maybe didn't quite express, in spite of disappointing results here and there, what last night meant to me personally. i can't stop crying and i can't stop smiling.
I doubt Jesse was thinking, "why can't us?"ploafNovember 5 2008, 19:30:49 UTC
Really? My dad and I talked about it last night. I buy it as genuine and proud. There's some relief in there.
What cued me into it was the fact that I saw a red light on his face from somebody's camera Red-Eye Prevention Light and Jesse didn't really flinch. He didn't turn his head toward the camera or away from the flash. He didn't pose or collect himself. He didn't wander towards Oprah or any of the other big names in Grant Park last night. He stared straight ahead, immersed in the night. It was too big a moment to have tears of self-service. If Jesse was interested in pulling focus, he would've been speaking.
Al Sharpton was somewhere else (I think Atlanta?). He was celebrating with a large roup of people in a church. But if I were Al, I would've wanted to be there. I would've wanted to witness the speech in person. It's not that I think Al Sharpton resents Obama in any way or was anything less than elated about the results, but, on the surface, it appears as though he placed himself in a position to be the biggest fish in whichever pond he chose. Maybe he had a great reason to be elsewhere last night. Maybe there's something I'm missing. I hope so.
But Jesse? Jesse was there. Jesse Jackson watched. That's all he did. After fighting as long and vigorously as he's fought the fight, mistakes and all, I thought he handled it beautifully by not politicking or playing up the history.
What cued me into it was the fact that I saw a red light on his face from somebody's camera Red-Eye Prevention Light and Jesse didn't really flinch. He didn't turn his head toward the camera or away from the flash. He didn't pose or collect himself. He didn't wander towards Oprah or any of the other big names in Grant Park last night. He stared straight ahead, immersed in the night. It was too big a moment to have tears of self-service. If Jesse was interested in pulling focus, he would've been speaking.
Al Sharpton was somewhere else (I think Atlanta?). He was celebrating with a large roup of people in a church. But if I were Al, I would've wanted to be there. I would've wanted to witness the speech in person. It's not that I think Al Sharpton resents Obama in any way or was anything less than elated about the results, but, on the surface, it appears as though he placed himself in a position to be the biggest fish in whichever pond he chose. Maybe he had a great reason to be elsewhere last night. Maybe there's something I'm missing. I hope so.
But Jesse? Jesse was there. Jesse Jackson watched. That's all he did. After fighting as long and vigorously as he's fought the fight, mistakes and all, I thought he handled it beautifully by not politicking or playing up the history.
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