UPDATE: Barack Obama's address at the Milwaukee rally lasted 14 MINUTES!
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Introduced by a worker from a paper mill being shut down in Kimberly, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama praised the record of organized labor but took out time Monday night to urge support for hurricane relief efforts in the South.
He called on the Labor Day crowd on the Lake Michigan shore to donate through the Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Gustav - and keep the same spirit of giving and sharing throughout the year.
"What makes us great is that we rise and fall as one nation," Obama said. "The spirit that we extend today and in the days to come ... that's a spirit we need in our homes and that's a spirit we need in the White House."
The largely union crowd responded with cheers and the chant of "Yes we can."
...Calls for Obama's election came in introductory remarks by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Gov. Jim Doyle, Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, among others.
Feingold praised Obama's judgment in declaring at the start that the Iraq war was "a dumb idea."
While Supreme Court decisions over the years have eroded workers' rights, "Barack Obama will have the wisdom to appoint people who will respect those rights and make sure they're protected," Feingold said.
Barrett, Doyle, Kohl, and Feingold were all there. That's quite a line-up of Wisconsin Democrats. I guess they'll do anything to keep labor happy, and Obama, of course.
I'm somewhat surprised that Kohl showed up. It's not basketball season yet. Isn't he usually in hibernation at this time of year?
But only 14 minutes of Obama!
People standed in line for hours to get tickets for the event. Fourteen minutes?
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The Obama campaign is noting that Barack Obama is making his second visit to Wisconsin in two weeks.
From WisPolitics:
Madison, Wis.—U.S. Sen. Barack Obama will return to Wisconsin tomorrow, Labor Day, to headline a Rally for America’s Workers in Milwaukee. The trip comes on the heels of Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he spoke directly to America about the choice we face in this election. Obama will continue to lay out his plans to provide real relief for working families and discuss why we can’t afford four more years of the same old politics and the same old policies, which is all that John McCain is offering. The event will be held at the Marcus Amphitheater and will be open to the public, though a free ticket is required. Unfortunately, tickets are no longer available.
The visit is Obama’s second to Wisconsin in as many weeks. Last Sunday, August 24, Obama worshipped at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire and joined area residents for a Sunday Picnic-style discussion on revitalizing our economy and lifting up America’s middle class.
That's right. I remember now. That was when after church, Obama slipped up and said "hell" instead of his usual "heck" when he was addressing a small group of invited guests.
Details for today's event:
Monday September 1
Milwaukee, WI
RALLY FOR AMERICA’S WORKERS WITH BARACK OBAMA
Marcus Ampitheater
200 North Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Doors Open: 3:00 PM
Program Begins: 6:00 PM
The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are REQUIRED. Unfortunately, tickets are no longer available.
***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***
Barack Obama has been in Wisconsin recently, but he hasn't visited Milwaukee since way, way back on February 16, 2008.
That was when he delivered his "Just words" speech and drew criticism for his Joe Biden-esque plagiaristic moment.
It's also been a while since Michelle Obama has been in Milwaukee. It was at her February appearance at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater that she said:
Barack understands that what we're lacking in this nation are will and hope. Our souls are broken.
Our nation lacks will? "Our souls are broken"? No and no.
Of course, one of Michelle's most infamous moments of the campaign came in Madison in February, when she said:
For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction. And just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic, common issues and it's made me proud.
But I digress.
After a long absence, Obama is finally returning to Milwaukee for a political rally. Is he bringing some pieces from his Invesco Field set? Maybe a column or two?
More importantly, is it appropriate for him to be campaigning today at all, what with Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast?
Shouldn't he scale back his appearances and his political rhetoric?
Is that just required of the Republicans?
4 comments:
The republicans are scaling back their giant celebration because partying like rock stars while people are driven from their homes by the storm of the century is bad form. Obama, on the other hand, is continuing to do his job. If he should stop campaigning out of respect, should businesses across the country all shut down for the week too? Maybe you could lead the charge by cutting back on your blogging while we wait for the storm to hit.
Bush looks as out of place in the Hurricane zone today as he did out of it when Katrina hit.
Obama hasn't made many trips to Wisconsin because he has a ten point lead here.
If it's ok for republicans it's ok for dems.
Palin's 17 year old daughter is preggers btw.
Obama only spoke for 14 minutes!
It hardly seems worth the jet fuel.
Obama and Biden were going to tone down the political rhetoric a bit because of Gustav. Obama did focus on Gustav in Milwaukee, along with labor.
Biden, however, reportedly kept up his attacks. I guess he couldn't help himself.
Obama shouldn't take Wisconsin for granted. Poll numbers can change quickly. Maybe his confidence comes from Wisconsin being so voter fraud-friendly. I don't know.
Yes, Palin's daughter is pregnant. She's not going to abort the baby. She's going to marry the baby's father. She's going to take responsibility for her actions.
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