Over and out
Sorry i didn't get to blog as much as hoped. We had technical difficulties. Catch more on Obama's visit in tomorrow's Forum.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 3:57 PM | Comments (4) | Permalink
Attendance
We just got word that there were 1,325 people here. Approximately 200 were veterans in the close seating.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 2:21 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Still around
Obama is visiting with people in the audience right now. Fans are lined up along the fence chanting and waving, hoping he comes to visit them next.
Jamie Selzler with the ND Dems hopes the party can get Obama back in October, if not a few more times.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 2:05 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Crowd interaction
From my count, Obama took seven questions from the audience, ranging from health care to Iran to education to the country's financial status. He wrapped up questions at 2 p.m. So, he talked from 1:04 to 1:21 and then took questions until 2 p.m.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 1:58 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Obama speech
Obama is highlighting his policies regarding veterans and thanking them for their work.
"Tomorrow were going to mark the Fourth of July with barbecues and parades and fireworks and time off with loved ones. Its always a special time. Were also going to have an opporunity to give thanks to our troops and to our veterans. Their sacrifices made possible the freedoms that we enjoy. Keeping with those who serve must always be at the core of America. Its a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism."
In the last eight years, the country has fallen short of serving its veterans, he said, pointing to conditions at Walter Reed hospital and veterans who are living in cardboard boxes "on a street corner in the richest nation on earth."
Obama talked about the broken bureacracy of the VA and repeated calls for help that "get nothing more than an answering machine."
"It does not have to be this way, not in this country," he said.
Obama pledged to build a 21st century VA, if he's elected, saying more centers are needed, particularly in rural areas, and more records need to be available electronically to veterans. There will be zero tolerance for veterans left to sleep on the streets, he said.
Obama also said more needs to be done to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. The country needs to enhance mental health screening and treatment at all levels for veterans and needs more mental health professionals who are trained to recognize the signs, he said.
The country also needs to improve screening and treatment for traumatic brain injuries, he said.
Regarding military families, he said there needs to be more counseling and resources to help families cope with multiple tours of service. It's also time for the nation to make sure every returning veteran has a chance to afford a college education, he said.
"If you've served honorably in our military, you should be able to go to college. The GI Bill shouldn't pay for part of it. It should pay for all of it," he said.
Obama is now taking questions from the crowd.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 1:18 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Obama Fargo quip
"It is fun to be in Fargo. Although, I have to say, it doesn't look like it does in the movie," he joked.
He's wearing a white shirt, no jacket, and a tie. He's got trees around him and the barn-red children's museum for a background.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 1:05 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
it's showtime
Bill Anderson of Rutland, N.D., was selected to give the introduction for Obama today. Anderson is a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Sargent County Commission.
He just invited Obama to Uff-Da Days in Rutland.
"I heard him say 'uff-da' in Grand Forks in April," he said.
Crowd is screaming. Here comes Obama.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Obama arrives
Obama's bus and motorcade have arrived; no sighting of the man himself yet; fans were on their feet, chanting his name.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Revvin' up the crowd
Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., just stood up and talked to get the crowd energized.
The nation needs "somebody who could bring us together to get results," Conrad said.
"I think that's really what our country needs now. We face so many daunting challenges. We desperately need somebody that can bring America together and lift us up and get the results that our country needs. Barack Obama is that kind of person."
Conrad went on to say, "We've gotta stand with the man who has stood with us. He was for it. He was for that farm bill. He was for those strong sugar provisions. He was for this Medicare bill. We need to be for Senator Obama."
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:34 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
delegation talks
ND's congressional delegation is up giving the opening remarks, as they did in Grand Forks.
"Isn't this something? This is my favorite time of year. This is my favorite state of the union. And so how great that we're going to have my favorite candidate for president of the United States, Barack Obama?" said Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., to cheers and applause.
Obama got a hockey stick when he spoke in Grand Forks. We're waiting to see if he gets a present here and what it is.
The crowd is now applauding to thank all of the veterans in the crowd.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
latest news
Looks like we're about to get going fairly soon.
People watch: Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker is here. He won't be dancing to Bon Jovi, he tells me.
Oh, looks like Ralph Maxwell, who we visited with earlier, will be in the backdrop of Obama now. Paid off to bring out the military uniform today.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Mathern response
Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, the state's Democratic candidate for governor, is here. He thinks Obama's visit will have a great impact in the fall election.
"It has all of the sense of making a difference in a close race, from the top of the ticket all the way down," Mathern said. "Barack Obama is saying he is leaving nothing unturned. That's what we need to win elections, from the governor's race to the legislative races. Change is in the air. John Hoeven has been there a lot of years. John Hoeven is George Bush"
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 12:09 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Veterans wait for Obama
Well, my blog has had some technical issues this morning, so were a bit behind. It took approval on a few levels to reach the veterans seating area, but I got in.
James Verwey, a veterans service officer for Barnes County, is in the crowd today.
I want to see what he has for veterans issues, he said of why he wanted to hear Obama speak.
Randy Otte, 44, of Fargo, who served in Kosovo and the first Gulf War, has a front-row seat.
I just wanted to make sure Im voting for the right guy, he said. Hes got my vote right now.
Mike Kennelly, 63, of Dilworth also has a prime seat, even though hes not a veteran.
I must be on the short list for vice president, he joked.
Kennelly is actually attending the event with friend and veteran Buzz Baldwin of St. Thomas, N.D.
Helen Nelson, 89, of Fargo is one of the oldest Obama fans in the crowd.
I think hes more for the middle class people. He seems like hes more friendly than a lot of them, she said.
Truman Tilleraas of Fargo, a World War II veteran, thinks Obama will make a great president. His wife, Dorothy, wishes Michelle Obama was here today, too.
Theyll make a nice president and first lady, she said.
Ralph Maxwell, 88, who lives near Perham, Minn., is decked out in a uniform.
Its a wonderful day, and weve got a wonderful man coming to speak, the World War II veteran said.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Republicans' response
Yesterday, Republicans scheduled a conference call with reporters in advance of Obama's visit.
North Dakota State Party Chairman Gary Emineth said he welcomes Obama to North Dakota, saying Obama's views are "so out of step" with North Dakotans' and the more he comes here and exposes his views "it's going to drive the North Dakota voters to the Republican side as they have historically been since 1964."
Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan was also in on the call and criticized Obama's stances on energy and the Second Amendment, saying Obama is "wrong for North Dakota."
Emineth said there is a request in for Republican presidential candidate John McCain to visit the state and said there's lots of time between now and the election for McCain to visit.
Posted by: Teri Finneman on 7/03/2008 at 9:55 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Obama scene setter
OK, so your friends in the media were just up at Yunker Farm getting our equipment set up for today's speech. We've been kicked out for a few hours as security prepares the area. The place is swarming with law enforcement and Secret Service.
Veterans will have the best seats in the house, with a horse-shoe shape of seating set up around Obama. There are also some picnic tables set up behind where he'll speak. Other ticketholders will be behind the veterans' seating area, to the right. There are some red, white and blue decorations up.
For the McCain fans out there, have no fear, your presence is known. Across the street from Yunker Farm are a handful of McCain campaign signs.
Other info to remember:
- WDAY-TV (Channel 6) will carry
the speech live from the Children's Museum at Yunker Farm in north Fargo.
- Live blogging and video streaming at www.inforum.com.
Attendees
- Only ticket holders can attend.
- Shuttle service begins at 10:30 a.m. from Fargodome.
- Today's weather: 72 degrees, mostly sunny.
Posted by: finnemte on 7/03/2008 at 9:18 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink