NewsLocal supporters impressed by speech
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing EditorFifteen local residents and a staffer for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama shared history at the home of Justin and Ivy Tuck in Keokuk Thursday evening.
For some like Frederick Seay of Keokuk, Obama's nomination was an event they weren't sure they would see in their lifetime. The Illinois senator became the first African American to be nominated by a major political party for the country's highest office. Ironically, his nomination in Denver, Colo., came 45 years to the day after the late Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. “It's an emotional thing to see a black man nominated,” said Seay, who watched King's speech on television as a youth. “I didn't know if I'd see an African American nominated as a president in my lifetime.” Seay, who grew up in Shreveport, La., can still remember segregated schools and blacks being forced to sit in the balconies of movie theaters. “Barack speaks well and touches feelings,” Seay commented. “He seems to have the ability to draw people together.” The historic aspect of Thursday night's event wasn't lost on Jim Vandenberg, a retired civics teacher who didn't believe he'd see an African American receive a major political party's presidential nomination in his lifetime. “He's extremely intelligent and he has a strong faith,” said Vandenberg, referring to Obama. “He accepts and loves people.” Obama drew applause from his local supporters throughout his acceptance speech before about 75,000 people in a Denver football stadium. Not only did they applaud when Obama saluted Sen. Hillary Clinton, his chief rival throughout the hard fought primary season, but also when he introduced his vice presidential selection, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. “I love how he (Biden) has his family around,” said Jacqie Jones. “I think she's (Obama's wife, Michelle) beautiful.” The group at the Tucks' house also indicated agreement when Obama referred to soon-to-be Republican presidential nominee John McCain's judgment when McCain has voted with President George Bush 90 percent of the time. Obama also got a few laughs when he said it's not that McCain doesn't care, rather it's that he doesn't know. After listing what he would do as president, Obama got another favorable reaction when he attributed his and his wife's success so far to a good education. His line that he wants equal pay for equal work so “that my daughters are paid the same as your sons for the same work” also got a good response from the local audience. Some of the biggest response came when Obama criticized McCain for “not following bin Laden to the cave where he lives” and addressed the patriotism issue by saying “we all put our country first.” Obama's observation that “change doesn't come from Washington, it comes to Washington” also got a positive response from his local supporters. After Obama's speech, Vandenberg told some fellow supporters “he (Obama) really believes what he's talking about” and evoked the memory of the late President John F. Kennedy. Another supporter, Tara Sparrow, clearly was touched by Obama's speech. “It was pretty moving,” she said as the party wound down. “I can remember four years ago when Barack spoke (at the Democratic National Convention). I looked at my friend and said, ‘This guy should be president of the United States.'” Obama should keep pointing out the differences between him and McCain, Sparrow said. “Obama nailed it tonight, but he needs to keep going through the distinctions. I think he is the right man for the job. I went to London a couple of months ago and the question I got the most was, ‘What do you think of Bush? They are not behind McCain. They asked whether Obama can restore America. They know America is broken.” As he was leaving, Carl Pflug of Keokuk said, “I thought it (Obama's speech) was real well done. Can we do all this? I don't know, but we have to start.” Copyright © 2010 - Daily Gate City
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