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 (Photo contributed) Chicago's Grant Park swarms with people in this picture from election night. Le Mars native Tyler Pottebaum was one of the estimated 250,000 people gathered there Tuesday to celebrate President-elect Barack Obama's victory. [Click to enlarge] |
This time the 2008 Le Mars Community School graduate was right in the thick of it: Pottebaum spend election night in Chicago's Grant Park, the site of President-elect Barack Obama's victory party.
"It was incredible," Pottebaum said in a phone interview from his dormitory at DePaul University in Chicago.
 Tyler Pottebaum |
Pottebaum arrived at the park, just off Lake Michigan, at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday with three friends. They wouldn't get back to their campus until 1 a.m.
As night began to fall, lights in nearby skyscraper windows spelled out "USA" and "Vote 2008."
Massive screens in the park projected CNN's campaign coverage to a crowd of 125,000 or more. People were still lined up waiting to get in. Some estimates show that nearly a quarter of a million Obama well-wishers packed into the Grant Park area.
Suddenly, the announcement came: Obama was the winner, according to CNN projections.
The crowd roared, Pottebaum said.
Obama was about to take the stage, but first the National Anthem poured out across the jubilant crowd.
Then those gathered joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
"Everybody stopped what they were doing to say it," Pottebaum said.
After a prayer was spoken, Obama stepped onto the stage with a "Hello, Chicago."
The president-elect's speech, Pottebaum said, was impressive.
"It wasn't so much him congratulating himself, but congratulating the people who volunteered and the people who voted for him," the Le Mars native said.
For Pottebaum, this presidential election was the first he ever truly was able to participate in.
He cast his vote in the Iowa straw poll, a voteon the Republican nominee in Ames in August.
He was a county delegate for the Iowa caucus in January.
And he volunteered in Indianola, going door to door and making call after call to encourage people to vote for Obama.
Those efforts of volunteers across the nation came to fruit, the newly-elected Obama told the crowd Tuesday night.
"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to," he said. "It belongs to you. It belongs to you."
Pottebaum is a political science major at DePaul, and he plans to apply to law school, possibly to practice corporate law.
"I've always been interested in politics, so this was a great election to be a part of for the first time," he said.
At Grant Park, Obama also spoke about how important it is to unite the country, Pottebaum said.
After eight years of George W. Bush's presidency, the college freshman is ready for change.
"I'm excited for that kind of different dynamic," Pottebaum said. "Hopefully he'll bring people together."
I'm not going to respond to your questions (obviously...it's been 3 weeks). But do you know why? Because I'm afraid doing so would only validate in your head the belief that -namelessly- arguing with and deriding people on the internet is in anyway beneficial to public discourse.
Because, really, it's just odd.
Yeah, it seems both Tyler and Clear Thinker are not going to answer questions they've been asked. I've been waiting to hear....
It has been a week.
I am sad...
ClearThinker,
Please fill me in on the 3rd Reich and their use of children.
Thanks in advance
I don't necessarily agree with ClearThinker on all he says but I would be interested in hearing how Tyler answers his question.
Wow. You're acting pretty bold for someone hiding behind an online pseudonym.
Thank you tpottebaum, I was beginning to think you were afraid to engage...
Why did you support Barack Hussein Obama?
I was looking for a reason to vote for him but none of his supporters could give me one. The only answers I received was "HATE BUSH" and "CHANGE". Sorry but I need some substance..
Without using the words Hate, Bush or Change, can you give me 3 reasons why I should have voted for him? Maybe you can make me a believer. Go ahead turn CNN on...ask your professors and give me everything you have.. because I want to believe.
If you can't stand the heat..you better get outta the kitchen!
(Maybe I'm actually a Barack supporter testing you.)
Mr. Smith:
That was a very politically correct answer. You have obviously not studied history especially the history of the 3rd reich. Nuff said to you..let Tyler speak..
Tyler...you're up..
Also just out of curiosity...Bush as the most left leaning president in U.S. history. Why didn't liberal, progressive socialists support him?
ClearThinker,
I spoke for Romney at caucus and feel he was better qualified as a former Governor and businessman.
Once he bowed out and it was Obama, McCain, or a bunch of guys with tin foil hats, I had to look at which of them would do the least damage.
As far as the Hitler Youth go, they were visible but not by choice. They were brainwashed poster children for a mad Dictator who made them tell on their parents.
To finish up, I stand by anyone's right to free participation in the electoral process as long as it is done legally.
To deny our young an opportunity to choose a legal path for themselves is short sighted.
That's exactly what they did to the Hitler Youth.
Learning from our own successes and mistakes makes us stronger and smarter.
ClearThinker said:
"He is clearly a product of our public schools and the constant pounding by the left in all forms of media."
I'm the person this article was written on, and I am proud of my support for Barack Obama. I paid just as much attention to this election as you did, so please don't refer to me like I'm some kind of naive, mindless voter.
Mr. Smith:
I believe you have misunderstood me...I was not accusing you of being a nazi.
I also want our youth to be actively involved but involved on the right side ("right" as in correct not right wing).
Supporting a Marxist presidential candidate is clearly not right or healthy for this once free country or this young man. He is clearly a product of our public schools and the constant pounding by the left in all forms of media.
You seem to be saying our youth need to be involved no matter which side of right or wrong they are on. (McCain was not right either.)
This is why I brought up the Hitler Youth...they were activley involved..would you be proud of them?
I'll ask my second question another way...Why did you vote for the "wrong person" as you put it?
ClearThinker,
No. I would not encourage a Hitler Youth.
Would you?
Mr. Smith,
Would you have encouraged the Hitler Youth?
Why would you vote for McCain?
I am glad to read of your interest in politics. Many youth and adults are very inactice and don't vote. We all need to work together reguardless ofr political party for the good of the country.
Keep up your interest.
ClearThinker,
We ran the wrong person (he got my vote) and surprise...we got whipped.
It is important to encourage our youth and their contributions to society.
Mental note..get Dan Smith removed from Board of Education...
My post from another blog:
You have just elected the first openly Marxist President of these United States and McCain wasn't much better.
The Markets are tanking and you are losing your 401k because of the Nationalization of the financial system and the election of the first Anti-Capitalist President. Wall Street is scared to death as we all should be for the future of this once great country.
You wanted change..you are going to get it.
You scoffers and doubters of my words need to turn off the TV and do some research, quit letting the talking heads and academics tell you what to think, Democrat or Republican.
Supporting this President "elect" would be like supporting cancer.
All flags should be at half staff or upside down.
Americans now rank as the dumbest people on the face of the planet.
-- Posted by ClearThinker on Thu, Nov 6, 2008, at 2:51 PM
I'm sorry dufresne I'm just speaking my mind, which is what you do on these blogs! And I am afraid for these next 4 years, very afraid!
Thank you June! Keep spreading the fear!
CONGRATS!!! You were witness to a great part of American history. I think we have elected a leader with the potential to be one of the greatest presidents ever. Enjoy the moment!
Tyler,
Congratulations on the election. I hope you continue your interest in politics. The President Elect couldn't have done it without people like you. You got out there in the trenches while most of the rest of us stood back and watched. Some won't be happy unless he fails. Work hard at school and call your folks often.
Don't get your hopes up about Obama bringing people (the nation) together. I fear for the citizens of the USA during the next 4 years!