Johnson County BBQ: Hillary Clinton

Johnson County BBQ: Hillary Clinton



Given that she'd just picked up a high profile endorsement, Clinton led with piles of McGovern praise. "He is above all a patriot, and someone the U.S. should thank," she said after citing the bomber pilot biography points.



Much of the rest of the speech was a laundry list of issues, with some Bush-bashing thrown in. There was a little non-disruptive heckling, as Clinton discussed ending the war and one peace person shouted "you voted for it." John Edwards might have reacted and said "I did and I was wrong," but Hillary Clinton kept going.



Clinton on stage with Rep. Jim McGovern, George McGovern, and Kim Painter.

The speech wrapped up with the standard stump disclaimer: I'm not running to be the first woman president, I'm running because I'm the most qualified, but I hear the parents telling the daughters "you can be anything you want."

The Rock Star Surge followed Clinton as she left through the audience, shaking hands for at least a half hour. Back at the stage, Flaherty and vice chair James Moody tried to announce "wait, the program's not over," but even the sound guy had switched off the power.

Johnson County BBQ: George McGovern

Johnson County BBQ: George McGovern

There was a post-Biden delay, either because Team Clinton was behind schedule or because the backstage area was blocked by an ambulance ferrying out someone who'd succumbed to the heat. In either case the gapped was filled with the band and with a chant war.



Either the peace activists felt more vitriol toward Hillary Clinton than the other candidates, or Team Hillary was more determined than the other campaigns to drown them out.



Things settled down relatively quickly as County Recorder Kim Painter handled the introduction to the introduction while McGovern and the candidate watched.



Making matters more complex, there were two McGoverns on hand. Rep. Jim "No Relation" McGovern of Massachusetts was in place ahead of the Clinton-George McGovern arrival, working the crowd and praising the locals for sending Dave Loebsack to work with him.



The 1972 nominee spend five or so minutes introducing Hillary Clinton and reminiscing about this guy who wanted to run the McGovern `72 campaign in Arkansas. They thought the guy was good, so they "gave him a very difficult job: trying to sell George McGovern in Texas." Oh, and the kid wanted a job for his girlfriend too.



Hillary laughed as McGovern talked about Bill's haircut habits of 1972, saying he looked "like a buffalo."

McGovern praised the strength of the Democratic field, but singled out only two: first Edwards, then Obama. "I hope I live long enough to see an African American president," he said. "But there's an old saying: ladies first," he added, to a cheer with a higher pitch than a gender balanced response would indicate. With that, he stepped aside.

Johnson County BBQ: The Bidens

Johnson County BBQ: The Bidens

Darkness had fallen by the time Jill, Beau, and Hunter Biden were ready to speak, and the backstage atmosphere was thick with Secret Service buzz in anticipation of Hillary Clinton's arrival.



Deputy sheriffs instructed spectators and photographers to move back. Their boss, Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek, kept one eye on the situation while he chatted with Delaware Attorney General beau Biden.



After an introduction by retiring city council member Bob Elliott, Biden Time was heavy on family, as Beau Biden recounted the Biden narrative: his father's triumphant election to the Senate at age 29 followed weeks later by the death of his mother and sister, and severe injuries to himself and his brother, in a car accident. How his father had said "Delaware can get another Senator, but my boys only have one dad," as he prepared to quit the seat he had just won, and how the giants of the Senate persuaded him to give a it a try, and how Biden commuted four hours every day. Jill picked up the narrative, talking of how she and Joe dated with the boys in tow and rebuilt a family.

The point of all this family stuff: Joe Biden has been tested and is ready to be Commander in Chief. "John Kerry and Al Gore failed the Commander in Chief test, both unfairly," said Beau. "We can't have a candidate who fails the Commander in Chief test."

Johnson County BBQ: Forest Whitaker

Johnson County BBQ: Forest Whitaker



The Obama campaign sent a touch of Hollywood to Iowa City, as Oscar's reigning Best Actor Forest Whitaker spoke on behalf of the campaign. Whitaker also attended a campus event before the barbecue. Local Obama supporters also said Whitaker did a low-key event at Iowa City's Broadway Neighborhood Center in one of the town's most underprivileged areas.



Whitaker seemed to be a little under the weather, pausing often to cough, but he patiently autographed everything in sight, including shirts.



To tell you the truth I can't tell you much of what Whitaker said. Just before his speech I was off taking pictures of the county attorney working in the kitchen when my phone rang and I was told that County Chair Brian Flaherty wanted me at the stage immediately. As soon as I got there he ordered me to stand right there and he vanished to the stage while people started taking away my camera and notepad.

So Brian then launched into a speech that rivaled Richardson's in length. To make that long story short, my objectivity was hopelessly compromised and I got named Democratic Activist of the Year. Which explains why, when I had hit Brian up for an advance heads up on the award winners so I could prep a story, he never got back to me.



Professor Redlawsk gives me a thumbs up for the award, and this is as good a place as any to link to Aletia Morgan's Facebook photos of the day.

So I missed most of Whitaker's speech because people were busy congratulating me. In any case it was noted that Whitaker won his Oscar for acting and not for editing, as he ran long. Whitaker was introduced by former legislator Jean Lloyd-Jones, the 1992 U.S. Senate nominee who just endorsed Obama last week.

Johnson County BBQ: Chris Dodd

Johnson County BBQ: Chris Dodd



Dodd, also working the crowd pre-speech, meets Iowa City Council candidate Matt Hayek (unlike Smith, a lifelong Dem). The other city candidates sighted in the last mega-event before Tuesday's city primary, were at large contenders Mike Wright and Brandon Ross, and unopposed district incumbents Regenia Bailey (a Hillary fan) and mayor Ross Wilburn (who likes Obama). Not seen: at large incumbent Dee Vanderhoef, who's a registered Republican.



Dodd takes the stage and shakes hands with his top local supporter, County Supervisor Pat Harney.

Dodd, sounding a touch hoarse, noted that he was the keynote speaker at last year's much smaller barbecue.



The take-away line: "We need a candidate who can both govern and is electable."

Johnson County BBQ: Bill Richardson

Johnson County BBQ: Bill Richardson



The governor of New Mexico also allowed for plenty of schmoozing time before his speech. Here Richardson greets Gary Sanders, longtime fixture on the Johnson County political scene.



Richardson with Iowa City Council candidate Terry Smith. It may have been the first appearance at a Democratic event in recorded history for Smith, who was a registered Republican little more than a year ago. Later, as Richardson spoke, I spotted Smith in a classic odd couple seating arrangement next to peace protester David Goodner.




It was during the Richardson speech that the combination of humid weather and body heat started reaching discomfort levels. The smart folks stood outside, sticking their heads in through open windows.

The first known local Richardson names have been named: Soil and Water commissioner Kelley Putman and longtime party activist Maureen Donnelly.



Richardson rolled out the usual stump speech lines ("With me you get experience and change," etc.) Big applause lines seemed to be his call for no residual force in Iraq and for scrapping No Child Left Behind.

The main critique of Richardson's speech seemed to be its length. Even the next speaker, Chris Dodd, commented: "I thought I was back in the Senate and Bill Richardson was giving a filibuster." But Richardson got off the best quip at the cattle call nature of the day, reports County Supervisor Rod Sullivan. Richardson was leaving as Dodd was arriving, and he rolled down his window and yelled over to Dodd. "Hey, Chris. Chris!" Dodd noticed and looked over. "Chris! What are YOU doing here?"

Johnson County BBQ: John Edwards

Johnson County BBQ: John Edwards



John Edwards arrived with plenty of time to work the crowd in the food line before his speech, though sometimes he had trouble hearing questions because of his loud, enthusiastic claque.



Edwards exchanges pleasantries with local political legend Dick Myers (even though Myers is backing Obama).



County Supervisor Terrence Neuzil handled the Edwards introduction.



Edwards took the stage to Bruce Springsteen's "Land Of Hope And Dreams," making him the only candidate with stage music. He was also the only candidate to enter through the crowd; the others did their handshaking on the way out.

As always, the Edwards speech began with the Elizabeth's Fine reference, and Elizabeth was on hand to verify that. She was the only spouse seen traveling with the candidates, much to the disappointment of us Elizabeth Kucinich fans.





The speech was standard stump, though there was a "I run for president on behalf of..." cadence I hadn't heard before. During the war section, some local peace movement protesters began chanting "We won't wait! Till 2008!" Edwards responded with a quick "God bless you, I love that chant," which went over well with both the peace folks and the party regulars. He also threw in a little criticism of Senator Clinton by name for continuing combat missions.

Team Peace was greeting folks on the way in, and David Goodner reported mostly positive responses.

Johnson County BBQ: Dennis Kucinich

Johnson County BBQ: Dennis Kucinich



First speaker Dennis Kucinich raises his hand, talking about when he'll take the oath of office as President.



The biggest applause came when Kucinich references his call to impeach Vice President Cheney, and Kucinich held out the microphone to amplify the applause.

I missed the intro which was handled by UI history prof Jeff Cox, county party chair in roughly the Mondale era.

Johnson County BBQ: The Locals

Johnson County BBQ: The Locals

I took about a thousand pictures yesterday at the Johnson County Democrats barbecue. That's not hype, that's an actual count. Of course, as Ro Foege once told me, the difference between a pro photographer and an amateur is about 50 shots, and true to that stat about 98 percent of what I shot is junk. But that still leaves a lot so I'm chunking it up and posting in multi-parts as I go.

Biggest ever by three times, says treasurer Gina Schatteman. A body count is hard when family tickets are factored in, but we're figuring at least 2000. The old record was 700 in 2003 when the guests were Howard Dean, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. And that year was total, can't move, run out of food meltdown. Everybody got to eat last night.



By Johnson County BBQ tradition, the electeds serve. Here State Rep. Dave Jacoby and Amy Correia of the Iowa City Council dish out the pork.




Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn and county Obama co-chair Sue Dvorsky plot Team Obama plans before Forest Whitaker takes the stage.




First time since 1990: Johnson County's incumbent Democratic congressman is at the barbecue.




If this stage collapses it'll be the biggest special election in county history.