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August 22, 2004

In Roanoke - Remembering Edwards in Raleigh

As I was sitting at John Edwards' town hall meeting in Roanoke, I couldn't help remembering when he gave his "That's all for now and thanks" speech in Raleigh last year. Roanoke had a smaller room, smaller crowd, but just as boisterous and loud, but, this time, we had seats. Both times traffic was cumbersome, we stood in line to get in, and the heat from the sun was sweltering.

The organizers were making sure everyone had tickets and sat in the right sections. The media was poised on the platform in the rear of the room facing the stage, cameras at the ready. A very welcomed thing was that it started on time.

Governor Warner, in beige kaki slacks, cotton shirt and blue blazer (sans tie) entered the stage first to a standing ovation. After saying a few nice words, he introduced "the next Vice-President of the United States."

John Edwards', in green kaki slacks, cotton shirt, and blue blazer (sans tie)- the unofficial Party uniform, I thought -- stood before a standing, screaming, clapping crowd. With his boyish smile, he thanked the crowd several times, and I remembered how much more magnetism he has in person, if that's possible.

I remembered that I stood beside the CNN camera crew in Raleigh as one of the camera men told me what a great guy Edwards is, and he ought to know as he spent 40 days on a bus with him. Everyone in that large auditorium in Raleigh felt crushed that day. Now, John Edwards stood in front of us once more, this time explaining his fondness for Virginians - families with the same values who work hard and do the right thing, and "where people speak a little like me." This time he was delineating the plans he and Kerry had for bringing America back.

John Edwards reiterated what it is like to grow up poor in a small town. Now, he added to that that he and John Kerry want every American to have the same opportunity he had and explained how that will be possible.

He spoke about the recent ads tearing down John Kerry's military record and stated, "It's a lie." He said they were the same things George W. Bush used against John McCain in 2000 and that George Bush can stop the lies by telling those who are making them "to stop these ads." Edwards stated that the truth comes from the men who served with John Kerry.

Edwards graciously took questions, listening to every word that was being said as if the person asking was the only person in the auditorium. This is one of his great abilities. Another is his way of including the person in his answer while making his answer only as long as needed to make his point.

He talked about the economy, jobs, health insurance, education, Iraq, the military, helping small businesses, incentives to keep jobs at home and stated, "There's no place in American that can't compete with India."

When he finished, the crowd was on its feet. Then Edwards shook hands and said a few words with those on the stage. He then came into the crowd -- right up the aisle we were on. My son had brought his bomber jacket with the American flag and other things on it, and asked Senator Edwards to sign it, which the Senator graciously did. Now, alot of people surely wondered why a guy was wearing a leather bomber jacket on a sweltering day in August. He wore that jacket and he got Edwards' signature. It wasn't rigged. Somehow, my son just knew -- or as most of us would say, like Edwards, my son had a great deal of hope.

Posted by marlana at August 22, 2004 03:38 PM

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