An Historic Ovent -- An Obamanenon

November 4, 2008 -- Election Night, Grant Park, Chicago

A friend from work, Mike Healy, scored two tickets to the Obama Rally in Grant Park the night of the election. Contributors and Obama email distribution list recipients were sent links to a website to sign up for tickets. While I put off signing up for the tickets until later that night, Mike signed up right away. Tickets were gobbled up in an hour. Later that night after surfing eBay, I discovered tickets were going for $610 a pair. While I was wait listed, Mike's quick action scored the best ticket in town.

We quickly agreed on the arrangements, We would take the EL downtown, I would treat him to dinner, and we would walk to the rally. As we met up at the Cumberland park 'n ride, Mike and I were quickly joined by more and more Obama supporters as the train got closer to the city.

While waiting in line to get into Miller's Pub, we met a couple named Mike and Carol. She was part of the Obama white elite support group -- New York Times subscriber, Steppenwolf Season ticket holder, and world traveler. He was a conservative republican with a distinct disdain for George W. Bush, and a veteran. Their daughters, one in Florida; the other in Colorado, were Obama volunteers canvasing suburban and Latino neighborhoods. Mike and Carol not only had tickets, but a room across the street from Grant Park in the Congress Hotel.

A Divisive Election

This election was particularly divisive. While visiting my best man and his family in Milwaukee, I was upset that friends I had such strong feelings for would have such different points of view. I couldn't answer all their questions, but their questions made me uncomfortable:

"If it wasn't Obama sworn in on the Koran, who was it?" See answer.

"Why is Obama taking advice from Fannie Mae executives? See answer.

"Why does Obama have a picture of Hugo Chavez in his Office?" See answer.

"Why would a politician associate himself with William Ayers?" See answer.

"Is Barack a Christian?" See answer.

At a dinner party, strong words were exchanged between two men. So much, so that the party ended early because of all the drama. Even the day of the election, a good friend of Krista's was passing around an email chain full of false information, and based her vote on the details. See email. Even at neighborhood social hours, Krista and I steered clear of Republicans wearing the Acorn Nut t-shirts.

Where Everyone Knows Your Candidate

So to now be in a pub, where you are no longer just 60% of the group but an enthusiastic 100%, was like being a new parent in a newborn class. You were among friends, you shared the same deep emotions, you couldn't offend anyone by wrongly assuming they liked children (your candidate).

I liked our new freedom of being able to discuss politics. All four of us in unison wanted to keep the conversation going by asking the others to dine with them.

At the table, we enjoyed each others company as the returns rolled in. The pub had 30 large screen TVs scattered through out the restaurant. When we sat down the first state results came in Barack 8; McCain 3. Cheers went up as each state was announced for Obama, and boos where voiced when McCain gained territory. We were among friends.

We enjoyed calamari, steaks, and ribs. We continued wild cheering and many less boos. By the time we left the pub "score" was Obama: 200; McCain: 90.

The Line

It was now about 7:30, and knowing that the gates opened at 8:30 we thought it wise to get in line. The line stretched for a mile from the entrance at Congress and Balboa to the Shedd Aquarium. As we walked in search of the end of the line that didn't seem to exist, vendors were selling buttons, t-shirts, and hats. Krista text'd me saying "The family wants Obama gear!" To which I replied by emptying my wallet every block to buy a new button or hat or t-shirt.

Once in line, the diversity of the crowd hit me. All different ages, skin color, and economic levels. The grungy pack of four post-college students watching the election returns on their iPhone, the two African-American women from Texas, the tree-huggers behind us, men and women in suits and dresses.

Cars were honking their horns. One cabbie had a blow horn yelling "Obama, Obama, Obama." There was a convertible white Cadillac called the Obamalac that cruised up and down Michigan avenue. The atmosphere was jovial. One vendor quipped to Mike when he didn't want to buy a button, "He must be a Republican."

The weather was unbelievable. To believe on a November night that it was 61 degrees with wide open skies is unheard of. Doesn't it usually snow on Halloween?

After waiting and walking in line for hour, watching the returns come in on our phones and blackberries, we saw the inevitable happen. Ohio and Pennsylvania were in for Obama, and we knew once California was announced, it was over. CNN had a live feed via a jumbo screen in the park, which we were still in line for. Finally, it was announced Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States!

The line went from orderly to a "get us in" attitude in minutes. We quickly stormed security, held onto each others arms, held up our tickets, IDs and ran through the gates.

Grant Park

In minutes we were in a sea of people standing. We were far away from the stage, heck we didn't even know where the stage was -- is that it? or is that the press tent?

I don’t think it’s possible to imagine a crowd of 65,000 unless you’re in the midst of it. At the edge of the field on a small hill you could see a mass of humanity packed, shoulder to shoulder, filling every inch of the field. Flags fluttered against the night sky and camera flashes sparkled across the surface of the crowd like electricity. Everyone seemed to be holding a camcorder, digital camera, or cell phone. At one point I realized my camera was focused on the video screen of someone else's camera focusing on the large screen. "Why am I taking pictures?". Parents had brought their children to the field at this late hour to watch one of the most significant events in our history.

We watched the jumbotron to clearly see everything. It may seem silly to commute downtown, walk two miles in line, spend hours waiting to get in to watch a giant TV; but the historic significance of being there was overwhelming. Yes were were part of 65,000 others on the field; 250,000 in the streets of Chicago; but we were a small fraction of the universe spending time with the First Family the night of the election -- we wouldn't trade it for any couch lounging act at home.

After nudging our way up 200 feet, we settled in to watch McCain's concession speech. There was some good natured booing, and laughter when McCain said "It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment;" and someone retorted in the Grant Park audience "Not for us!"

And I was proud of our audience when John McCain finished his speech by saying "Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama" -- and the people in Grant Park cheered for John McCain.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The announcer said "Ladies and Gentlemen . . . " and we all held our breath, only to have the man leading a prayer announced to us. And then the man leading the Pledge of Allegiance. And then the woman singing the National Anthem. And then, not one, not two, but three songs. And then, finally, FINALLY… "Ladies and Gentleman . . ." I expected to hear "44th President, Barack Obama" or "President Elect" or "Supreme Ruler and almost mythical being," but instead he said "please welcome the next First Family of the United States." I realized everything about this guy is class -- it wasn't about him.

Watch the speech.

He had me at "Hello, Chicago."

He kept me listening when he said "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

He made me love my wife when he said "I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama."

And he made me laugh when he said "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."

And he showed huge character and intellect when he said "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, 'We are not enemies, but friends though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.' And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -- I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."

The speech was amazing. If I was at home, alone, I would have balled my eyes out. Can you not love this guy?

I AM FIRED UP!