Obama sparks outpouring of passion
Alternative content
Local inauguration party
Several Obama campaign volunteers gathered in the Greenbrier home of JJ Towler to watch and celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama.
The Daily Progress/Matthew Rosenberg
Ann Hope (foreground) applauds the swearing in of Barack Obama at a get-together of campaigners at the Charlottesville home of Obama volunteer JJ Towler.
Cheers, jeers and tears rang, hissed and flowed Tuesday as a pride of Barack Obama supporters partied their candidate into the Oval Office.
“This is an important day for the country and the culmination of all we’ve worked for,” enthused JJ Towler, who hosted the Inauguration Day get-together of campaigners and partisans in her Charlottesville home. “It’s important for me because, when I got involved in this campaign, it energized me. I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time: passion.”
Passion was as plentiful as two dozen vociferous and animated proponents of the new president reacted to the images on a big-screen TV.
Former President George W. Bush brought boos and hisses and a chorus of the 1960s pop music hit “Hey, Hey, Goodbye.” Obama’s appearance elicited shouts and cheerful hoots that drowned out the patter of television commentators.
“When I first saw Obama give his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, I was impressed. I knew he was going to be running some day, but I didn’t know it would be this soon,” Jane McDonald said prior to the swearing-in ceremony. “What he said then and what he’s said since is a testament to what America is supposed to be. He’s kept his word.”
The celebrants met the ceremony with awe and respect. Obama’s recitation of the oath of office, his speech and Aretha Franklin’s singing of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” left no eye dry. The partygoers even sang their own version of the hymn “We Shall Overcome,” putting the verb into the present perfect.
For some, the inauguration represented personal accomplishment.
“It’s a great feeling,” Towler said. “To see [Mark] Warner and [Tom] Perriello and Obama all elected was a great feeling. I still get teared up.”
For others, Obama’s election is salve for historical adversity.
“His election is proof that all of the hard work people put into integrating the schools and fighting for civil rights has paid off,” said Ann Hope, 73. “I’m sad that the people like Drewry Brown, those who worked so hard to make this day possible, aren’t here to see it. So many of the people who really suffered under segregation never got to see this day.”
Some see the new president as a sure sign of change.
Mary “Suzy” Shettig’s father toiled in the Georgia and Florida political systems, never rising above state representative because of religious prejudice: He was Catholic.
“When John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic president, I knew it was just a matter of time before more changes came and this day arrived,” said Shettig, 86. “This is a great event and a great day. It’s something people would never have considered years ago. It makes us realize who we are and where we are. I want to know where we’re going from here.”
Hope is pretty sure she knows where the country is going.
“I think we’ve entered a whole new era and I have great hope for the country and the world,” she said. “I think this proves that one person can make a difference. One person can change the world.”
Reader Reactions
Hey Shotze according to a USA/Gallup poll done a week ago, Congress approval rating is 19% which is a three month high. Considering the national press ignores our congress’s ineptitude and continuously looks for anything to attack Bush on I think his approval rating is pretty good. Besides you may have noticed all the election day interviews of the voters who didn’t know who the house speaker was or even what party had control of the legislative branch. So don’t talk to me about polls when we have such an ill informed electorate.
Hey javaguy, what’s in your coffee? Have you seen Bush’s approval rating? I don’t think the 78% that disapprove of the job he’s done are from the “far left”!
First I would like to start off by saying that on election night even though I had not voted for Barrack Obama I went to bed proud to be an American. His election proved how far America has come in the last half century and I fully understand how a great portion of our population felt that they had finally “overcome”. I pray daily for President Obama that he will succeed in bringing our country out of its’ economic troubles and that he is able to keep America safe.
That being said a person recently commented on the Daily Progress website about the “cynicism, bitterness, and stupidity” of the right during the last eight years. From my daily readings and watching the news I would say that he had the wrong party. There are thousand of websites that specialize in Bush bashing. Much criticism of the former President is not backed by facts, unfortunately most people don’t care or are too lazy to bother to fact check.
Mr. McKenzie in his article writes; “Former President George W. Bush brought boos and hisses and a chorus of the 1960s pop music hit “Hey, Hey, Goodbye.” This has been the typical response of the left throughout the last eight years. If asked why they despise Pres. Bush so much, they will come back with “he was selected not elected” or “Bush lied people died” both erroneous statements. Some will have legitimate complaints but from what I have seen the majority is just regurgitating what they have heard from the “far” left.
Americans have got what they asked for and I hope that they won’t regret it, but then again the kool-aid runs deep on the left.
Advertisement