Realizing the Promize

Pastor Michael Harrison introduced Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s Senior Advisor, like she was a professional wrestler. I was ready to hear him say “Are you ready to rumble?!” They even strobed (flickered) the lights to let us know that she’s a heavy hitter.

Valerie received an amazing ovation and she electrified the room. I almost had to elbow my way to the front to get this photo for you (to left).

After a rousing challenge to everyone in the room, Valerie ended with “I wanna know: Are you fired up?” And everyone screamed even louder than they had before.

Wow.

On the second roundtable (where is the table, by the way?), the panelists are talking about democracy in the New America.

Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Council for President-Elect Obama’s White House, says that Obama will be a different kind of president. She talks about Obama economic stimulus shock plan and what it will mean for hard-working people in American communities. She says “We’re making a down payment on the promises” to Americans.

Joseph Hansen of the UFCW says that the last eight years were a “train wreck” and gets cheers.

Juan Williams closes this panel reminding us that we are in midst of history and to “keep our eyes on the prize“.

Journalist Juan Williams moderates the first panel on the Old America and New America. “How’d we get here?” he asks.

The audience is responding just as vocally as they did to the earlier rallying cries. “Yes!”, “Whooo!” (Sorry for not getting Representative Luis Guitterrez in my photo to the left: see photo below. He’s speaking so powerfully, folks know he’s here!)

The best part of being in a room full of organizers is that they don’t hesitate to yell “Louder!” when they can’t hear the speaker. And they don’t stop ’til they can!

Props to Juan Williams to continually reminding the panelists to focus on what people here (and you out there) can do to realize the change we seek.

Man, if you could tap into all this pent up energy in here right now! Get ready America!