VP Biden Visits LHS
On Sunday November 4, my family and I walked to Lakewood High School to see Vice President Biden. We waited in a very long line for 45 minutes before we were allowed inside. While I waited, I people-watched and tried to stay warm. Campaign volunteers walked around telling us we would be subject to “airport style security.” They also offered pens to people so ticket stubs could be filled out before entering the building.
When we finally got inside, I went through the metal detector and emptied my pockets onto a table for inspection. Thankfully I did not have to take my shoes off!
I entered the gym and my family decided to sit on the bleachers instead of standing in the mosh pit. Unfortunately, we were seated under the Lakewood Project and could not see them as they performed.
We waited again as the gym filled up. Campaign workers asked people to move closer together so it seemed like there were more people in attendance. They also pulled a variety of people to sit on bleachers behind the podium. Those spectators were noticeably diverse, not only in skin color and age but also in their sports or university garb.
Finally the event began. The Lakewood Project played a number of songs to warm up the crowd, ending with their signature song, Aaron Copeland’s “Hoedown.” Then it was on to local speakers, including Mr. Favre, Mayor Summers, County Executive Fitzgerald, and Judge Brown. They all spoke about Lakewood being an important part of Ohio as a “battle ground” state and voiced their like for the Obama/Biden ticket.
The last part of the warm up was Grace Lazos singing the National Anthem. I have known Grace for several years and think she did a much better job singing the anthem than numerous celebrities who have forgotten words, hit flat notes, or couldn’t hit the high notes. I was happy that Grace represented Lakewood so well.
Pop musician Jason Mraz performed some of his popular songs. When he was done performing, he described how he supported the Obama Biden ticket.
When Jason Mraz finished, it took a very, very long time for the Bidens to arrive. It was terribly boring. Eventually my friend’s dad informed us that the Biden’s had stopped at My Friends on their way to LHS.
Suddenly all the press started aiming cameras and Secret Service agents took their places by the stage and the entrances. I saw one woman talking into her wrist and the rest scanned the crowd for any possible threats.
Jill and Joe Biden came out on stage along with members of their family. Mrs. Biden spoke about being a teacher and introduced her family. Then Vice President Biden spoke.
He was more animated than other candidates. He seemed to go off script, but his binder just could have been a prop for when he referred to Mitt Romney’s “binder full of women” remark. Some people shouted from the crowd and Vice President Biden responded to them. He was clear in his statements against Mitt Romney and support of the President. When he finished speaking, Vice President Biden stuck around but a lot of the crowd did not. We left because we were hungry and I had homework to do.
This was the first political rally I ever attended. I liked being able to hear Vice President Biden speak first hand, vs. a scripted television performance. It was more interactive and I liked his spontaneity. I was glad that Lakewood was Vice President Biden’s first stop of the day, because had we been in Fremont or Lancaster, the waiting would have been even longer!
Brendan McCallum
I am a Lakewood student.