Backing Barack
Backing Barack
Early Obama supporters find recent events affirm faith
By MIKE RAMSEY
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Published Sunday, December 31, 2006
Scott Kair remembers when Barack Obama was not a political star - but seemed destined to become one.
In fall 2003, the state lawmaker from Chicago was one of several Illinois Democrats angling for the party's U.S. Senate nomination. The relatively unknown Obama spoke to a small crowd of supporters gathered on a front lawn in Champaign. He used a child's karaoke machine for a sound system.
Yet the guests were spellbound as Obama gave a more than 90-minute speech about America's history and its potential, according to Kair, a 53-year-old public works employee from Danville. He said the candidate exuded "overwhelming intellect and a grasp of virtually every major issue - and most of the minor ones."
"That for me was the moment when I realized the Senate's just a pit stop," Kair said. "I still look back on it and say, 'How did I get this lucky?' I'm old enough to remember John Kennedy, and Obama has him beat. And he's probably not far in overtaking Bobby (Kennedy)."
Virginia Clemonds of Gillespie figured there was something bigger in Obama's future, too, even after he won the Democratic primary in spring 2004. Clemonds, 85, the mother of state Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, saw Obama speak at a fish fry on her family farm.
She offered him a prediction: "I probably won't live long enough to see you president, but one of these days you will be president."
Clemonds said Obama politely brushed aside the idea, but it's not so far-fetched today. The junior U.S. senator from Illinois - who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in national politics since taking office two years ago - is expected to announce in January whether he'll make a bid for the White House in 2008.
Illinoisans who supported Obama's fledgling political efforts said the heady circumstances confirm their early faith in him, although some expressed mixed feelings that the 45-year-old Obama could be
whisked away from his home state so soon.
Clemonds said she thinks he probably should wait another four years. But other boosters from Obama’s past say he should pursue the presidency in 2008, rather than wait for 2012, because the momentum could fade.
“There is a time, and his time seems to be now,” said Shawneetown farmer Kappy Scates, 68, who met Obama at a February 1997 benefit dinner in Chicago, when Obama was a freshly sworn state senator. “I would like to see him run because we’re in such a mess right now.”
Sheila Simon of Carbondale said she is amazed at the variety of people who have expressed interest in Obama. She is the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, who befriended Obama when he was a young state legislator.
“Because people know of my connection to Barack, I get a lot of people going out of their way to say ‘Hey, would you tell him to go for it?’” Simon said. “What’s interesting is the number of people who preface it with, ‘I am a conservative Republican’ or ‘I’ve never thought about saying this about a Democrat before.’”
Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield, admits he didn’t see the phenomenon coming. He worked with Obama and other state lawmakers on a campaign-finance reform package in the late 1990s.
“Long-term, I thought, this guy is going somewhere, but to say lighting would strike in terms of the U.S. Senate race and the convention - no,” Redfield said.
Obama, an initial underdog in the U.S. Senate primary, benefited when a Democratic front-runner’s campaign imploded amid allegations about his personal life. Obama later attracted national attention for a speech he made at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. It highlighted his background as the son of a white mother and an African father and featured the phrase “the audacity of hope” - later the title of his second best-selling book.
Barbara Van Auken of Peoria said a crowd of 1,200 showed up to see Obama when he appeared locally in 2006 - in dramatic contrast to the 20 people who attended a campaign stop he made in January 2004. She said she was stunned after seeing him speak that first time.
“I don’t know if anyone there had a clue who he was or what his background was,” Van Auken said.
Dan Shomon, a longtime political aide to Obama, said Obama always has been able to relate to different groups. But he said Obama honed his people skills during his six years in the Illinois Senate.
“In the old days, Barack would give you a clinical analysis,” Shomon said. “He was always a brilliant lawyer and policy wonk, but his skills as a politician went from a C to an A-plus.”
Among his admirers in the state Senate was a colleague from across the aisle, Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale. He said he and other Illinois GOP members may face a dilemma if Obama takes the plunge in 2008.
“Many Republicans and independents would be for Obama because he’s from Illinois,” Dillard said. “Even though I’m a big fan of his, I want to see who (the Republican) nominee might be. But I think that Senator Obama is great for Illinois, and I put Illinois first, above partisan politics.”
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Reader Comments - 7 comments
spfldexpatlivingingermany wrote at 12/31/2006 7:36:30 AM
The seduction has begun. His is an excellent example of what happens when a sincere person enters the politcal arena and is exposed to the necessity of comprimising value to get things done. I hope he runs because hilary needs to work at the nimination instead thinking her name will get her by. A Powell/Rice v. Clinton/Barack contest would be one to see.
J.W. from Springpatch wrote at 12/31/2006 7:43:49 AM
Is his middle name really Huessain? Go Barack !
IL Citizen wrote at 12/31/2006 7:56:36 AM
If Obama is so ethical, principled, and honest, why did he align himself with the Chicago mob when he did. He is backed by Mayor Daley and has several ties with Rezko, and then chose Chicago to be his homeplace. Folks, the writing is on the wall. Cellini will be calling all the shots if Obama is elected. Actions speak louder than all the speeches the man can give. It's sad because the U.S. needs a LEADER who the American people believe in, but it will be more of the same with Obama. He has already been "bought and paid for." Sad, but true.
Get Real wrote at 12/31/2006 8:24:30 AM
It would be nice to see Obama come up with some ground breaking legislation or major policy or something before he is swept into any higher office than he has right now. Six years in the Illinois Senate and two years in the US Senate does not make him the second coming of anyone. I've yet to understand anything other than the spin machines working overtime what this guy stands for. More substance and less cotton candy would have to be shown before he would get my vote. What's his voting record in the US Senate, how many time has he missed a roll call, has he voted bi-partisan or just played follow the leader, these are all questions that need to be answered before he is anointed.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/104207.asp
Early Obama supporters find recent events affirm faith
By MIKE RAMSEY
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Published Sunday, December 31, 2006
Scott Kair remembers when Barack Obama was not a political star - but seemed destined to become one.
In fall 2003, the state lawmaker from Chicago was one of several Illinois Democrats angling for the party's U.S. Senate nomination. The relatively unknown Obama spoke to a small crowd of supporters gathered on a front lawn in Champaign. He used a child's karaoke machine for a sound system.
Yet the guests were spellbound as Obama gave a more than 90-minute speech about America's history and its potential, according to Kair, a 53-year-old public works employee from Danville. He said the candidate exuded "overwhelming intellect and a grasp of virtually every major issue - and most of the minor ones."
"That for me was the moment when I realized the Senate's just a pit stop," Kair said. "I still look back on it and say, 'How did I get this lucky?' I'm old enough to remember John Kennedy, and Obama has him beat. And he's probably not far in overtaking Bobby (Kennedy)."
Virginia Clemonds of Gillespie figured there was something bigger in Obama's future, too, even after he won the Democratic primary in spring 2004. Clemonds, 85, the mother of state Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, saw Obama speak at a fish fry on her family farm.
She offered him a prediction: "I probably won't live long enough to see you president, but one of these days you will be president."
Clemonds said Obama politely brushed aside the idea, but it's not so far-fetched today. The junior U.S. senator from Illinois - who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in national politics since taking office two years ago - is expected to announce in January whether he'll make a bid for the White House in 2008.
Illinoisans who supported Obama's fledgling political efforts said the heady circumstances confirm their early faith in him, although some expressed mixed feelings that the 45-year-old Obama could be
whisked away from his home state so soon.
Clemonds said she thinks he probably should wait another four years. But other boosters from Obama’s past say he should pursue the presidency in 2008, rather than wait for 2012, because the momentum could fade.
“There is a time, and his time seems to be now,” said Shawneetown farmer Kappy Scates, 68, who met Obama at a February 1997 benefit dinner in Chicago, when Obama was a freshly sworn state senator. “I would like to see him run because we’re in such a mess right now.”
Sheila Simon of Carbondale said she is amazed at the variety of people who have expressed interest in Obama. She is the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, who befriended Obama when he was a young state legislator.
“Because people know of my connection to Barack, I get a lot of people going out of their way to say ‘Hey, would you tell him to go for it?’” Simon said. “What’s interesting is the number of people who preface it with, ‘I am a conservative Republican’ or ‘I’ve never thought about saying this about a Democrat before.’”
Kent Redfield, a political scientist at the University of Illinois at Springfield, admits he didn’t see the phenomenon coming. He worked with Obama and other state lawmakers on a campaign-finance reform package in the late 1990s.
“Long-term, I thought, this guy is going somewhere, but to say lighting would strike in terms of the U.S. Senate race and the convention - no,” Redfield said.
Obama, an initial underdog in the U.S. Senate primary, benefited when a Democratic front-runner’s campaign imploded amid allegations about his personal life. Obama later attracted national attention for a speech he made at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. It highlighted his background as the son of a white mother and an African father and featured the phrase “the audacity of hope” - later the title of his second best-selling book.
Barbara Van Auken of Peoria said a crowd of 1,200 showed up to see Obama when he appeared locally in 2006 - in dramatic contrast to the 20 people who attended a campaign stop he made in January 2004. She said she was stunned after seeing him speak that first time.
“I don’t know if anyone there had a clue who he was or what his background was,” Van Auken said.
Dan Shomon, a longtime political aide to Obama, said Obama always has been able to relate to different groups. But he said Obama honed his people skills during his six years in the Illinois Senate.
“In the old days, Barack would give you a clinical analysis,” Shomon said. “He was always a brilliant lawyer and policy wonk, but his skills as a politician went from a C to an A-plus.”
Among his admirers in the state Senate was a colleague from across the aisle, Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale. He said he and other Illinois GOP members may face a dilemma if Obama takes the plunge in 2008.
“Many Republicans and independents would be for Obama because he’s from Illinois,” Dillard said. “Even though I’m a big fan of his, I want to see who (the Republican) nominee might be. But I think that Senator Obama is great for Illinois, and I put Illinois first, above partisan politics.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reader Comments - 7 comments
spfldexpatlivingingermany wrote at 12/31/2006 7:36:30 AM
The seduction has begun. His is an excellent example of what happens when a sincere person enters the politcal arena and is exposed to the necessity of comprimising value to get things done. I hope he runs because hilary needs to work at the nimination instead thinking her name will get her by. A Powell/Rice v. Clinton/Barack contest would be one to see.
J.W. from Springpatch wrote at 12/31/2006 7:43:49 AM
Is his middle name really Huessain? Go Barack !
IL Citizen wrote at 12/31/2006 7:56:36 AM
If Obama is so ethical, principled, and honest, why did he align himself with the Chicago mob when he did. He is backed by Mayor Daley and has several ties with Rezko, and then chose Chicago to be his homeplace. Folks, the writing is on the wall. Cellini will be calling all the shots if Obama is elected. Actions speak louder than all the speeches the man can give. It's sad because the U.S. needs a LEADER who the American people believe in, but it will be more of the same with Obama. He has already been "bought and paid for." Sad, but true.
Get Real wrote at 12/31/2006 8:24:30 AM
It would be nice to see Obama come up with some ground breaking legislation or major policy or something before he is swept into any higher office than he has right now. Six years in the Illinois Senate and two years in the US Senate does not make him the second coming of anyone. I've yet to understand anything other than the spin machines working overtime what this guy stands for. More substance and less cotton candy would have to be shown before he would get my vote. What's his voting record in the US Senate, how many time has he missed a roll call, has he voted bi-partisan or just played follow the leader, these are all questions that need to be answered before he is anointed.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/104207.asp
posted by presgore19 at 8:46 AM
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