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April 09, 2008
Hand Picked Crowd To Sit Behind Speaker Michelle Obama "get me more white people"
Michelle Obama arrived at Skibo Gymnasium to the cheering of a crowd of students from Carnegie Mellon and community members from all over Pittsburgh. She spoke specifically of her husband’s campaign. (image credit: J.W. Ramp/Photo Editor)
Michelle Obama speaks at presidential rally in Skibo Gym
by Andrew Peters
Only a week after her husband drew throngs to Soldiers and Sailors, Michelle Obama wooed a small crowd at Skibo Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Skibo’s risers were packed with community members and students from many of Pittsburgh’s universities. The rally was staffed by volunteers from a number of Carnegie Mellon student organizations, including Carnegie Mellon Students for Barack Obama, Student Senate, AB Political Speakers, and College Democrats.
Helping Students for Obama lead the crowd in cheers of “Ready to go” was Steve Sovern, a professional mediator from just outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who got excited enough about the campaign to travel to Pennsylvania and rally for Mrs. Obama. Sovern, alongside student volunteers, built up a palpable excitement around Mrs. Obama’s speech.
“I’ve been here since 11 a.m. setting up and it’s been amazing. It feels like [Barack] Obama is coming,” said sophomore social and decision sciences major Rotimi Abimbola, a leader of Students for Obama who had only a few days to coordinate the event.
While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama’s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan’s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another,
“Get me more white people, we need more white people.” To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, “We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.”
“I didn’t know they would say, ‘We need a white person here,’ ” said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. “I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn’t know it would be so outright.”
Mrs. Obama was introduced by Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of former Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry (D–Mass.), who endorsed Mr. Obama’s candidacy in South Carolina last January.
Heinz Kerry stressed the similarities between Mr. Obama and her late husband John Heinz III, the popular senator from Pennsylvania. She remarked that she has become friends with Mrs. Obama, mainly from exchanging messages on their Blackberries.
Mrs. Obama spoke about her husband’s triumphs over adversity throughout his life, focusing on the decisions he had made that, she said, set him apart from his opponent, Hillary Clinton. As the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review, Mrs. Obama said, Mr. Obama could have been successful in the private sector, but chose to go into community organization instead.
“When you’re given the gift of advocacy, you don’t sell it to the highest bidder,” Mrs. Obama said. Mrs. Obama stressed how her husband has relied on “regular folks” instead of big donors.
Instead of thousand-dollar donations, the Obama campaign has raised millions on small checks of $20 to $50. Mrs. Obama sees this participatory attitude as a new trend.
“Folks have been engaged in a way they have not been before. People sit around the TV with their 5-year-olds watching debates.”
Mrs. Obama was careful to note that the Obamas, both of whom are Harvard-educated lawyers and who together own a million-dollar home in Illinois, grew up under difficult conditions.
“In my house, there were no miracles. All I saw was hard work and sacrifice,” Mrs. Obama said, speaking of her youth. “My father did not complain and went to work every single day.”
Most of Mrs. Obama’s statements were met with cheers and enthusiastic support, especially the televised crowd, many of whom were long-time fans of Mr. Obama.
One attendee, Joanne Plummer, a resident of Wilkinsburg, has been waiting a long time for an Obama presidency.
“Four years ago, when I first saw him speak for Kerry, I just knew — this man will be president,” Plummer said.
Wild Thing's comment........
Oh my gosh! I always thought they set up seating for the camera to show a varied support for a candidate, but I never heard anyone that would say it like that in my life. LOL
There just isn't an ounce of class in the left for either of the candidates or their mates. And I will include their staff as well.
Posted by Wild Thing at April 9, 2008 02:50 AM
Comments
White people aren't going to vote for your hubby, Michelle. Yes, we watch the debates with our 5 year olds, that's true, but we watch them so they learn what is right and what is wrong.
And baby, you are wrong.
You had it easy compared to what others had in life and you would keep them on the public dole all their lives instead of helping them to get off the government help and do for themselves.
What was your daddy's job anyway?
Posted by: Lynn at April 9, 2008 05:32 AM
You are so spot on WT. Racism at it's finest and they do it in front of the camera. I was at another site yesterday and it was mentioned that Condi Rice would be a good VP pick for McCain. Not my choice, I think she represents the UN's interests more than those of the US, but under the circumstances imagine how balistic the left would be if that would happen. Rice has all the qualifications, the smarts, the personality, the diplomatic experience she is black and female. Insurmountable qualifications by the Democrat equal rights standards in that if they attacked Condi they would be indirectly attacking their very own Hillary or Hussein, further exposing their core beliefs.
Posted by: Jack at April 9, 2008 09:16 AM
Mrs Obama has now become a celebrity. She seems to be eating it up. However, her racism shows as does her disdain for America. Those that attend her rallies are stalwart supporters and won't change. However, her words and attitude are being noted by many other Americans. Michelle may actually causing Obama to lose a lot of votes. Let's hope she keeps her mouth motoring.
Posted by: TomR at April 9, 2008 10:53 AM
How come General George S. Patton Jr. never stayed in a GREEN ZONE, nor Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, nor Robert E. Lee?
Where have you gone GEORGE......?
* "General Hap Arnold is the only one who understands the Mongols except for me. But the rest are waking up."
* "The number of cases of "war wearies" (the new name for cowardice) and self-inflicted wounds have dropped materially since we got moving. People like to play on a winning team."
* "We must keep moving. Do not sit down. Do not say, "I have done enough." Always see what else you can do to raise HELL with the enemy... Continually go FORWARD."
I'll stop now Bear Nation... so much for PC Non-Engagement Warfare, whose HQ is Washington DC!
-- The Unknown Patton, By Charles M. Province (1983)
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at April 9, 2008 11:34 AM
'We need mo whiteee Peopo' talk about racists, these people take the prize. They're going to force diversity down our throats whether we like it or not.
This is nothing more than Jessi Jackson's 'Rainbow Coalition' only problem is White doesn't seem to fit this Rainbow.
Posted by: Mark at April 9, 2008 02:11 PM
Told ya Michelle was a burka babe loyalist down deep inside! OBAMA ACKBAR?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at April 10, 2008 12:30 AM
If the Obama team really wants diversity at events for photo-ops then they should try and recruit people of any color that are proud of their country every day without reservation. Lotsa Luck! Patriots can't be tricked, particularly, for the likes of Michelle and Barack Obama.
Posted by: Les at April 10, 2008 01:03 AM
Lynn....."And baby, you are wrong.".....Lynn you are awesome I love it!
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:06 AM
Jack, yuk Condi Rice. He better pick someone that we will like, somone conservatives will approve of NOT what he wants. At least do this for America if he cares at all.
This is all so frustrating.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:10 AM
Tom, I hope so too, she c an yakity yak all she wants and bury herself in her hate for whites and America.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:13 AM
Darth, yes I agree love all you put in your first comment, oh and your second commnet...yes about Michelle she sure is.
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:15 AM
Mark, it sure doesn't!
( shaking my head at all of this and wondering if I will wake up and it all will be better) haha
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:17 AM
Les, yes she doesn't want us. hahaha We love America too much and I don't want her and her hubby either. hahaha
I want them GONE!
Posted by: Wild Thing at April 10, 2008 02:19 AM
