Then it started to get dark. The empty seats disappeared. Suddenly, about 80,000 people, or however many it was, were in place, having stood in security lines for hours just to hear a political speech. (A political writer can't help but like it when people are that interested in politics.) The big columns on either end of the stage now appeared to be nothing more than slightly overdone frames of giant video screens. Then, the star of the show arrived.
It was not Obama's most stirring effort, and it was not intended to be. He was trying to talk nuts and bolts, not political philosophy, to show that he is a politician of substance, not just a guy who can deliver a great speech. Whether he succeeded is for the voters to decide. But as political stagecraft goes, this was something special. And it didn't rain. It's hard to imagine what would have happened if it had.
In the end, it didn't matter that Sheryl Crow or Stevie Wonder had sung, or that Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson had recited the pledge of allegiance, or that there were fireworks and that much-discussed set. What mattered were the candidate, the words, and the crowd, which is what political campaigns have always been about.
It was an memorable night. We won't know whether it was an important one until Nov. 4.
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Same rhetoric I expected no details and promises he won't keep, underneath he's a typical politician. What I like about McCain, no bs, a real guy. Obama on stage is starting to remind me of the movie V or They Live, ha.— dan19148- I thought Obama did a masterful job of outlining the failures and shortcomings of the past eight years marked and then contrasting that with the possibility and hope that his plan offers. Anyone who says he didn't give details about his proposals wasn't listening and weren't hearing. I am excited to vote in November for this guy and this agenda.— veritas1325
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- juliuseezar post the same exact stupid comment under the top story on Obama. Guess he/she/it is just making his racist rounds in each comment section.— phillysha
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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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