I saw Obama last night

[Renew Deal]

Last night I had the opportunity to see Barack Obama in NYC. He was terrific as expected and his wife was even better. Here are my pictures. I'm going to try to get a video ready for sharing as well.
I have not chosen a candidate yet. The only other candidate I have seen speak dropped out (Mark Warner). I am listening closely, and Obama did say one important thing. He said that the reason why he didn't support the Iraq war was because he knows that decisions of elected government have consequences on people's lives. Somebody should tell Bush. Anyway, enjoy the pictures!

P.S. Michelle Obama is amazing.

[babylonsister]

1. Great pix; thanks for sharing. nt

[KingofNewOrleans]

2. George Patton

ruined talking in front a giant flag for everyone, forever.

[SCDem]

3. How exciting

How exciting for you! I haven't had the opportunity yet to see Obama. He came to my state but I just couldn't justify leaving work and arranging care for my son that day. So far I have seen Edwards and Dodd. Edwards I was really disappointed. Dodd I was actually pleasantly impressed.

I haven't decided whom I am supporting yet either but Dodd has peaked my interest and I am excited to see Obama because I think I will be impressed with him as well. Thanks for the pictures.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Were you at the Grand Hyatt on 42nd Street where 2,000 were expected to cram into a giant ballroom?

Obama has a similar fundraiser scheduled for West Palm Beach on March 25th and Tallahassee, as well.

[Renew Deal]

9. I was.

My friend got us right in front on the rope line. It was amazing.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Here's more about Obama's NY fundraising yesterday from the NYT's Jeff Zeleny

March 10, 2007
Obama’s Back Fund-Raising in New York, Not Quietly

By JEFF ZELENY

“We are here because the country is calling us,” Mr. Obama told a cheering crowd inside. “We are here because we are at a crossroads.” He added, “Every 20 or 30 years, every generation, a moment comes when we have to look up and ask ourselves, ‘Are we prepared to meet the challenges that this generation faces?’ ”

In the first quarter of the year, a period critical for fund-raising, presidential hopefuls in both parties have chased one another across the country in a furious hunt for contributors. Perhaps no other candidates have been competing as vigorously as Mr. Obama, of Illinois, and Mrs. Clinton, particularly for New York and Hollywood money and supporters.

Theodore C. Sorenson, one of President John F. Kennedy’s closest advisers, introduced Mr. Obama at one fund-raiser last night. He endorsed Mr. Obama’s candidacy, saying the senator was the only candidate he believed could restore the nation’s credibility around the world.

“It reminds me of the way the young, previously unknown J.F.K. took off,” Mr. Sorensen said in an interview, adding: “Obama, like J.F.K., is such a natural. He’s very comfortable with who he is.”

“I’m a New Yorker,” Mr. Sorenson said, “but I want to support the best candidate. I don’t dislike Senator Clinton, but I’m for Obama.”

While Mr. Obama has tried with little success to wrest away any of Mrs. Clinton’s most prolific fund-raisers in New York, the crowd walking into the Grand Hyatt hotel on East 42nd Street painted a picture of those the Obama campaign is hoping to reach: new political donors.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/us/politics/10obama.html

[Renew Deal]

14. The people I was with had not contributed before

So I think Obama is successful at that.

[Cameron27]

5. Great pics!

I'd love to hear him speak in person, I'm jealous lol.

[HappyWeasel]

6. I think I am definately leaning for Obama.

I think he is the most electable candidate that is reasonably ideologically pure.

[NDP]

15. Most electable? Okay...

[Renew Deal]

18. Most electable that shares ideology.

Read again.

[Nite Owl]

7. Great pics!

I am leaning Obama but haven't decided yet. I really want to hear them all in a debate or two to give them all a fair chance all we know from the corporate media is it's Clinton and Obama. When I heard Dodd and Richardson at the winter meeting on cspan they had a lot to say, I want to hear more.

[Renew Deal]

10. It's not time to choose

I don't think anyone (other than paid staff) should make a choice until at least August. It's way too early right now. They haven't all taken positions. Debates haven't started. I say watch, learn, and just enjoy being undecided. It's rare.

[Pirate Smile]

8. Here is an article that focuses on Michelle:

Obama and wife entertain NYC crowd
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

March 9, 2007, 11:39 PM EST

Sen. Barack Obama was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd at a fundraiser Friday, but the person who had the audience laughing the hardest was his wife, who decided to air some dirty laundry.

Speaking for nearly as long as her husband, Michelle Obama told roaring audience members she sometimes wishes she could live with the same character she sees on TV and hears about in the media, calling that man "Barack Obama the phenomenon."

"Then there's the Barack Obama who lives in my house," she said. "That guy's not as impressive. He still has trouble ... putting his socks actually in the dirty clothes, and he still doesn't do a better job than our 5-year-old daughter Sasha at making his bed, so you'll have to forgive me if I'm a little stunned at this whole Barack Obama thing."
The Illinois senator's wife tried to depict her husband as more good-guy than politician.

-snip-
"I hate following my wife," the senator said when he took the stage. "It is true my wife is smarter, better looking. She's a little meaner than I am. ... But she is also my partner, my coconspirator."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usobam0310,0,3551861.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[Renew Deal]

11. I have video of her monologue.

I have to get it online.

[mahina]

20. please do; cou;ld you tell me when it's up? Thanks!

nt

[Joe Bacon]

13. She never ran over anyone to get where she is!

Let's remind everyone of the Murder Scoreboard

Pickles 1
Michelle 0

[Renew Deal]

17. Mrs. Obama makes Mrs. Road Rage look like a classless buffoon

Barack's wife is amazing. She is class, power, smarts, education, and much more in one person. She's the kind of person that would make an outstanding first lady. She's a woman's woman, but she's also a contemporary american woman. She's really the total package. She would be such an upgrade over the current "first lady."

[flpoljunkie]

16. Another article, from the New York Post's Haberman: 'Real Deal' Barack Take$ Big NY Pot

http://www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/print.php?url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102007/news/nationalnews/real_deal_barack_take_big_n_y__pot_nationalnews_maggie_haberman.htm

'REAL DEAL' BARACK TAKE$ BIG N.Y. POT
By MAGGIE HABERMAN

March 10, 2007 -- Sen. Barack Obama hit Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's turf last night for a megabucks Midtown fund-raiser, where his wife made thinly veiled jabs at his rival's "in it to win it" campaign slogan and called her husband "the real deal."
"I know that Barack is in this not just to win," Michelle Obama told the crowd of more than 1,500 people at a $100-per-head event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on East 42nd Street.

"This race is not about winning, because winning isn't enough nowadays. Winning without dignity, winning it without honor, winning without authenticity and truth is not winning at all, and we're not in it for that."

Earlier, Michelle Obama said, "Barack is the real deal . . . Barack is really exactly who he says he is. You know, there's no hidden agenda to this guy. He is decent, he is sincere, he is authentic, he isn't manufactured."

Several people in the crowd took the remarks as a reference to Clinton, whose out-of-the-gate comments when she declared her candidacy in January were, "I'm in it to win it."

Obama is often touted as authentic, while Clinton is frequently knocked as stiff and message-tested.

Michelle Obama also praised her husband as someone who could give people "a reason to believe again.

[mahina]

19. It's time to get our own precinct teams organized to help with grassroots fundraising.

When I think about the challenges that lie ahead for this nation and I want to feel better, I watch Obama on youtube or read his speeches and I know, in spite of the enourmous debt mess, the wars, the wasted opportunity, that we will be ok. IF we come together and rise up to heal this country.
I know he is not perfect but I really am grateful he is willing to run and I feel that I personally as an American owe him active support.

Anyway here are some good vids, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH-FpN5p8_I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNCLomrqIN8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2dDAySUywko (Obama's pastor on Faux news, kicking Hannity's ass with grace and class)

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=517601