A Face in the Crowd

4/23/2008. Half-past ten. In the midst of the Obama crowd. I'm glad I came. Festive. Maybe it's time to party at last!

The place is filling up, the gym at IU Southeast in New Albany. Got here soon after nine o'clock and a long queue had already formed in the parking lot. I got in line and soon a Courier-Journal reporter interviewed a lady next to me and then me. Finally! My first ink in the C-J, maybe. She asked me if Barack might do something which would ensure my vote. My reply: "Choose Lee Hamilton for Vice President or Secretary of State."

Stood two hours in the bright, increasingly warm sun. Quite pleasant, but glad I had my hat because my hair is getting thin at the crown of my scalp, as Mandy warned me last year.

Visited with a couple probably in their mid-fifties, white, who were probably of my ilk: watchers of Countdown, among other things. The woman particularly disliked Hillary. She asked me if I would vote for Hillary should the old girl get the nomination instead of Barack and I said I would -- given the truly gruesome alternative -- but would be damned unhappy about it. I hope the question soon becomes moot. [*See below.]

Gorgeous spring day. The doors stand open and people keep filing in. Redbud blooms are splendid this year. A corridor of redbud runs along Indiana Road 3 for miles before it reaches Charlestown. It just so happens that a detour has routed traffic along it on the route to the Falls Cities. I gobbled up the eye candy en route to the town hall meeting this morning. A joy I can't describe, let alone explain.

Young woman with a tot, both of them sitting on the asphalt, give me a bottle of water. I offer to pay her but she refuses. Came here without sense enough to have brought even a drink. Haven't broken fast today and I hope I'm not one of those unfortunates to pass out. I DOUBT IT: I can live on my fat for six months.

All kinds of people, all sizes and shapes and colors. Young, old, black, white. Plenty of older whites like me. Couple of kids from Corydon in the lot: one confesses he ditched today. I say I won't tell. Field trips are educational too. They ask us to save their place while they go smoke. I say I will if they quit. They promise. It's at the top of their list. I reflect that my step-grandson, Bee Jay, couldn't spell politics until Barack. Now he's informed on the issues and talks animatedly about them. (He's a father now, Rosie a great-grandmother -- Magnolia Reid Elles, "Maggie," b. 2008-April-05.)

Haven't seen anyone from Madison. Not surprised and not greatly disappointed. Sure the Democrats there all fell in love with Hillary when they saw her knocking back a shot and a beer and talking guns and shit. She's just one of the boys with her $109 million last year. Of course I'm an elitist. Don't deny it. I stand apart in pity and look at real men vote against their economic interests because the Republicans AND HILLARY distract them with ... distractions. They take the bait every time. It is really, really sad.

Well, if Barack doesn't win we're going to be *Bushed!* again by one or the other of his opponents for the foreseeable future. They will be whores to the special interests in a way I believe Barack will not. God help us.

***

Woke at 6:55 by the alarm clock, a rare experience. Was able to get my e-ticket printed. Had tea with milk and sugar, and poured some coffee to take with me but didn't remember to drink any of it until I was almost here and it was cold. Got away c. eight and took the detour (356 & 203 & 3) back to 62, then came across the Lee H. Hamilton Hwy & I was here.

Several vendors were selling T-shirts and campaign buttons. Noble-poor, I bought none, although there were some neat ones. One or two people were campaigning for themselves, one a Libertarian. His son gave me a pencil. I thanked him.

Lots of security. A cop outside had a German shepherd to sniff bombs or whatever but he (she) looked too happy and playful to help much. I see one secret service guy with his spiral white cord behind his left ear. He too seems amiable and not menacing. Went through metal detectors, like at the airport.

Many good-looking women of all ages. That's always a plus for me. Particularly struck by a pink-complexioned blonde, Scandinavian looks, perfect, traipsing around trying to sign up volunteers. I ask her if she's a Democrat. She says, "I'm a liberal Democrat." I say I am too and tell her I wish there were more like her at Hanover College. "Maybe they're beginning to wake up and smell the coffee," I say. "I hope so," she says, and smiles.

I guess the only person I will recognize as soon as I see him will be Barack. Suppose it's just as well. I visit with a tall, well-built African-American man, with generous gray in his hair and a Bible and a Daily Bread devotional booklet. He has a front tooth with a silver cap. He is a minister. He asks me if I have a church home. I talk about my religious journey. He listens and does not judge. I like him and am sure the feeling is mutual. He is informed on the issues and is committed to Barack.

It's 11:18 and they're still coming into this gym and there's a good bit of room yet, although the really choice seats are pretty well gone. Hell, I could have had a good breakfast and taken my time.

I think I've seen only one Latino -- Latina, actually, young, nearby. Many African-Americans. And of course the TV yakkers (morons all) will say that that is the reason for Barack's appeal.

It just now occurs that a perfect person to have come with me today would have been Warnie. Wish I'd thought of him before now.

Actually, I think the "Latina" is Asian.

Enough. Enough of the electioneering. Leave that to Chris Matthews and the rest of the morons. What will be, will be.

CNN & the locals are here to televise. Rock music playing on the p.a. Sounds good. But no Jimmy Smith. Barack and Michelle probably don't listen to Jimmy Smith. Would they not know who he is?** Chicago? Highly educated? Active in the community? I'd bet even money they do know who he is.

**[There was an organ rendition of "America" playing and I said to the pastor that I'd like to hear it by Jimmy Smith. He didn't know who Jimmy Smith was! I asked the girl beside me, black, if she knew who Jimmy Smith was. She didn't. I have a lot to learn myself. A white girl in front was half-in on the chatter and she didn't know either. I got a laugh from them all by standing up and yelling "Does anybody here know who Jimmy Smith is?" I didn't really "yell," just pretended to, cupping my hands around my mouth like a megaphone. The white girl said she'd like it if John Mellencamp were here to warm up the crowd. (He has been for both Hillary and Barack.) Everybody knew who John Mellencamp was. And I'm sure the pastor more nearly my age would know Motown names if I mentioned them (except I don't know very many).] Excuse this digression, which I added later.

I didn't write any more after that, i.e. at IUS, in my spiral-bound notebook with my fountain pen. Had no intention to when my main man showed.

He did, and the buildup was exciting. He had an adoring crowd and he did great. The particulars are in the C-J story I mentioned above. His talk was not directed at trashing Hillary. He mentioned her as his opponent in the primary but he is already focusing on John McCain's shortcomings and he was convincing. He answered questions fully and clearly. He looked and sounded presidential to me. It was a great experience for this old Peace Corpse, reminiscent of the youthful excitement we felt when JFK was in his glory. I long for my lost youth and would like to be a tireless campaign worker for "the skinny kid with the funny name."

* One sour note. An editorial in the New York Times on April 23rd, "The Low Road to Victory," needs attention paid to it. It speaks for itself.