Obama just met with Native American leaders this morning

[Helga Scow Stern]

in Albuquerque. Maybe that's why he was an hour and a half late for his appearance in Espanola, NM.
Twelve thousand didn't mind. We just waited in the hot sun, and it was worth it.

[yellerpup]

1. My friend from Oklahoma told me last week he was going to be there.

He's...I don't know what his title is, but he is a leader in the Quapaw tribe. He went to Denver during the last day of the convention and he said he was going to get to meet Obama in NM. When I hear from him, I'll post an update.

Now, tell us a story, please! What made it worth it today?

[Helga Scow Stern]

2. What made it worth it

were the people in the audience...all 10-12 thousand of them. People of all ages, races, economic status. A few younger hipsters from Santa Fe among many Native Americans, Hispanics, "white" people. Everyone was calm and decent, waiting patiently in the hot sun. Hardly anyone left even though it was hot and he was so late. There was a line up of preliminary speakers, beginning with local people, the mayor, Udall's wife, all the way up to Governor Richardson. No one was excited about any of them. Skeptical of them all -- except for the young Hispanic and Native women who spoke as organizers -- they made us cry-- otherwise a few boos, pointed lack of clapping for Richardson and others. But when Obama came out, the crowd roared.

You could tell everyone was concerned, worried. The economic meltdown was big news. Obama said intelligent things about the economy, about McCain, about things lost that needed to be restored. I imagine we all felt like we were getting a dose of reality, and the knowledge that someone reasonably responsible, informed, and who cared about the country was speaking. It was that, a basic adult respect between the audience and Obama, rather than any Obama-mania that was at play. It was deeply reassuring somehow. It felt so good just to stand in the midst of so many real people. My friend and I had been staying with someone in Santa Fe who had the news on constantly and it was all Palin and McCain. That's why I insisted we go to the rally. To get a dose of reality after so much false information from CNN, etc.

It is such a relief to hear him, maybe that is why I kept seeing men and women around me wiping off tears. Even the children were solemn and quiet.

[yellerpup]

3. Thank you. Your story captured the atmosphere of the day so well

that I could almost feel the heat. You touched on the very thing that drew me to Obama in the first place -- that he speaks of the issues that truly concern us without consulting a handler first and that he speaks to us with respect. I believe that one of the reasons he is respected is that he does speak to us as adults, and by doing that he shows us that he understands the true nature of respect. I am not surprised that people were moved. We have had to hold ourselves back from hope for years and it is a relief to see that someone who cares is coming to help us. He doesn't promise that he will do everything by himself but instead speaks to us plainly that we are the ones we have been waiting for. With Obama as our leader I am optimistic that together we can be the change we need. Wado! Your tale was inspiring.