Obama in Brooklyn: Grassroots-style

After paying $25 dollars to hear Senator Barack Obama speak at the Brooklyn Marriott, Miss Cheapist decides to enter the realm of political punditry, and contribute her observations.

Confession: while she is a regular voter, Miss Cheapist maintains a love-hate relationship with elections, keeping a distance in ways that betray the potential of Gen Y, the last hope for civic participation since the drop-off noted by Robert Putnam from the 1960s. Perhaps one could characterize her ambivalence as “political cheapness.” Realizing her limitations, (maybe she should have camped out in Ohio in ’04), Miss Cheapist attended the event because after reading Dreams of My Father and following Obama's senatorial victory, she felt some stirrings that America was ready for something new. Maybe she even had the ‘audacity to hope’ for a future in this country that embraced ambiguity and the intellect, and was willing to engage in unscripted, productive conversations about race, class and responsibility within the national and international realm.

While it was awe-inspiring to be in a room with the latest celebrity candidate and be surrounded by such a diverse group of potentially inspired people, little things kept reminding Miss Cheapist just how cheap her tickets were. Senator Obama presents himself as being the product of a grassroots movement, and there are probably many engaged with his campaign who had lost faith in leaders years ago, or never felt they had a voice. Still…why did grassroots have to feel so low-budget? Doesn’t the everyday voter deserve some respect and comfort in the political process?

Miss Cheapist would have been happy to hear him outdoors in front of Borough Hall, as his optimism and diction seemed well suited to the echoes of downtown Brooklyn--but, that was not an option. Miss Cheapist bought her ticket from a nice campaign rep via email, waited in line outside for over an hour just to enter the Marriott, and after being asked to show ID, was crammed into a large, hot, room with no chairs, unable to see the stage that would hold the guest-of-honor. Potentially, he could be the next President of the United States. But nobody under six feet really needed to see him.

Miss Cheapist expected live streaming video projected onto large elevated flat screen monitors sharing Obama's visage with everyone. This is a technology that has become de rigeur in churches with large congregations that rival the audience at the Marriott that day for that same purpose of restoring faith through personality. But no. She only saw him shifting between the backs of people's heads and shoulders. In contrast, the press corps and cameramen had a special platform that allowed them an unobstructed view, ready to bring Obama, unfettered, to the television screens of America, perpetuating the illusion that he truly belongs to everyone. Meanwhile, those interested in hearing him without the interference of media personalities were treated like cattle.

Miss Cheapist doesn’t want to lay blame. Committed and talented people run the campaign, of course. And the event was an earnest effort to include as many people as possible. After all, everyone who is anyone lives in Brooklyn now. It’s important to get involved! According to The Brooklyn Paper online, Obama attended a private fundraising party on Tuesday night, prior to the Marriott, at a mansion in Brooklyn Heights, adding to the $61,000+ he has raised from that neighborhood alone (all necessary funds, no question). In addition to food and drink, Miss Cheapist is certain that this elite group of guests had direct, personal contact with Obama, and seats were probably available, when they wished to appreciate him from afar.

Of course, Miss Cheapist does not wish to trade her experience. Being in a room of thousands, all seeking some kind of connection to the political process was certainly moving, and it was interesting to observe that not everyone had made up their minds. The room was filled with curiosity, as if people wanted to experience the Senator for themselves, hear his strategy, insight and intonations, perhaps test his sincerity. The people were the true celebrities of that evening, and Obama worked hard to win them over, and speak to their issues, touching on gas prices, CEO vs. teacher salaries, an end to the war and the closing of Guantanamo Bay. His ideas were met with applause and shouts of affirmation. Still, this event intended for “everyday working people,” as Obama referred to the audience, also unintentionally pointed out in uncomfortable ways the inequalities that exist among voters. It proved again, in our democracy, sometimes you don’t get what you pay for. Or maybe the people just haven’t paid enough.