My days with Obama!!!

So let’s start at the beginning…

Monday 9/8
While perusing facebook and looking for someone to harass on instant messenger, I noticed that an old friend from high school had an interesting away. “If you’re in NYC and have a driver’s license, I have an amazing opportunity. Hit me up for more details.” Curious, I did, to see what it was about.

M.: What’s the opportunity?
B: You’re in NY?
M.: I live here
B: I didn’t know… Obama is coming to town and we need a driver for his motorcade
M.: SHUTUP!

Now all I had to hear was Obama and I didn’t care if I had to hold his coffee all day and keep it hot.

B.: Yeah all I need is your license number, social, full name and to make sure you don’t have a record for secret service and you can do it.
M.: I think I paid my last ticket before I left.
B: No like no DUI’s or a criminal record
M.: OH! Nope clean as a whistle here’s all my info…let me make sure with my boss…

Now here was the hard part: convincing my boss, a staunch McCain supporter and strong believer in no days off, to let me do this. How was I going to swing this? So I phrased it a little something like this:

M.: So I know you hate him and everything but my friend just offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity to help out with Obama’s motorcade for two days and I would love you forever and truly appreciate if you let me do it…..(deep inhale)

My boss always wants to be loved so I figured I’d play to that emotion...“Sure” he said and no quicker than he did, I ran back to my desk to begin my journey.

To be honest, the entire night before, I was so anxious that I definitely started to believe that maybe it was all a joke. Maybe I would show up to the Park Meridian the next day only to find hidden cameras and surprise that the joke was on me. This was too good to be true.

Wednesday 9/10/08
I couldn’t sleep with excitement. I woke up, showered picked out my winner outfit and began getting dressed. While hopstopping directions, I got a text to bring a snack and also print some things out for my friend. This was really happening. I sprayed my fave perfume and I was out the door.

As I arrived at the Meridian I saw two young girls who looked as excited and lost as I did. I asked if they were here to volunteer too and they said yes. Turns out they were Columbia students where the event would be held the following day. When everyone arrived, I was given the keys to Staff van 3 and instructed on all the rules of motorcades.
We were off to the airport.

Watching Obama’s plane land and him step was out of this world. From the secret service to the protocol to the sheer level of intensity and amount of press that travels with him, it’s unreal. You always see the clips on TV but to see it first hand, on the tarmac…I don’t even have words so here are pictures:

These are my fellow drivers and our leader...
This is a picture of the super scary Armored SWAT guys...



On the tarmac folks! UNREAL....

He was immediately rushed to Letterman so I wasn’t able to get a picture. I hope you all tuned in. If you didn’t here’s a clip…


He did good...funny, relatable, talked about the issues a bit. Thoughts?

After Letterman, he came back to the airport, flew to DC for an event then returned to NY again. I don’t envy this man’s schedule. An hour before we had picked him up that morning he was in Virginia. It’s crazy, yet commendable, the stamina one must have to campaign.

We finished the evening with a pizza dinner, a job well done yet sadly, no picture with the main man yet.

Thursday 9/11
This day is so bittersweet. A day of remembrance, yet one of the coolest days of my life and a historical one. But security of course had to be even tighter than the day before:





I struck up a conversation with a secret service agent named Kevin*
M.: How does one become a secret service agent?
Kevin*: Well you go to college, get your degree and apply. Then you take the tests, go through the training and there you have it.
M.: Are most former military?
Kevin*:Yeah a lot are but not all.
M.: Are you?
Kevin*:Yup Army just got back from Iraq in March
M.: Oh wow so what do you do specifically?
Kevin*: I’m EOD (explosive ordinance division..I think). Basically we check for explosives or threats and then test for them to set them off. So say if there’s a bomb in the seat of your car, I sit on it to test it before you do.
M.: Um aren’t you scared?
Kevin*: Well I just got back from Iraq so compared to being shot at and worrying about land mines…it’s not so bad.
M.: Yeaaaaah you’re right.

By now I guess word had spread that he is here and on each corner crowds would just grow by the minute everywhere we went. Take a look:





Finally he came out:


We started off by leaving the hotel and heading to Harlem to visit Clinton at his office. Our motorcade included about 15 or so cars, a bus and swat trucks with highly armed officers. With sirens blaring, lights flashing and a tight, tailgating train in tow, we took off, getting to ignore any and all traffic laws. BY FAR THE COOLEST THING EVER!

Once in Harlem, people would get excited over everything. While bringing back our lunch from Sylvia’s (amazing soul food by the way you got to try it!!!) people were yelling, “There goes Obama’s lunch!!!”



Here’s a pic of good ol Billy Bob aka the Other Black President and Barack in Harlem:
This preacher showed support by running inside and throwing on her shirt (left) and the other wanted me to tell Mr. Obama, “Look No Lipstick!”
But as we left, the crowds in the streets had grown so large, literally over a thousand people, crowd control almost got out of hand. I shot this video while driving (shhh don’t tell) right before some people tried to run up to Obama’s van to take pictures and pissed off the secret service:


It was so empowering to see so much support, love and care from Harlem. Not empathy, not just excitement over someone notable, but true compassion, true care, true excitement for change. People are happy this man has stepped up.

Next we headed all the way downtown toward ground zero to meet up with Biden and McCain (yup that Stepford Wife Cindy was there too). It was extremely emotional at the site and there were countless officers and firefighters.

I thought this was funny...It rolled by RIGHT before McCain's motorcade....
Some humorous elements, however, were that McCain’s motorcade included an ambulance and ALL staff had walkie-talkies…everyone. One of the drivers had a video camera too….but he was narrating. Also, a tourist next to where I was parked on the other side of the barricade had a last minute sign that read, “Obama, thanks for not letting us get a glimpse of you.” Little did he know it had nothing to do with him but rather how the barricade was setup. On such a day, every extra measure was taken for safety. Here’s a clip of McCain’s motorcade rolling in:


We left the memorial and headed back to the hotel where a secret service agent decide to seize an opportunity:

Agent: So how’d you get this gig?
M.: I volunteered.
Agent: Really are you qualified?
M.: Oh yes I’m a pro sir!
Agent: Hmmm. We’ll see. I think I’m going to need your phone number to check you out.
M.: Smooth but I definitely gave them my social security number so I’m sure if you wanted to you could find out when I lost my first tooth.
Agent checks his phone…
Agent: Nope not in here so I think you should give me your number to be sure.
M.: Sliiiiiiiiiiick

Luckily, we were interrupted by head of security and I was not invited into anymore relentless flirting Homeland Security.

Next stop: Service Forum at Columbia aka Obama’s Alma Matter.

More cops of course...Mr. Obama going to his car...
This was hilarious...the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha better known as PIKE had a sign that read "OBAMA McCAIN SETTLE THIS THE AMERICAN WAY" and a picture of a beer pong table...
These sorority girls kept watching from their window trying to get a picture of Obama...they waved as I took a picture of them...

Here's the press room where we could watch the forum..

McCain delivered a colloquial, slightly humorous speech that of course barely answered questions and didn’t speak to anything really. Obama, however, seemed like there was so much he wanted to say in so little time. This is his niche; service to fellow man. I have mixed emotions about this part of the evening but we shall revisit that later. Overall all, the evening was a success and everyone was ready to end a day well done.

Riding back came one of the highlights of the day:

Obama Staff Member: You’re like Danica Patrick.
M.: Oh its nothing this is just like Grand theft auto, Election Style.

I left for the evening feeling a sense of accomplishment, like I had truly participated in something great. It helped that as the staff members in my van left, each and every one said thank you, good night, and shook my hand or said, “Good job!”. To be part of that type of team, even if for a short time, is a. something I hope to experience again this lifetime and b. exemplary of those who surround a certain type of individual. Even more reassuring of the day's efforts was as I walked down the steps of the subway station to go home, a homeless man was singing Sam Cooke's Change Gon' Come. It was so perfect for the end of this day on the road to change that it was almost mystic, like a reaffirming sign if you believe in that like I do...look:

*I know the construction workers SUCK! lol

I’m so glad I was fortunate enough to miss work to participate in the past few days. Although I didn’t get my Presidential picture with Barack, I did good kids!!! I might get another chance very very very soon ;p

So stay tuned to Head Cases…I’m always happy to share a piece of this head with a case…..

M.