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I shook BARACK OBAMA's hand today!

DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
edited April 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
So last Sunday I made a thread here about how I shook Bill Clinton's hand, and obviously I was really excited.

Well today myself and a few of my Students for Barack Obama colleagues volunteered at an Obama rally less than an hour away. So we got there, did our assigned volunteer duties (which was very fun... my job was to collect the address portion of the tickets of people in line and try to get volunteers for Get Out the Vote in the next couple of days), and headed inside. The problem was that I was outside dealing with people in line, and therefore by the time I got in the place was packed. So I asked the head volunteers if there was a special place I should go, and I kept getting redirected all over the place. Very frustrating. Eventually I ended up near the entrance where Barack was going to enter the gymnasium... I asked the head volunteer there where to sit and she said that she'd be leaving soon and I could have her seat.... FRONT ROW, right on the rail guarding the pathway that was set up for Barack's entrance. :eek: Talk about a stroke of luck!

So it felt like forever before he came out, and let me tell you... I couldn't believe I was going to have the possibility to shake the man's hand. When he came out from behind the curtain it was absolutely surreal. And sure enough, he started shaking hands right away, held a baby right next to me (probably the most memorable moment), and finally shook my hand. :D It was insane. This guy is my hero, and I was able to give him a real hand shake (not just a little thumb grab or anything like with Bill Clinton) standing right in front of him, nothing between us but a little waist-high railing.

All of the people I went with also got to shake his hand and get their stuff autographed after the speech was over. It was intense.... I can't even describe it. It'll definitely be a day that I'll remember for a very, very long time.

:D
It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,197
    Well I think that was awesome and did the Secret Service give you any hard looks? :)

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • westsidepiewestsidepie Posts: 627
    I remember Bill Clinton saying that shaking John Kennedy's hand when he was young had a profound effect him. An experience that lead him to a political life. Maybe it will be the same for you, and I will read about you someday talking about this profound moment in your life. You are lucky. You have had an experience that will remain with you your whole life.
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • AbookamongstthemanyAbookamongstthemany Posts: 8,209
    Barack Obama is a .....I'm just kidding. :D Congratulations :)




    I can't wait to shake Matt Gonzalez's hand and believe me, I'm gonna try....he's so friggin cute!
    If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

    Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    -Oscar Wilde
  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    westsidepie wrote:
    I remember Bill Clinton saying that shaking John Kennedy's hand when he was young had a profound effect him. An experience that lead him to a political life. Maybe it will be the same for you, and I will read about you someday talking about this profound moment in your life. You are lucky. You have had an experience that will remain with you your whole life.

    Thanks man, that means a lot. I actually am a political science major here at Bloomsburg University, and have been fairly active in Obama's campaign for quite a while now (though not nearly as much as some of my colleagues here.... they're amazing, and I'm so glad they got to shake his hand as well). I have been interested in politics since high school (which feels like a long time for me), but Obama's campaign has got me locked into it. And then today happened.

    I just can't imagine NOT being influenced by this in the future. Even if you're not an Obama fan, you have to realize... this was one of the most momentous things that's ever happened to me. And it'll only be amplified if he becomes the next president.
    Abookamongstthemany wrote:
    Barack Obama is a .....I'm just kidding. :D Congratulations :)

    Haha, well I know your opinion of him, but still. :D Thanks for the congrats.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    Congrats, guy.:) It's always cool to meet politicians you can respect.
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,197
    westsidepie wrote:
    I remember Bill Clinton saying that shaking John Kennedy's hand when he was young had a profound effect him. An experience that lead him to a political life. Maybe it will be the same for you, and I will read about you someday talking about this profound moment in your life. You are lucky. You have had an experience that will remain with you your whole life.

    It would have been just as kool if someone had recorded that moment but it will remain with you till the end.

    Sort of reminded me of the first time I met Arnold *Red* Auerbach then had dinner with and later many times watching him play cards at the club and at home. Moments I won't ever forget especially now since he's been gone from us.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    For some reason I think the thing I'll remember the most wasn't the handshake, but when he was holding the baby right next to me right before the handshake. He stood there for a little while just holding the baby someone gave him, patting it on it's back... and there I was, inches from the guy, just in pure shock, smiling like an idiot. It was surreal.... the idea that Obama was right next to me holding a baby in front of a massive crowd, in the flesh. It's weird how the people you only see on television or in videos seem so human all of a sudden when you first see them in person or when they're right there next to you. And then a few seconds later, the handshake.

    Crazy. :D
    g under p wrote:
    It would have been just as kool if someone had recorded that moment but it will remain with you till the end.

    Yep, unfortunately I didn't get a picture or anything, but I did at least get a little bit of footage on my videophone as he passed again to leave after the speech. But like you said, the moment will always stay with me, and that's the most important thing.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    I shook Jimmy Carter's hand when I was a kid...before, but when he was running for, the presidency.

    And President Clinton and his motorcade drove by me (as I was standing along side the road due to the motorcade) in Vancouver, BC in about 1993.
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,291
    Cool!


    Obama '08!
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