"CHANGE IS COMING TO AMERICA" (if you hadn't heard)A large, dispersed crowd pressed towards the projector-sized screen at the front of the Grand Ballroom in the Fairmont Hotel when they saw that CNN was interrupting coverage of John McCain's speech (yawn) to go to Barack Obama's headquarters in Chicago.
The Democratic presidential candidate was making his way towards the stage, and the audiences here and on TV were equally ecstatic. Chants of "O-BA-MA!" rang out. CNN took the cue and dropped McCain entirely. A series of roars accompanied Obama's speech, especially when he made the declaration that "Change is coming to America!"
That slogan was reiterated numerous times throughout the night. After Obama finished in Chicago, the attention in San Francisco turned to the front podium. Numerous elected officials took the stage to express their support of Obama.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee promised and re-promised, "California will never be the same because of what we've done in this movement. It will never be the same. Never."
State Senator Leland Yee kept it "short and sweet" by basically sound-biting Obama's speech.
Supervisor Bevan Dufty was so swept up by Obama-rama that he has found a reason to seek out gay bars in Idaho. Apparently, this was one of the states he didn't need to visit before learning they voted for Obama.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi wasted no time, stepping up to the mic and announcing, "I endorse Barack Obama!" (Luckily, he was at the right party). He listed several other Bay Area Green Party members also supporting a Democrat because Obama is "the only candidate who can deliver a defeat of the Republicans."
Yet, even with all the promised change, we can take comfort knowing that craigslist will be part of Obamerica. Craig Newmark, founder of the website, initiated a second tier of speakers while the crowd broke to get more snacks and drinks. (Michael Leonard)
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