Dean rally in NYC last night - eyewitness account

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

I was there. It was quite a party, three musical acts, four or so speakers, a huge projection screen, lots of people, locals as well as a bunch of buses that brought supporters in. There was a lot of staff too, with their "Sleepless Summer" t-shirts, passing out literature and talking to people passing by. All in all quite a professional operations, and a very enthusiastic crowd.

I talked to about 10 random people there, striking up conversations. I met a woman at the bar ($7 for a Bud???) who liked Dean. I mentioned that I'm leaning towards Kucinich or even Gephardt myself, but I'd vote for whoever wins the primary. She said if it wasn't Dean or Kucinich, she'd vote Green.

I heard two women talking about Kucinich, so I politely interrupted and said I liked Kucinich too - I must have misunderstood, because I got a frown, and a line I've heard here a million times - "Kucinich is great but he can't win." I also said I'd vote for whoever wins the primary, but she told me that we should get behind a candidate now, before the primary.

When a group of staff handed me some flyers, I mentioned that I have a big problem with Dean's long time support of NAFTA, to which I got a "boo" from about four of them - no kidding - but one guy explained to me that Dean wants to put restrictions on NAFTA. I just smiled and moved on.

I talked to a lonely staffer out on a smoke break. NYC resident, about my age, does sound work on Broadway if I recall correctly. He said he wasn't getting paid, just a volunteer. I mentioned the NAFTA issue, but he didn't seem to familiar with it, his big issue was the war, which seemed the key issue for most people there.

The stage show was great, the speakers were good, and Dean sure knows how to rile up a crowd. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the content of Dean's speech, because I had a hard time hearing him clearly from behind the stage where I was. I'm hoping a Dean supporter might have a transcript I can read? I believe he talked about jobs, but I didn't hear anything about outsourcing or unions, but that may be just the fact I couldn't hear too clearly.

Now NYC is something like 90% Democratic, so this was certainly a preaching to the choir kind of event, but the whole effort was very professional and came together quite nicely. I'm certainly glad I went and I'll go again if Dean comes back to NYC.

[gristy]

1. thanks a lot for the summary

I took notes for about 2/3 of his speech and posted them here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=234289#234414
If someone finds a transcript please post.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

2. "Small businesses don't send jobs overseas"

Yeah, that's what I thought he said. Good point too.

[dajabr]

3. $7 for a Bud (C-Span will replay at 1PM EST...FYI)

Bryant Park Grill is very overpriced. I kept thinking the people eating "al fresco" on the roof of the restaurant (out for a quiet dinner) must have been like, WTF!

I got interviewed by AP - no sign of any quotes from me today :-(

I spoke for quite a while with a gentleman from Senegal who became a citizen 2 years ago. We talked about a broad range of topics, but mostly how US Democracy is in crisis, and how Dean is inspiring all kinds of folks to come out and get involved.

Crowd was great and Dean was feeding off it.

High point: Nobody noticed that Joe trippi was coming down the handshake ahead of Dean. I kept yelling "Joe Trippi!" and everyone around me was looking at me like I had 3 heads. We made eye contact, and when I reached out my hand, he honestly looked suprised :-). Shook hands, and I said, "you guys are doing a great job!" Huge smile formed on his face as he said, "You are the one's doing the great job - we can do it together!" Then he gave me a big thumbs up which I returned in kind.

Shook Dean's hand, but did not get to say anything as there were 3 or 4 rows of people in front of me. But, you guys were not lying, he's got a solid handshake - not half-assed (if that makes sense?) and i was at the end of the line. Still firm and suprisingly, not clammy after shaking houndred of other hands. Saw him stop and really engage people in the front in short, but genuine little converations - very cool.

You should have seen the media photographers! Must have been about thirty of them that they litterally had lassoed with rope and were dragging them away from Dean so he could get down the line - crazy!

It was a fun party, and my wife and I were really amped for the whole walk back. Left there feeling like we probably saw the next POTUS!

[DoctorMyEyes]

4. Thanks for posting your "eyewitness account"

My son lives in NY and I haven't been able to get in touch with him all day! LOL

I spent a lot of time in Bryant park in the 70's, and I just can't imagine that many people there!

I haven't heard the NY speech, but I've heard Dean talk about labor, unions and NAFTA before.

I liked what he had to say as far as unions. I was involved in two failed union elections at my former workplace and I know from experience that nothing is more daunting than the time period between when you turn in your signed union cards and the day the election finally rolls around. Dean would get rid of the election process, and just let workers unionize when they have a majority of card signed. (Both times we had over 50% of the workers signed on). This would eliminate the perfectly legal one on one arm twisting that management does before the election.

Dean won the Wellstone award for his work in unionizing hospital workers (sorry I don't remember where) - and Vermont is not a right to work state.

As far as NAFTA - I like Kucinich a lot better on the whole IMF, NAFTA, GAT mess, but am so far satisfied with Deans promise to trim NAFTA into a FAIR trade, rather than FREE trade agreement. He said in one speech that you eliminate terrorism by eliminating world poverty, by promoting a middle class, and that labor unions are what gave america a middle class. That he would hold businesses to the same environmental, safety and labor standards as the US when they operate abroad. (I confess, I'm not sure how exactly he would accomplish this - but I like the sound of it!)

He speaks often about the importance of small businesses creating jobs and are less likely to take those jobs overseas.

Not as great as what Kucinich promises, but - even if Kucinich could win the nomination, and could defeat Bush, I cannot see him getting any cooperation at all in DC, and think that his administration would be rendered impotent by the partisan gridlock. (just my 2 cents)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. his card check position is great imo

I don't understand what he means by investing in small business though - does this mean corporate welfare? Who does he want to invest in small business?

[BurtWorm]

5. I KNEW you'd be at that bar!

I went over there as soon as I found out they weren't serving beer at the "Pub." But I didn't see a soul over there who looked Democratic. I went back to the Pub and met Stephanie, and we went back to the bar to look for you. Of course, unfortunately, we forgot to mention any descriptions of ourselves. (Except for Stephanie, who PM'd me after I'd already left for the rally. I guessed it was her because she was looking so intently at everybody around the Pub.) Sorry we missed you WCtV.

As for what Dean said, it was pretty impressive considering he really has been sleepless and in motion for a lot of the last week. He did talk about the importance of balancing the budget for job creation, and the uselessless of targeting tax cuts to "Ken and the boys" for that purpose. He talked about his objections to the war in Iraq and promised never to send American men and women to shed blood in war without telling the American people exactly what they would be fighting for. (I thought he could have put that more eloquently, i.e., stressing that sending Americans to die is too serious a business to be taken lightly and without the consent of the American people and their reps in Congress.) He promised to work on making the US not merely respected but also appreciated. He talked about race, and argued that rather than speaking about it to divide people, we should speak about it to unite us. He challenged the notion that a northeastern governor can't get southern support, saying he would ask southerners what they've gotten out of their faithful support for the GOP in the last 30 years, except fleeing jobs, growing numbers of uninsured, etc., etc.

I felt a little like a cow standing in that field, being exploited by the organizers for a great big photo op. But I was impressed by the organization and the grass roots feel of the thing. (No pun intended.)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. hey BurtWorm

I actually accosted a handful of people who looked similar to that one picture you posted of yourself and asked "Are you Burt Worm from DU" - and was met with blank and horrified stares :) Yeah, no way I was hanging out at a "pub" that didn't serve beer! Eventually my gorgeous redhead showed up so we took in the event together.

I had a great time, I hope other candidates will have similar rallies here. We'll have to try to meet up again some other time, and invite Stephanie - I'm still trying to get together an NYC DU bar team!

[BurtWorm]

7. I was asking people who were looking like they were looking,

"Are you WhoCountstheVotes?"

Talk about blank stares!

:freak: