Yesterday my daughter and I went to the Obama event in Louisville. We were there as part of the press, the campaigns are trying to reach out to the bloggers. So they give press credentials to anyone that asks for them.If you want a fairly accurate account of the event check out Ryan Alessi’s story in the Herald-Leader.
And now for a sort of Gonzo Journalism moment:
The media email on the event said the doors opened at 5:00 pm, so being part of the official media for once we arrived about 4:45. The line to get in was strung around three sides of the Louisville convention center and the police had on street blocked off. Of course there was no warning the street was blocked thus causing the mandatory traffic screw up such an event demands.
After paying five bucks to park the car across the street we found the first person wearing an official “CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN” helper badge and asked where the press check-in was located. The wanted to know if we were “special guests.”
“No ma’am we’re the press”, so we were told to go to the end of the building and take a right to the press entrance. After hiking around the building we ended up as the same place without finding a press entrance.
We asked a second helper the same question and got the same answer. They looked confused when we told them they were wrong, so they went for backup with helper number three. Number three actually didn’t know where the entrance was either but he had seen the TV station vans on the street so he guessed the entrance was near them.
Good guess.
After getting past two state troopers by forcefully saying “We’re the Press” (they were underwhelmed), we found two guys sitting at a table under a metal stairway.
After getting past two state troopers by forcefully saying “We’re the Press” (they were underwhelmed), we found two guys sitting at a table under a metal stairway.
The stairway guys wanted to see our Press ID’s; quickly thinking I pulled out a business card with the web site on it. My able assistant said I was too cheap to give her business cards. That coupled with the huge camera she was carrying, the one with the 2 foot lens, did the trick, they knew we were the press.
So, with our press passes safety pinned to our shirts, up the stairs we went to the next level of security. On the landing were a small female officer with the magic airport wand, a large male officer and an even larger dog. After being appropriately frisked by the female guard and assessed as possible dinner by the dog we were allowed into the press section.
The press section covered the rear area of the hall on two sides. There were two sets of risers on each side with two levels on each riser. The one with the best view was given to the national media. The only lights were on the stage and the only bathrooms in the place were in the press section.
So, with our press passes safety pinned to our shirts, up the stairs we went to the next level of security. On the landing were a small female officer with the magic airport wand, a large male officer and an even larger dog. After being appropriately frisked by the female guard and assessed as possible dinner by the dog we were allowed into the press section.
The press section covered the rear area of the hall on two sides. There were two sets of risers on each side with two levels on each riser. The one with the best view was given to the national media. The only lights were on the stage and the only bathrooms in the place were in the press section.
Was that a commentary on the media, in the dark and full of it?
Tables were set up for the media, there was no WIFI and the bloggers were at the last table in the corner of the room. The usual gang of suspects was there, PageOne, Bluegrass Roots and Barefoot and Progressive.
Rock music was blaring from the PA system as the mainstream media posed for their cameramen; it was a Ted Baxter moment.
After paying $2.50 a bottle for water, (where was the free beer, wasn’t this a Democratic event), we scoped out the best place to watch the show.
We decided that standing beside the national media riser and pretending to be national media gave us the best view. It is amazing the credibility a camera with a two foot lens can give you.
Then we discovered that not only were the national press guys closer to the stage but they were setup behind the seating for the physically challenged.
Tables were set up for the media, there was no WIFI and the bloggers were at the last table in the corner of the room. The usual gang of suspects was there, PageOne, Bluegrass Roots and Barefoot and Progressive.
Rock music was blaring from the PA system as the mainstream media posed for their cameramen; it was a Ted Baxter moment.
After paying $2.50 a bottle for water, (where was the free beer, wasn’t this a Democratic event), we scoped out the best place to watch the show.
We decided that standing beside the national media riser and pretending to be national media gave us the best view. It is amazing the credibility a camera with a two foot lens can give you.
Then we discovered that not only were the national press guys closer to the stage but they were setup behind the seating for the physically challenged.
As the Seating Nazi who commanded this area told a helper, “If they aren’t in a wheel chair, walker or on crutches don’t let them in.” She did an admirable job of policing her area and allowing only the disabled and one companion was to sit in the area and everyone had to sit down.
After watching the place fill up, signs distributed, a couple of t-shirts flung into the crown, and the petite blond secret service agent, (if everyone in the hall knows what you do, how secret is it?) patrol the stage the show started with Ben Chandler.
After strolling down the runway to the stage Chandler got the crowd riled up, and made a couple of plugs for John Yarmuth and worked the crowd as he left the stage. By the way where the hell was Yarmuth anyway?
Next on the program was Mark Dowd, at least that what I think his name was, anyway we’ll call him Union Guy. Union Guy provided the aw’ shucks factor for the evening. He talked about the cut backs at Ford in Louisville and provided Obama with his union label and did the introduction.
Barack Obama is one hell of a public speaker. Of course it’s easier when you are preaching to the choir. He hit some of the main notes he had previously used in Lexington and some new ones, check out the Herald-Leader story.
During his speech two people fainted. After gently lobbing a $2.50 bottle of water in the general direction of the first casualty, the second one didn’t get the souvenir bottle of water just the EMT’s, he didn’t miss a beat in the speech.
Obama wrapped up the evening with a cheering crowd.
After watching the place fill up, signs distributed, a couple of t-shirts flung into the crown, and the petite blond secret service agent, (if everyone in the hall knows what you do, how secret is it?) patrol the stage the show started with Ben Chandler.
After strolling down the runway to the stage Chandler got the crowd riled up, and made a couple of plugs for John Yarmuth and worked the crowd as he left the stage. By the way where the hell was Yarmuth anyway?
Next on the program was Mark Dowd, at least that what I think his name was, anyway we’ll call him Union Guy. Union Guy provided the aw’ shucks factor for the evening. He talked about the cut backs at Ford in Louisville and provided Obama with his union label and did the introduction.
Barack Obama is one hell of a public speaker. Of course it’s easier when you are preaching to the choir. He hit some of the main notes he had previously used in Lexington and some new ones, check out the Herald-Leader story.
During his speech two people fainted. After gently lobbing a $2.50 bottle of water in the general direction of the first casualty, the second one didn’t get the souvenir bottle of water just the EMT’s, he didn’t miss a beat in the speech.
Obama wrapped up the evening with a cheering crowd.
Being in true journalist mode we wrapped up the evening in an Irish Pub.
