everybody wants to be closer to free

[ilanarama]

We could tell that something was going on as we exited from I-25 onto Cesar Chavez Blvd. into a traffic jam. Parking at the site was already full, and pedestrians were streaming in from all around, many wearing Kerry t-shirts and holding signs. It was a real mix, lots of Hispanics, of course, but Anglos and blacks and Asians as well, and all ages. We found a spot at a city building and walked to the Center.

We passed two small protests of about ten people each; one group held signs proclaiming, "You can't be both Catholic and pro-choice," and the other held "Viva Bush" signs. Both groups were dwarfed by the huge crowds of Kerry/Edwards supporters!

A band played Hispanic rock as we waited for the main event to arrive. Finally an Albuquerque city councilman took the stage and welcomed us; he was followed by Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Senator Jeff Bingaman, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, and Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson greeted the crowd in Spanish, and then said, "Do you want to hear Kerry and Edwards speak?" Of course, there was loud cheering. Then he said, "Do you want to hear me speak first?" Everyone yelled, "No!" But there was a lot of laughter, and it was clear from the applause that Richardson is well regarded among New Mexico Democrats.

The cheering went up another notch when the Edwards and Kerry families came onstage. I could see the speakers through holes in the crowd, but when the candidates came out so many hands went up, waving and clapping and holding up cameras, that it was impossible to see until everyone quieted down! The first to speak was Elizabeth Edwards, who talked a little about the excitement of being selected for the second spot on the ticket. She said: "It's people like you who convince us that we're going to make a change in November."

Then came Teresa Heinz Kerry, who impressed me (and everyone around me) with her serious manner; her voice was very low and quiet but nonetheless commanding and intense, a real contrast with the other speakers who were all bubbling over with enthusiasm and energy. She seemed incredibly focused and thoughtful. Her initial remarks, in fluent Spanish, drew wild cheers. She then spoke about her background as an immigrant from East Africa (she was born in Mozambique) : "Where I came from, we couldn't vote. My father voted for the first time at 71." She talked about participating in civil rights marches in South Africa while in college, and about how people throughout the world look to the United States in hope, as an example of a free society, and that we must safeguard our rights not only for ourselves but for them. Her final words before introducing Edwards: "Bullies attack; leaders inspire."

John Edwards played his role as cheerleader very well. His message was relentlessly positive and upbeat: "We're going to have a celebration of real American values!" He drew parallels between his life and the hopes of the working-class people who want to see their children have better lives, pointing out that he had "an incredible set of opportunities" in this country - he was the first of his family to go to college - "I have lived the American Dream!"

He then went on to the message of the evening: Values are what you do, not just what you say. He talked about Kerry's combat experience and his legislative record: "Look at what he has done - look at what he has fought for. That shows his values." He said that Kerry will always tell the American people the truth - implying the opposite about the current administration! In fact, he (and Kerry) never said anything disparaging about the current administration ("we reject the tired old hateful negative politics") but the implication was always there between the lines.

Kerry greeted the crowd in tentative Spanish (clearly not a language he speaks!) and made a few jokes - on NPR the next day a Republican strategist derided Kerry and said that the Democrats would soon figure out that telling jokes on the stump is "off-message," but I think it worked very well to counter Kerry's reputation as being stiff and uncharismatic. He joked that choosing a VP was tougher than "red or green" (the official New Mexico state question regarding chile!) and when he listed the things he and John Edwards had in common, and someone in the crowd shouted out "You're both smart!", he responded easily ad lib ("You think I'm smart? Good! Come work on my campaign!") People laughed and cheered at all the right places! He seemed as though he was having a good time, and his enthusiasm made us even more enthusiastic.

He compared his visit to New Mexico with a visit John F. Kennedy had made, and quoted Kennedy. When some hecklers shouted something at him, he responded that there were some Republicans in the audience who don't want to listen, "but it's okay - this is a free country, and we are going to give them a lesson in values." He then listed various points he considered important: jobs, health care, the environment, the war in Iraq, and education; each time he made an implied contrast. For example, "Values are not creating a program called 'No Child Left Behind,' then failing to fund it."

Finally he said that how we vote will have a world-wide impact. "This is the most important election of our lifetime. Everything is at stake. It's in your hands." I agree with this so much, and by the nodding and clapping around me I could tell that the crowd agreed too. He asked people to knock on doors and talk to their friends. "We have 115 days to change not just America, but the world. Bring back our dream - let America be America again!"

Even with the fairly boring platitude at the end, it was a strong message, and people applauded loudly and long. What a great pep rally! I felt upbeat and excited, glad to have the opportunity to hear our candidates and their wives, and clearly everyone around me felt the same. The volunteers signing up people to help with the NM campaign were mobbed, as was the stage; we decided we were too far away and there was too much of a crush for us to try to actually shake someone's hand. But we were both grinning, happy with our candidates (I was especially impressed by Teresa Heinz Kerry) and confident that the tide is turning in our direction - that not only are people unhappy with George Bush, but that they like and will work for John Kerry and John Edwards. We left as the sound system played "Johnny B. Goode," a clever and appropriate song for this team! Go Johnny go!

Comments

[mulberryfields.livejournal.com]

Hi! and wow - what a great report, thanks. It sounds exciting, of course, and you summarized the highlights and tone so well.

This is the most important election of our lifetime. Everything is at stake.

I feel this so strongly - I guess a lot of us do. I made a New Year's resolution that I would notch up my political activism for this election at least "one notch" (whatever that might be) - since then I keep feeling I must, and want to, notch it up more and more.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We've set up a county-wide website and mailing list, and I posted it there too - and it was so gratifying to get about a dozen replies, and people coming up to me at our county Dems meeting, telling me that I made people feel as though they'd been there!

And yeah, this year has really got people motivated. I think that everyone's interest has gone up a notch - those who are marginally interested are following it with more attention, those who normally pay lots of attention are sending money, those who normally just write checks are volunteering as well. All our house parties and meetings and even the caucuses were better-attended than in previous years, I'm told.

(and, welcome!)

[mulberryfields.livejournal.com]

people coming up to me at our county Dems meeting, telling me that I made people feel as though they'd been there!

That's great - and that's exactly it - because you not only conveyed the essence of what was said, but it was the whole feel and mood that came across. And your stuff about Teresa Heinz Kerry was especially interesting.

think that everyone's interest has gone up a notch ... All our house parties and meetings and even the caucuses were better-attended than in previous years, I'm told.

That's really good to hear - it's certainly what I hope, and what we must bank on.

(and, welcome!)

Thanks very much! And these icons are fabulous. Guh. That tree at the top of the post!! Beautiful pic.

[ilanarama.livejournal.com]

Well, if you read the weblogs I sent you to, you'll see that picture and more in the section about the Rio Macareo in Venezuela!

(I just think that an icon of a swamp is appropriate for political posts. :-)

And I'm giggling over your icon!

[mulberryfields.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to reading the logs. Am just recently having the time & peace of mind to be able to read anything again, and started just glancing at the logs last night. They look fabulous.

(I just think that an icon of a swamp is appropriate for political posts. :-)

Ha. True. I didn't make the connection.

And I'm giggling over your icon!

Thanks! Isn't it funny? It's actually one of minerva_fan's icons, and I was so taken with it that I asked if I could borrow it. She generously said to use it whenever and pass it along too.

[mulberryfields.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute - how did that happen? I'm assuming you were talking about the "My god, it's a cookbook" icon, which is the one I borrowed from minerva fan. That's the icon I was sure I'd used there. But now it's inexplicably changed to my default icon, which is the pillar of storge one. Uh - well - anyway. Not that it matters. Hi.

[venivincere]

"Values are not creating a program called 'No Child Left Behind,' then failing to fund it."

Oh, so very, very true. I agree that this is election will have world-wide impact, and the heart of the matter is respect. If we end up with four more years of Bush, we may be a smoking pile of ashes before the next election. At the least, we will have pissed away any remaining respect or right to any authority we ever earned.

Thank you for reporting!