and gradually turn the water up to a boil it just accepts its death without struggle or even an awareness of its own demise?
As the liberals basked in the warm glow of victory on election night our enemies also rejoiced and began gathering firewood, matches, kerosene and momentum to target our melting pot of naïve, in the moment and unsuspecting Americans. Pelosi, Reid and Obama began planning social programs, tax increases and big government spending plans while the foolish frogs dance d in the park thinking this was their party. MoveOn, Daily Kos, Code Pink, Soros, Wright, Ayers, Farrakhan, ACORN, Hollywood and media elites began devising ways to elevate the heat on their liberal agendas, as the frogs cheered.
As taxes are increased and wealth re-distributed, our nation will be steadily weakened by liberal policies. Terrorist will attack, Russia and China will maneuver for more oil and power as Iran plots to eradicate the Jews. While the unsuspecting liberals chant "HOPE" ... "CHANGE" ... "OBAMA" and celebrate the warm glow of renewed power they remain oblivious to the HOPE-LESSNESS of liberalism or the dangerous CHANGE in temperature as the water boils all around them. Th e tempting appeal of easy fixes, free money, no wars, less military and more government handouts will entice some to “jump in, the water’s warm,” but conservatives know it’s a boiling cauldron that will destroy our nation by eroding our freedoms, responsibilities and obligations as Americans. We HOPE liberals don't get us all killed in the process or CHANGE American beyond recognition, but we also know that “HOPE” is no substitute for the hard work ahead. Conservatives better “hop to it” or find themselves stewed in a pot with foolish frolicking liberal frogs.
To Mr. Tetrick
- THAT is why it is good to have you and other extremists (Those on the Left too) around; for balance. You rage a bit but your comments should not be taken lightly. Extremists tend to go to extremes (Witness the last 8 years), and they need the other extreme to provide balance. We also need Centrists, whose job it is to actually move along the seesaw board of the political spectrum. Centrists do not stay in one place; they see the board tipping to the Right or the Left and move their weight in the opposite direction in order to keep balance. This centrist is now firmly over on the left side of the board (for the time being anyway, until the board starts tipping again)
- GOBAMA!!! Brilliant Man! Another Lincoln (Maybe even the reincarnation of Lincoln - wouldn't that be political justice?). This is the absolute correct thing to be happening in the world right now, and a loooong time coming. AND let's be careful with our Hero. As Rebecca Solnik just wrote, being given a hero is a little like being given a chainsaw or a credit card - you have to be careful how you use them.
Thank you Mr. Tetrick (not facetious) for reminding us that your brother extremists on the other end are heating up the water. We frogs should keep that in mind. Anyone ever consider the fact that the political line is actually a circle? Take the fundamentalist Right and Extreme Left, bend the line until both ends touch and you have a much truer picture of reality - extremes of any ilk are not really that different from each other. They need each other to survive, and as long as one side is around we frogs need the other extreme to keep the water from overheating
Columbia, South Carolina
I have waited and waited, a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. The moment the news announce the President of the United States I starting jumping and screaming.... i have never felt as happy as I did on that night a feeling I will always remember. I thank God for the blessings.
Dear Michael,
That post you made is wildly offensive to me, and perhaps you should do some research before you decide to compose a hate speech. Please read this article from The Economist, a magazine that tended to lean conservatively in the past. Not to mention the various prominent Republicans who cast their vote for Obama last Tuesday....(Colin Powell, Ken Adelman, William Weld, Arne Carlson, Scott McClellan, C.C. Goldwater, Charles Fried to name a few)
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?STORY_ID=12342127
The City is about to offer a cash insentive to union employees who are retirement eligable. Why don't they offer the union workers a regular buy out?( Buy up to 5 yrs.of time at a discount rate for those 50 yrs.of age) They can take the money they planned on spending on the cash buy out ,put it in the pension fund, buy out us older employees out, and hire new employees at a lower rate of pay,and offer them a 401K instead of a Municiple pension. It may cost a few bucks now ,but it will pay off for the City in the long run.
To SUE.....
The Orchestral Music played at the end of Obama's acceptance speech was "TITAN SPIRIT", From The movie "REMEMBER THE TITANS (Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Actor Denzel Washington....). It was also played in Denver's Invesco Stadium after Obama's speech at the convention in August. Everything Obama does is planned and steeped in symbolism. Just the kind of president we need.
Jesus! This 'obamafest' thing is unbelievable! Big Ears is NOT the second coming, and he's not President to many millions of others out here who happen to think he is not really a natural citizen or a true christian, but a clandastin Muslim who, through the fraudulant help of organizations and communists like Acorn and William Ayres, managed to steal the election. Chicago has ALWAYS been renowned for its very crooked politics, and it's no wonder there were two Chicagoans running for the leftist side of the ticket. Big Ears just happened to be a better reader than the other commie.
In the time ahead, Big Ear supporters will come to realize just what kind of stupid mistake they made when they slobbered all over his as they cast their ballots, and I will be pointing a finger at them all and laughing.