Rally focuses on democrats Obama, Dodd
Connecticut Post, Monday, November 03, 2008
By SUSAN SILVERS
BRIDGEPORT -- Ted Kennedy Jr. told hundreds of enthusiastic Barack Obama supporters Sunday that his ailing father is eager to see a new Democratic administration get rolling.
"He can't wait to get back to Washington this spring and work with President Barack Obama," said Kennedy, appearing at Mount Aery Baptist Church on behalf of the party's ticket less than two days before Americans head to the polls.
The younger Kennedy, a resident of Branford, said that his father, diagnosed in May with brain cancer for which he continues to receive treatment, was able to return to Washington where he was doing behind-the scenes work in anticipation of an Obama presidency. "They're actively putting together a coalition now to address universal health care," he said later, adding that going back to Washington allowed his father to interact with his staff members and such parties as union leaders.
Of his father's condition, he said: "He's responding very well to the treatment. He's an unbelievable guy."
Kennedy was here to introduce U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, a close friend of their family and the main speaker at what was a 2 1/2-hour political lovefest to boost the entire Democratic ticket. But it focused on Obama, who if elected would be the nation's first African-American president.
Dodd recalled how when he was a young man he had gone with his parents to watch the inauguration of John F. Kennedy, Ted Jr.'s uncle, and said that the inspiration that 43-year-old leader had offered the country would be repeated with Obama. "We're going to elect a young man, and America is going to be young again," he predicted.
Though speaker after speaker reminded voters signed up they still had to turn out, there was an undeniable atmosphere of impending euphoria.
"We're here to celebrate victory before we even vote," declared Bishop Kenneth Moales, who gave the invocation.
This pre-election party, arranged by Mayor Bill Finch, was swelled by church members, union members and Democrats who got messages and called friends and neighbors to join them.
Many of those who addressed them invoked the visions of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
"Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk," said state Rep. Charles D. Clemons Jr., D-124, referring to the woman whose refusal to sit in the back of the bus touched off the civil rights movement. "Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly," Clemons added.
"It's the making of history," said Zuri Lazaro, explaining why she had come with her two young daughters. "He's the first African-American that's made it this far. I'm a Democrat anyway," she added.
But not everyone was supporting Obama because of what it would mean to history. Bridgeport resident Andy Narolewski, a carpenter who came to this country in 1986 from Poland, said he's seen conditions deteriorate and was counting on Obama to turn things around.
"Each year it gets worse for this country. The middle class don't make money," he said. "We're looking for a job -- [it's] in China," he said.
The standing-room-only crowd jammed the 700-seat church, where they heard a parade of major officeholders extol Obama, 4th District U.S. House candidate Jim Himes, and an assortment of candidates for the state Legislature.
With no gubernatorial or U.S. Senate race to occupy their time this year, the event also brought out each of the state's constitutional officers.
Though Obama signs, T-shirts, sweat shirts, and of course, buttons, abounded Sunday, Finch said they wouldn't be suitable everywhere. He suggested voters leave them off before they go to polling places Tuesday.
