Obama Supporters Gather Around L.A. To Watch Speech
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(Laura J. Nelson)
As guests started appearing on her Marina del Rey doorstep, Karen Burstyn hoped her housemate Oliver wouldn't cause as much of a ruckus as he had in 2008. After all, she didn't know most of these people, and she wanted them to enjoy their evening.
Burstyn had posted a blanket invitation on mybarackobama.org, the Obama for America campaign Web site: snacks and camaraderie during Wednesday's State of the Union address for fellow Obama fans.
But there was always a chance Oliver would disturb the peace like he did during a similar party for the 2008 televised presidential debates.
And sure enough, as guests trickled in around 5:30 p.m., rescue dog Oliver let out a hearty woof.
But once subdued with food, he, like the other guests, kept mostly to himself.
The rest of the crowd, who ranged from toy manufacturers to attorneys and teachers, who had once lived in everything from condos to tree houses to boats, had almost nothing in common. But the group found shaky camaraderie in their solidly common political ground.
"Even though the campaign's over, it's still important to feel connected like we did in 2008," Burstyn, a former attorney, said. "It keeps you as a part of the movement."
Guests picked through barbecued chicken, salad, fruit plates, cookies and Coke, poured non-alcoholic drinks and settled in front of CSPAN-2.
"It's important to be informed," said Gilmar Rosas, a Culver City High School senior who came to the watch party with his sister Giselle. "I want to see what he says and how he reacts - and then how the country will react."
A crowed of about thirty people gathered at the Marker Street Bar & Grill to
watch Obama. In this small bar in Inglewood, the political leaders and social
activists of the city, along with optimistic citizens met to hear what the presidnet
had to tell his country. They were hopeful and passionate, full of spirit and full of
patriotism. As they cheered for health care reform and more jobs for more
Americans, it became easy to believe that the worst is over. (Phenia Hovsepian)
Soon, the living room of the loft-like condo was packed with more than 10 guests, all enthusiastically searching for familiar Democratic themes.
"Wait, was that Barbara Boxer? And Al Franken?"
"Not sure, but have you seen Joe Lieberman?"
"Nope, but who cares?"
The atmosphere, awkward and somewhat chilly at first, warmed up as speech time ticked closer. The room felt more like a peanut gallery than a gathering of political junkies as the group moved into some George W. Bush bashing: "During his last State of the Union address, I headed straight for the bar."
"I felt like my intelligence was falling every time he opened his mouth."
"Go home, Republicans!"
But when the speech began, the guests got quiet and serious, waiting to hear Obama address what they identified as their key issues: jobs, the economy, healthcare, gays in the military and the recent Supreme Court ruling on campaign funding.
Each time it sounded like the speech was approaching healthcare, attendees scooted to the edge of their chair, set drinks down, and got ready to clap. When the issue finally arose, Terry Ellen Robinson of Palms gave a Jersey Shore-worthy fist pump and yelled, "Yes, finally! Take that!" and the room burst into applause.
At the end of the 70-minute speech, Oliver curled up on the couch and slept. The room shouted disses at the Republicans interviewing with CSPAN, talked to Congressional hopeful Marcy Winograd and waited for the Republican rebuttal speech.
"He's a great speaker and it was a great speech," Gilmar Rosas said. "He has a lot on his plate, but he addressed the issues that were most important."
Redondo Beach
Her small, but comfortable apartment in Redondo Beach fit four people perfectly.
A bowl of popcorn, a plate full of chocolate covered espresso beans, and four empty glasses rested on the coffee table, which was just a stone's throw away from a pitcher of Coffee Bean's Earl Grey Tea.
Barbara Marriott, host of this intimate viewing party for President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, greeted Redondo Beach resident Sharman Strand 15 minutes later.
Strand entered the apartment with a smile on her face, showing off her Obama-adorned cell phone, and having parked her similarly bedecked car just outside the apartment. She and Marriott recognized each other from the local farmer's market, exchanged a hug and dove immediately into a deep discussion about politics.
"Did you hear about the recent Supreme Court decision?" Strand said, referring to the court's decision that corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money in political campaigns.
"Right now, corporations have more rights than a gay human does in America."
The conversation continued, even after Stella Leontsini, Redondo Beach resident, arrived.
(Anant Goenka)
"I want Obama to discuss the issue with health care," Leontsini said. "How come the Canadians are happy with their health care system, and we cannot copy that?"
Marriott and Strand agreed. Issues with health care hit close to home for the three women.
Marriott attended college in her 40's, while raising two young sons.
"All I had was the college's insurance and it was terrifying," Marriott said. "Nobody should be without insurance, and I never knew that so many people actually were."
In 2000, a doctor diagnosed Leontsini's daughter with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
"Luckily, (my daughter) has wonderful insurance working for Toyota," Leontsini said. "Otherwise, how can I help her? Maybe I can sell my house and move in with you." Leontsini pointed to Marriott, and all three women laughed.
Cancer has also touched Strand's family.
Doctors diagnosed her 33-year-old son with Hodgkin Lymphoma. His chemotherapy cost about $250,000.
"If he gets laid off, he will be deemed uninsurable," Strand said. "Nobody would touch him with a 10-foot pole. It makes me boil."
The conversation continued over the course of the hour, with discussion ranging from the numbers of jobs lost in the past two years to the war in Iraq. The women hoped Obama would discuss those issues in his address, too.
Then, the president started his speech.
"I want to say one thing that I'm thinking right now," Strand said. "Give him hell, Harry!"
In the 1 hour, 17 minutes the president spoke, he discussed health care, as the women had hoped. He showed passion about the number of jobs lost, and he promised to end the war within the next few years.
Marriott, Strand, and Leontsini clapped excitedly.
Obama Supporters Gather In Glendale. (Len Ly)
They yelled, "Good!" and "Yes!" when the president expressed his high hopes for America's future. "That's right!" Marriott said, bowl of popcorn in hand, hands raised above her head, when the president announced his plan for a bill addressing new jobs. And, of course, they joked about the Republicans who sat in the rows closest to the president.
"Yeah, sit down, a-hole," Leontsini said.
The end of the president's speech prompted another enthusiastic round of applause from the three women.
"In all of this time, he is the best thing to ever happen to us," Leontsini said. "This reminds me of a Latin saying. 'Dum spiro, spero.' It means, 'As long as I breathe, I hope.'"
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