Last night the Louisville Jefferson County Democratic Party threw a pep rally complete with popcorn, a huge crowd, speeches, music, yard signs, cookies, and special guest
Barack Obama. Approximately 8,000 people filled the stands at Slugger Field in support of our local Democratic candidates such as
Jerry Abramson,
Irv Maze,
Tony Lindauer, David Nicholson,
Vicki Welch,
Doug Goodman,
Amy Shir (my favorite candidate), and the gentleman seeking to gain the seat in KY-03,
John Yarmuth.
The festivities started around 6:00 pm with us being reminded that
the path to victory begins in Louisville and
it is time to get to work.
Following the invocation, one of the Young Democrats led us in the Star Spangled Banner (and she - unlike
Dennis Hastert - actually knew the words and could sing in key!). A Democratic Chorus also provided entertainment, singing selected songs including "America the Beautiful". Several campaign commercials played on the jumbotron in left field prior to a stream of local democratic officials taking their turn on stage.
The musical headliners for the evening were Nappy Roots, hometown favorites with a history of political activism.
After the hip-hop artists left the stage, Irv Maze introduced our Mayor for Life, Jerry Abramson who spoke for a few minutes before inviting John Yarmuth to the podium.Yarmuth reminded the audience that "government should work for everyone not just millionaires and Exxon". Repeatedly, he tied his opponent - Anne Northup - to George Bush's policies with the crowd booing on cue. He further elaborated that Louisville's representative shouldn't be a rubber stamp for this president or any other president. Keeping with the theme of "It's time to get to work", Yarmuth told an enthusiastic crowd, "Together we have the power to change the country" and urged everyone to work hard knocking on doors and making phone calls.
Finally after much anticipation, Barack entered the stadium to much fanfare and welcomed everyone saying, "It's good to be back with some commonsense Midwestern folks". He discussed the cynicism surrounding politics because of broken promises and it's evolution towards a business and away from a mission. People no longer have a sense that government makes a difference in their lives and instead just hope that their government isn't harmful. After reflecting on our country's accomplishments during the past century, the senator explained, "We have government because some things we do better together than on our own". He outlined the current administration's adherence to Social Darwinism, and its absence of any mutual responsibility, before asking, "Who are we as a people? What do we stand for?" Will we operate on the basis of selfishness and fear or community and hope? Barack reminded the cheering throng that this election is an effort to take back our future, and encouraged every candidate to focus on the two word phrase: "HAD ENOUGH?" The people broke out in applause, standing in unison in the aisles. In quick succession, Barack expressed his frustration with No Child Left Behind, our health care crisis, and the fear mongering taking place in our country. After discussing the need for a "tough and smart foreign policy" he stated that war is sometimes an option because there's a need to protect ourselves but if we fight it's because we have to fight, not because we're perusing some fantasy about recreating the Middle East.
Barack concluded his message by reminding his admiring audience that Democrats know what they stand for such as living wages, decent health care, education, and sound foreign policy. As the previous speakers had done, he challenged the listeners to get to work stating, "If we've had enough....what are we going to do about it?!"