A morning with Barack Obama

I got to shake Barack Obama’s hand on Thursday. It was a nice firm shake. His fingers are long and thin. The back of his hand is veiny, but the palm of his hand is very, very smooth. He looked into my eyes and flashed that Hollywood smile right at me. I was charmed. So much so, that it took about an hour for me to regain my equilibrium.


Here’s the story….Obama spoke at the Austin Convention Center at a so-called “Town Hall Meeting” on Thursday (the night after Bill Clinton spoke at UT). Obama people were passing out tickets for the event on campus. David picked up a couple of tickets. I later read that only 2,000 tickets were passed out.

I have been following this election with great interest. I usually love candidates, products, and services that are symbolic and emotional, yet I don’t “get” Obama. I wanted to go to see him in person because I wanted to try to understand the Obama movement. I wanted to feel the love and sing ‘Kum Ba Ya’ with all of his supporters.

David and I arrived late to the Austin Convention Center. David needed to make a pit stop. I went on ahead of him and told him I would meet him inside the meeting hall.

Everyone walked through a metal detector and had his or her belongings checked before entering the hall. I was a little disoriented when I walked in. Last time I was at the Austin Convention Center, the entire building was filled with Katrina refugees. I worked as a volunteer sorting donated clothes and folding towels. Instead of rows and rows of cots, this time I saw people sitting in stadium style bleachers arranged around a podium in the middle of the hall. The room was full of quiet energy as everyone waited for Obama to come out.

I made my way to one of the bleachers and waited for David to join me. A few minutes later, one of the event organizers came up to my area and announced that he had one seat available on the first row right behind Obama. This person would be part of the backdrop for the cameras. “Any takers?” he asked. All of us sitting there looked at each other. The woman next to me looked at me and said, “Go for it.” So I did.

This young man escorted me into the roped off, secured area right behind the podium. We passed those very interesting secret service guys, then he pointed to my seat. Yep. I was on the first row. Nothing between me and the back of Senator Obama. I had my camera and video. I was ready to go.

When Obama came out, everyone rushed to the ropes to get a better view. With my camera rolling, I got some amazing video footage. The crowd went wild. My heart was beating. My hands were shaking. I felt like a rock star was walking in.

The actual speech had few applause lines and more policy statements. I later read that his Austin appearance was a departure from his usual high-energy stump speeches.

With the cameras pointed at Obama and on to me, I was very aware of my role as a prop. I tried to clap on cue like everyone else. I actually did make it on the 6:00 and 10:00 local news. I was only on the screen for about 5 seconds, but I recorded the news, so I can pause and watch myself in amazement.

At the end of the speech, Obama started working the crowd. He was shaking hands and holding babies. As he got closer to me, I could hear the secret service men tell everyone not to push. He got closer and closer and closer to me. I put my hand out. Barack shook it. We smiled at each other. The women next to me squealed when he shook her hand. Marvin Gaye was playing on the loud speakers. I was feeling the love.

Here are some pictures from the Obama event. Please excuse the quality of the pictures. I need a better camera.

The press pool.









The cameras.









Obama’s podium.












Obama’s back.









Obama’s face (in a tight, unfocused, close-up).









Here is one of my first attempts at a YouTube video. Enjoy.