It was around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26, on what seemed like a just another Friday evening. But the streets of Albany Park looked quite desolate. Was it because it was a regular party night for local college students or did the whole neighborhood take to the privacy of their homes to watch the first presidential debate? Given the excitement that this campaign has already generated, the second answer seems very probable. And so it was not very surprising to see a full house at one of the nearby debate-watch parties. It was hosted by John Batchell, an activist for MoveOn.org and attended by Obama supporters, including a couple of NEIU students.
The event had a homely atmosphere to it, with family members and pets participating, and a table full of healthy treats to nibble on. There was also a pack of Snickers bites in the mix but it was not in keeping with the organic character of the rest the food-very telling of the lifestyle and the values that the organizers and attendees embrace.
One attendee, Diane, who is a Spanish major and senior at NEIU, is a member of Students Against War and Tent State University which is “a coalition of projects in pursuit of democracy, a space where participants can come together and practice it,” she explained, quoting the organization’s statement of purpose. She attended the party to share the pleasure of listening to a candidate who stands up for such causes.
Before everybody got the chance to know each other and describe their backgrounds, the debate was starting and it was time to find a comfy spot and become all ears. PBS’s Jim Lehrer’s opening remarks included asking the audience to kindly remain silent throughout the debate. However, of course, this did not pertain to the living room audiences across the country, and so we were free to express our excitement.
There were as many cheers as there were scoffs. Senator McCain’s positions did not resonate well with the rather liberal Albany Park residents in attendance. On the other hand, Barack Obama’s bold economic agenda and his foreign policy ideas met with approval and excitement. However, what got people to their feet was the proposal to tune into Fox News for commentaries and watch right-wing pundits struggle with Obama’s quality performance.
In the end there was no change of channel and local WTTW commentators were heard, sparing no less controversy. Many of them spoke about the Democratic candidate’s failure to find and showcase his inner average-Joe and the need for a little folksiness, if one wants to appeal to the American people. When they criticized Obama’s intellectualism and praised McCain’s for his touching, personal anecdotes, dissent began among the watch party attendees.
“That’s not what I want from my president,” Diane said. “I can find it in this support group!” She continued with surprise, “Suddenly it’s bad that a presidential candidate is intelligent. What do they think: that we’re a nation of morons?”
Initially there was agreement on the high level of preparedness of both candidates, as no major slip-ups were reported. On closer inspection however, it turned out that McCain mispronounced the name of the new Pakistani leader Asif Ali Zadari (Kadari according to the Republican maverick). Also, somebody familiar with the geopolitics of Central-Eastern Europe might argue that Obama’s reference to several of its states as “fledgling democracies” is a misrepresentation of their current political situation.
Other Presidential Debates are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 15. Find a debate-watch party near you and enjoy the campaign with fellow concerned citizens.