Photographer Tom Gralish reports:
8:40 a.m. At 50th and Chester in southwest Philadelphia, a white woman and Obama volunteer who did not identify herself, challenged the presence of a photographer. Both whites and blacks were standing in line, but she said she was concerned that a white man with a camera would scare people. "I'm a lawyer. I'm protecting these people. Protecting their rights," she said. "Tell you what. Why don't you go to a white polling place? These people are intimidated by cameras. There's a history."
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Because maybe they want to snap a moment in history. Why do some people have to make everything about race? People of many different races (white, black, Indian, Asian, etc.) were snapping pictures of the line at my polling place without anyone objecting.— whassup67- Comment removed.
- If you havent noticed there are pictures of people in line at polling places on this website. Thats why someone is there with a camera people want to record this historic election.— anthonyg
- "These people?" Classy.— Scholes
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- southphillyrob, I guess you don't know how voting works.— karp
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- There was a black man with a video camera at my suburban polling place. What was he up to?— mopa1969
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- Why don't you go to a white polling place? I wasn't aware that we were still segregated.— doorspj24
- While I was in line, someone in front of me took the picture of the line on their cell phone. Intimidating, I tells ya.— phillygoat
- -Posted by SouthPhillyRob 09:09 AM, 11/04/2008 Because they don't want pictures of the voter fraud taking place...most of these people will get right back in line and vote again.- Another example of pure ignorance and divisive rhetoric that has been spouted for almost 8 years and having McCain and Palin fanning this hate shows that they do not belong in the WH.— WyldRogue
- "If he wants to 'capture history,' he can take pictures outside of people going in." It seems like that was exactly what the photographer was doing. Is there a problem with taking pictures of record-long lines in a historical election, comrade?— whassup67
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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