Caroline Kennedy in Elyria for Obama
On the evening of 28 February 2008, I was privileged to have the opportunity to see Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, speaking on behalf of Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign at the YWCA in Elyria, Ohio.
Here is the video I shot there. (Unfortunately, since I was in the back of the packed room and the P.A. system was not very loud, you may need to turn up your volume a bit.)
[e-mail subscribers may have to click the permalink at the bottom of their page to view the above video]
The things she said about Barack wanting to strengthen the middle class, "give teachers more support," "bring home our troops," assist college students and provide "universal health care" didn't really seem to distinguish him from Hillary Clinton in my mind. I wish Caroline had offered more specifics on a couple of these. And I'm not so sure I'd apply "universal" to Barack's health care plan as I would to Hillary's. I'm also a bit uneasy with the idea of "Change" for the sake of change. The last time a desire for "Change" played a pivotal role in an American presidential election, voters reluctant to vote for Al Gore (who, having served 8 years as Clinton's vice president, was viewed as "more of the same") allowed George W. Bush to become our president. And the previous time voters were inspired by a hunger for change, they pushed another charismatic young candidate named Bill Clinton into the White House. I'm not saying Clinton was like W or Barack is like either. Just thinking aloud here....
Barack would be a good President, I think, although I believe Hillary would be better. Certainly either would be a refreshing, relatively rational change of pace after eight years of Bush and Cheney. Caroline Kennedy, who I respect greatly, did not really tell us why we should prefer Obama, except because he inspires us to dream. Inspiration is an excellent thing, I think. John Lennon inspired us to dream, to hope, to imagine.... He had the judgment to oppose the Vietnam War. Would that make him the best choice for our president? I remember Bill Clinton inspiring that kind of hope in my generation, or at least in me and a lot of people I knew, when he first ran for President in 1992. Maybe that's part of why I prefer Hillary, along with the fact that she seems to offer more (and more convincing) specifics on the many issues on which she and Obama agree - and she has more (and more varied) experience. But I'm still keeping an open mind. And if Barack comes around this part of the state, I will see him. Heck, I've even signed up for John McCain's mailing list, because I believe in giving everyone a fair hearing and not completely closing one's mind.
Meanwhile I will unhesitatingly vote for Clinton in our Ohio primary on March 4th because I believe she is the best choice for our nation. If she wins the nomination, I plan to vote for her in November as well. If she loses the nomination, however, I plan to support Obama wholeheartedly. Both are qualified, though I prefer her. And I absolutely prefer either to the Republican alternative. Meanwhile I encourage you to give both sides a listen. Inspiration is important; but so is a plan. Fair or not (and I have really tried to look at all the candidates objectively), Caroline's remarks about inspiration versus a plan reminded me of one of those catchy (and I think meaningful) sayings I heard long ago. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Martin Luther King, to go with his famous "Dream," also had a plan. Barack also seems to have a worthwhile plan. I just think Hillary's is in many ways better. But don't take my word for it. Give both candidates a listen and decide for yourself.
[Caroline Kennedy in Elyria - photo by Jesus Crisis]
P.S. I'll be seeing former President Bill Clinton in Lakewood Saturday morning.
Here is the video I shot there. (Unfortunately, since I was in the back of the packed room and the P.A. system was not very loud, you may need to turn up your volume a bit.)
[e-mail subscribers may have to click the permalink at the bottom of their page to view the above video]
The things she said about Barack wanting to strengthen the middle class, "give teachers more support," "bring home our troops," assist college students and provide "universal health care" didn't really seem to distinguish him from Hillary Clinton in my mind. I wish Caroline had offered more specifics on a couple of these. And I'm not so sure I'd apply "universal" to Barack's health care plan as I would to Hillary's. I'm also a bit uneasy with the idea of "Change" for the sake of change. The last time a desire for "Change" played a pivotal role in an American presidential election, voters reluctant to vote for Al Gore (who, having served 8 years as Clinton's vice president, was viewed as "more of the same") allowed George W. Bush to become our president. And the previous time voters were inspired by a hunger for change, they pushed another charismatic young candidate named Bill Clinton into the White House. I'm not saying Clinton was like W or Barack is like either. Just thinking aloud here....
Barack would be a good President, I think, although I believe Hillary would be better. Certainly either would be a refreshing, relatively rational change of pace after eight years of Bush and Cheney. Caroline Kennedy, who I respect greatly, did not really tell us why we should prefer Obama, except because he inspires us to dream. Inspiration is an excellent thing, I think. John Lennon inspired us to dream, to hope, to imagine.... He had the judgment to oppose the Vietnam War. Would that make him the best choice for our president? I remember Bill Clinton inspiring that kind of hope in my generation, or at least in me and a lot of people I knew, when he first ran for President in 1992. Maybe that's part of why I prefer Hillary, along with the fact that she seems to offer more (and more convincing) specifics on the many issues on which she and Obama agree - and she has more (and more varied) experience. But I'm still keeping an open mind. And if Barack comes around this part of the state, I will see him. Heck, I've even signed up for John McCain's mailing list, because I believe in giving everyone a fair hearing and not completely closing one's mind.
Meanwhile I will unhesitatingly vote for Clinton in our Ohio primary on March 4th because I believe she is the best choice for our nation. If she wins the nomination, I plan to vote for her in November as well. If she loses the nomination, however, I plan to support Obama wholeheartedly. Both are qualified, though I prefer her. And I absolutely prefer either to the Republican alternative. Meanwhile I encourage you to give both sides a listen. Inspiration is important; but so is a plan. Fair or not (and I have really tried to look at all the candidates objectively), Caroline's remarks about inspiration versus a plan reminded me of one of those catchy (and I think meaningful) sayings I heard long ago. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Martin Luther King, to go with his famous "Dream," also had a plan. Barack also seems to have a worthwhile plan. I just think Hillary's is in many ways better. But don't take my word for it. Give both candidates a listen and decide for yourself.
[Caroline Kennedy in Elyria - photo by Jesus Crisis]
P.S. I'll be seeing former President Bill Clinton in Lakewood Saturday morning.
Posted by Jesus Crisis at 2/29/2008 10:12 PM 
Categories: News and Politics, Video Blogs, Election 2008
Categories: News and Politics, Video Blogs, Election 2008
JC another great informative blog sir....i am not a big political type person but your writing and commitment to this inspires me. thanks for the video.
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I appreciate your comment, bro! It's going to be a busy day, but I look forward to getting back tonight and reading your blog.
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Obama is going to be in Parma Hts tomorrow. Forget what time. Shoud be in the am newspaper.
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Thanks for letting me know, because of going to see Bill so early this morning, I might not have read the paper and found out in time otherwise. I will try to catch Barack, too.
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Dear JC,
I thank you for getting involved and going to all of the candidates speeches. I feel sorry for Carolyn because she does not know what Barack Obama is all about. She is a good lady and she is doing her best for she endorsed him. In all concience I cannot vote for Barack Obama knowing all that I know now. Strong Arming the Black delegates with treats alont with the journalist from the Houston Press who just released an article about him; knowing him in the beginning when he was journalist in Ill. The corrupt business he did with all the cronies in Ill. Taking credit for acheivments that he did not do. His involvment with his wife when she was on the board of the chicago hospital. I feel I would be sending a criminal to the white house. I hope you have read my post of credible people, and finally the video from canada where he said at the debate that nafta would have to be re-negotiated and if it wasn't then it would be op-ed out. He warned the canada about this debate and told them not to worry because it was all Rhetoric and nothing would change. He told the American people one thing and then told Canada a differnt story. I am sorry but I feel he has mislead the America people and if Senator Clinton is not elected I just know I cannot vote for him. Again I have been a Democrate all my life and I am fifty year old now and have never seen this kind of sham. Frankly it is a bit scary.
respectfully
Lori McMaster
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I appreciate your sharing your feelings about this, Lori, and I respect where you're coming from. It's interesting that on past blogs, I've had folks express similar fears about Clinton. But I must say nothing frightens me anywhere near as much as the thought of having a Republican President who thinks keeping us in Iraq for 100 years is a "great idea," who is not enthusiastic about gay rights, who would like to see women lose the right to choose, and who might appoint another Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court.
Peace and respect,
JC
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well, um, she didn't inspire me. she actually um lost me about um halfway through as i um started to find myself counting how many times she um said um.
when i fence sitting before our own primaries, this speech would not have pushed me in the obama direction.
the blog itself? what you wrote makes a lot more sense than anything she said.
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p.s. say hey to bill for me.
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Will do!
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i hope you remembered to sing "don't stop" to him!
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I did! And I told him hi from you!
I'm not sure when I'll get to post the blog. Hopefully late tonight if I'm not too tired. But in an hour or two we're heading to Parma Heights to see Barack Obama!
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wow! i was just listening to that song!
can't wait to read/see the blog/footage.
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I think my nephew is posting the picture he took of himself with Bill on his page before we go. Look at my top friends on MySpace.
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alas, his profile is set to private...
i see he's changed his name though. i love it!
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I think MySpace does that automatically now with minors. But it should be his default soon, so you will still be able to see it. Maybe he'll let me use it in my blog... lol. It beats any picture I took!
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that pic fucking rocks! damn!
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You took the words right out of my mouth.
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Thanks, mb!
I have to say I was a little bit disappointed. And then because the room was too packed and rather dark, my still pictures didn't come out so well and I was unabe to get close enough to really see or greet her. The one pic I posted was taken from from away while standing on a chair, and I cropped her head out of a much larger crowd shot. My still camera is best when I can get close enough for the flash to make a difference. Fortunately the picture on the video camera was considerably better than any of my stills. I was kinda hoping she would get me as excited about Obama as so many other folks are. I was actually more inspired by the You Tube video I saw yesterday of Obama's response to McCain's criticism of Obama's Iraq and Al Qaeda comments at the debate. I had voiced the same criticism to Geri when watching the debate: "Al Qaeda IS in Iraq." But I think Obama responded surprisingly well by turning the tables on McCain with news for him. So maybe Obama himself will, in person, inspire me much more than Caroline did. I hear he might be in the area tonight... I'm hoping I can make it in time after seeing Bill Clinton.
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i'll be interested in hearing what yo have to say after seeing him in person now.
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All in good time....
Last night I was just far too tired and had far too much to digest....
It was quite a day.
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sure, played the "big day", tired card
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I have so much video to process from the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama rallies yesterday. Downloading and uploading is taking forever and testing the limits of my computer. Not to mention over a hundred still photos.... And I'm getting a bit of a cold and feeling very tired after standing outside for so many hours at so many rallies this week to see the candidates and their representatives.
Yesterday was a once in a lifetime experience and I want to do it right...
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you are such a virgo *grins*
i have no doubt the wait will be worth it for more than just you.
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Another fabulous blog! Thank you!
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You're welcome, Terese. And thank you!
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This was not only a terrific blog for the video but I found your comments extremely well expressed. What Lori wrote is exactly what may cause the Democratic party to lose this election. The Republicans are hoping for a split and McCain will take the advantage whether either Clinton or Obama win. There is too much mud slinging from both sides and if this continues we all lose.
Read my blog again on The Democratic Party Must Win this election.
When you hear Bill Clinton today I wonder if he could respond to this. I know he says that if Hillary doesn't win Texas and Ohio on Tuesday the fight is over. Why? Where's the DREAM TICKET?
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Thanks, Elena! Perhaps the Dream Ticket of Hillary and Obama is just that, a dream. But if Obama is right, hope can make it come true.
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I am so glad you are covering as much as you are on both candidates. They are predicting almost a tie in Texas and Ohio in the polls today. When it comes right down to it both candidates are excellent and both have the same HOPES. Either one would be good but BOTH would be better. Let us know about Bill Clinton's rally if you can get there today. If you also get to hear Obama I will nominate you as the photo journalist for this primary election.
Make sure the Church of Crisis says prayers for Tuesday's election. Peace and love to you. Elena.
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Great blog JC... This is the kind of thing I need to hear to make up my mind for November. Informative, balanced...useful information. I too will more that likely vote Democrat this Fall.. I can't imagine doing otherwise. But am still undecided between the candidates. They both have things they support that I like. So thank you for the balanced view point.
You do a great job of this have you ever thought to be a freelance journalist or something? Or is that door closed to you as well?
Chris
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Thank you so much, Chris! I have some excellent video of Bill Clinton from this morning - and am hoping to get some of Barack Obama tonight. I'm not sure yet whether to make two blogs or one of it all. I'm hoping Barack goes into as much detail about his plans as Bill did about Hillary's. Might be a good opportunity to hear both and compare....
I'd love such a journalism career - hopefully with practice, experience and putting myself out there I can create an opportunity or get the interest of someone who'd be willing to hire me, even on an occasional basis. Thanks again!
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I am reading and listening. Just not speaking (typing) lol.
Namaste'
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LOL... I'm glad you're here, whether you speak or not.
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guess i'll have to wait until hillary drops out before leaving comments - your all hillary all the time leave me no room unless i wanna come across as a curmudgeon.
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LOL... wait till you see my next blog - on Bill and Barack. With the Ohio primary on Tuesday, it might be my last presidential blog for a while, unless I can somehow get in to see McCain.
Great blog you posted about Mother Dwarf, by the way....
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I am a little disappointed. (I loved JFK), but Caroline did nothing to convince me to vote for Obama. I am skeptical of his campaign, still it is better than another GW being in office. Thanks for all the information. You are inspiring me to have more interest in politics than I have in the past. Change is good as long as it is change for the better..we didn't get that the last time around.
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I agree wholeheartedly, Susan. Thanks for your feedback!
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