Obama Town Hall Meeting 03.18.09 (Costa Mesa)

A couple days ago, it was announced that President Obama would be traveling to Southern California and appearing in two Town Hall meetings. My friend Cate (right, who did serious volunteering and traveling for his campaign) acquired some tickets for the Costa Mesa stop, and invited me along with Anderson (and fellow hardcore Obama supporter and family friend) to the event.


Tickets were free but very hard to come by. When we got to the Orange County Fairground around 12:30, there was a sizable line and more than a few entrepreneurs selling T-shirts, water, and other goods. I thought the home of Wally George might have yielded some protesters, but none showed up. We waited in the main line until Cate received a call from a friend inside who directed us to another gate.


From the alternative gate, we blended in with a group of volunteers and reached the entrance. Everyone was subject to metal detectors, and no one was allowed to bring in anything larger than a clutch purse. We scored some unobstructed front-row seats off to the podium's left with an awesome view (but were kind of hot from the spotlights). The event was scheduled to begin at 4:00, and was preceded by the Pledge of Allegiance by a Marine, a prayer by a Rabbi, "God Bless America" by a local church member, and an introduction by a nearby construction company owner.


Even in the heavily Republican Orange County, Obama emerged to a huge ovation. The audience spilled into the aisle to take pictures, girls screamed at the top of their lungs, and an "O-BAM-A" chant began. POTUS handled it pretty coolly--not encouraging it, but accepting it with humility and good humor. I'm guessing tomorrow's talk in L.A. will have harder core security. I can't see them allowing people to run up and take pictures... I can't imagine regular folks like us will be in the first rows, either. They'll probably be filled with with celebs, donors, etc.


This is pretty much the view we had for the event. Obama gave a short and spirited speech touching on the economy, health care, and energy. During one of the many breaks for applause, he flashed a shaka to Cate and Anderson. I'd like to think I got some second-hand Aloha from the Leader of the Free World by sitting next to them.


The Q&A was incredible to witness. Everyone knows that the 44th President is an excellent orator, but seeing him answer totally random questions so effectively and matter-of-factly on the fly was amazing, inspiring, and hopeful. He is a very smart man with a serious plan, but he was able to mix in some chit-chat and humor with the greatest of ease. Check out the transcript and video here. (Look for the shaka around 15:20.)


When I studied civics in high school--not too far away from Costa Mesa during the tail end of the Reagan years--government seemed very distant. To ever be 30 feet away from the Commander-in-Chief was improbable. To be sitting with friends who know the man was unthinkable. To have a leader like Obama, who has the potential to undo the economic meltdown, social division, and political bitterness that started in the trickle-down era, is exciting as hell.