( – promoted by lowkell)
There are good political reasons to attend the Clinton-McAuliffe campaign events. But even if there weren’t….
Toward the close of last year’s campaign, at a rally in Roanoke, I heard Bill Clinton speak. I was extremely impressed. Really impressed. Even more than I’d been by his speech to the Democratic convention– a speech that (with the possible exception of Michele Obama’s) was the high-point of the convention.
Bill Clinton is not only likely the most gifted politician of our times, but he is also a great teacher. He spoke for about an hour on that occasion in Roanoke, and he was engaging and clear and persuasive, and he laid out with unusual clarity a whole host of issues– all done in a way that strengthened the candidate in whose support he had come, Barack Obama.
In the coming days, Clinton will be speaking around Virginia in support of his friend, Terry McAuliffe. Since the candidate himself will be there, unlike in Roanoke, and Clinton will be the endorser and not the surrogate, there will be doubtless less of Clinton than at the event last year. But Bill Clinton will not be short-changed, and I think Terry McAuliffe is too smart to worry about being upstaged when he’s got someone like Clinton to rally the troops for him. So those who attend these rallies will almost certainly get to witness a worthwhile and memorable Clinton performance.
Besides which, as I learned at the Virginia Democratic state convention in June, 2012, Terry McAuliffe is himself capable of giving a very powerful, very effective political speech. Indeed, in terms of the stem-winder variety of political oratory, McAuliffe may be the stronger of the two. His speech at the state convention last year was one of the most rousing political speeches I’ve ever heard, in person or otherwise.
So I encourage y’awl to consider attendance at the following events as worth your while. It’s worth doing for the usual political reasons– to support the Democratic ticket in this campaign home-stretch. But even if there were no election, just hearing Bill Clinton speak, in person, in the context of the political battles of our times, would be reason enough.
Here’s what an email I got says is the schedule (I think this list is incomplete, and I hope that those with additional information will provide it, below, in the comments):
Sunday, October 27, 2013
DALE CITY EVENT
WHAT: “Putting Jobs First” Event with President Bill Clinton and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe
WHO: President Bill Clinton, Terry McAuliffe
WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 12:30 PM EDT
Public Access time: To be announced
Press Access time: To Be Announced
WHERE: VFW Post 1503 – 14631 Minnieville Road, Dale City, VA 22193
CROWD ACCESS INFORMATION: Tickets will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10:00am on Wednesday, October 23 at the following location:
Democratic Party of Virginia Office
4349 Ridgewood Center Drive, Suite 102
Woodbridge, VA 22193
RICHMOND EVENT
WHAT: “Putting Jobs First” Event with President Bill Clinton and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe
WHO: President Bill Clinton, Terry McAuliffe
WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 4:45 PM EDT
Public Access time: To be announced
Press Access time: To Be Announced
WHERE: Richmond Community High School – 201 E Brookland Park Blvd., Richmond, VA 23222
CROWD ACCESS INFORMATION: Tickets will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10:00am on Wednesday, October 23 at the following location:
Democratic Party of Virginia Office
1710 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23223
HAMPTON EVENT
WHAT: “Putting Jobs First” Event with President Bill Clinton and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe
WHO: President Bill Clinton, Terry McAuliffe
WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 7:45 PM EDT
Public Access time: To be announced
Press Access time: To Be Announced
WHERE: Y.H. Thomas Community Center – 1300 Thomas St., Hampton, VA 23669
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