A photo I snapped of President Obama while he was delivering his speech.
So I got the call last week asking me if I could be in Albany on Monday (9/21/2009) for a very special event. I had some hints before that so I knew what was going on – the President was going to be in town. I worked many, many, many hours as a volunteer on his campaign and I have seen him speak in Cleveland, at the Convention where I was a delegate, and also at the Inaugural in DC, but I had never seen him speak in a small crowd, much less have had the opportunity to meet him or shake his hand. So I was eager to say “yes, I can make it.”
Then I found out that the event was for only about 200 people and that I was to tell NO ONE that I had a ticket because no more were available. Well, I did okay with that – but certainly not perfect, there were a few people I had to tell – namely those who I work for and those I was staying with when I went to Albany the night before.
The event was on Monday morning, I decided to drive the 5 hours from Buffalo on Sunday night and stay over. About 10 o’clock Sunday night I get the call from the OFA State Director, Melissa, that I have been included in the political clutch before the event. Now, this is BIG. But let me explain it by telling you what happened.
A friend of mine who had a ticket to the event picked me up and we drove over to Hudson Valley Community College. Secret Service and State Troopers were everywhere so we knew we were in the right place. He showed his ticket and I was checked on the list when we showed our ID to get into the parking lot. He was directed into a long line for security while I was told to go over to a table by the door to check in. The volunteer at the door was a friend of mine and immediately called me over by name in front of some of the state Democratic Party dignitaries standing at the table to get their tickets. She said, oh, you don’t get a ticket you get a special red pass – Melissa will be out to escort you inside in a few moments. I have to admit that felt pretty good. Those dignitaries got in line with their tickets as I was escorted with Melissa to the front of the line and whisked through security with my red pass safety pinned to my suit jacket.
We were brought “backstage”, which was actually a classroom. I was in a room with 4 other top labor leaders from SEIU, AFL-CIO and CWA as well as a guy from the Hospitals Association. Next door we saw the elected officials moving in and out of their room – Andrew Cuomo was back there making the rounds. Senator Sampson, the newly minted Majority Conference Leader of our State Senate walked in and out of that room and ours, lots of other electeds milled about, though I never saw Governor Paterson, I guess he was at the airport to greet the flight.
The White House staff kept stopping in to check on us, brought us bottled water, inquired if we needed snacks. They told us that when the motorcade arrived we would be put on lock down and the door would be closed and then someone would come to get us when it was our time to be with the President. We were back there for about an hour. We had some great discussions about health care, about the President’s apparent communications to Governor Paterson, about Buffalo and NYC. We were anxious, but not bored.
Then we heard the motorcade pull up, the door was closed and even the window in the door had been covered over. But I heard his distinctive voice outside our door. A few minutes went by, it was apparent he was next door with the electeds first, then we were told he was taking a tour of the tech lab at the Community College.
I had told my colleagues in the room that I was going to talk to the President. They laughed, they said you know you only get a second to say your name and smile for the photo. I said, just watch me – I am going to talk to him for longer than that. I worked thousands of hours on his campaign, I deserve a couple of seconds.
Then the door opened and the White House staffer (complete with Secret Service-style ear piece) escorted us to the room where the electeds had been. In the room was just a family who I later found out the father was an old friend of David Axelrod’s. There was a blue curtain on one end of the room with 2 flags about 5 feet apart – one American, one New York. Obviously the location where we would shake the President’s hand and smile for the camera.
And that he came in, accompanied by Dr. Jill Biden, David Axelrod and for those of you that are political junkies, Patrick Gaspard (who is quite important to us here in New York).
We lined up and the photos began. Those in front of me dutifully walked up introduced themselves and turned around to smile at the camera.
I was next in line. I walked up and said “Hi, I am Diana Cihak, a community Organizer for Citizen Action of New York and Health Care for America Now. We need a strong public option sir, please stand strong.” He nodded and I barreled on… “and I would like you to visit Buffalo. We have 8 wind towers on some of the most contaminated land in the country on the shoreline of Lake Erie in front of rotting Bethlehem Steel buildings. You can do a major speech on green manufacturing and rust belt revitalization.” He said, “I would love to come to Buffalo”. So I said “well, I hope I have planted that seed in your mind and you will make it.” I think at that point I may have actually looked at the photographer – but I’m not sure. It will be interesting to see what the photo looks like when the White House sends it, I couldn’t tell you if the photographer was a man or a woman, black, white or purple. So I bet the photo doesn’t have me looking at the camera, but instead me talking the President’s ear off.
But you know what was cool – he paid complete attention to me, even as I grabbed more time than others. He held my hand, looked me in the eye and listened to what I was saying. I felt very validated and that was good. When I walked over to my labor friends they were all shocked that I had actually done it – that I hadn’t chickened out and just introduced myself and smiled at the camera. I guess they don’t know me very well…
Me with David Axelrod, one of President Obama's top advisors.
We milled about in the room for a while. I passed the time chatting with David Axelrod about the old days in Chicago when I was working in politics there and first heard of him, though I never met him. He remembered who I worked for though and it took him back, he had quite the laugh over it. (For those who know my history you will understand.) I asked for a photo with him and he obliged me. I also had a long chat with Patrick Gaspard and it was very productive. We are so lucky to have a New Yorker with the President in the White House.
The President had left the room several minutes before the rest of us did. As we were escorted out we saw him taking a photo with a large group. I realized at that moment and then again as we entered the larger room where he was speaking, the enormity of what just happened; how lucky I had been to be back there – to get the photo with the President and then to be escorted to a seat in the center of the second room behind the President of the Community College where he was speaking. That’s pretty amazing, especially considering this amazing man then left to go on Letterman and then speak at the UN, and in between he was making phone calls and judgments on the policies and laws that affect our lives everyday. I feel very lucky. Very very lucky!