A high point of the MLK Dedication: The spontaneous roar of the crowd when President Obama

[Empowerer]

and his family walking through the Memorial appeared on the jumbo screens. The WHOOP!!! and the cheers and applause that went up when the crowd got its first glimpse of the President demonstrated such excitement, pride and appreciation that I nearly cried.

It was a beautiful, heartwarming moment, for so many reasons. I hope he heard it so that, at least for a few moments, the loudest voices in his ear were encouraging ones.

[NYC_SKP]

1. The crowd. They "get it".

And I "get it", too.

Great day!

[CakeGrrl]

2. That's my one nitpick with C-SPAN

I love that it's pundit-free while the event takes place, and that they stick with it a good while afterward, but they do reduce the crowd noise so you can't really appreciate the magnitude of support.

Good to hear.

And I hope everyone who heard Rev. Sharpton takes his message to heart: Occupy the VOTING booth. That's what's going to be vital in 2012.

[Historic NY]

3. Occupy the VOTING booth........now thats a message.

[monmouth]

8. I thought the same thing. I so wanted to hear that roar of approval,

it would have added so much more for the viewer...I wonder if the other stations did the same thing.

[Empowerer]

9. They all do it - but not for any bad reason

They run a direct feed from the stage mics to the multboxes so that they can get clean audio without being drowned out by ambient sound, crowd noises, etc.

Also at the time, the choir was singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic - which probably also made it harder to hear the cheers, but certainly added to the goose pimple moment for everyone there. In fact, it was the cheers that made me look up at the screen. And when I looked up and saw our first black President and his beautiful young family walking alongside Dr. King's grown children and little granddaughter through the MLK Memorial, while a choir sang, "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah," I thought my heart would burst with pride and happiness.

[monmouth]

10. Many thanks for the explanation. Wow, how I envy you that you were

able to be there. One of the highlights for me, well two, Rev. Al and Rev. Joe Lowrey..Great stuff.

[Empowerer]

11. It WAS great, wasn't it?

It's nice to be reminded that politics and civic engagement need not always be contentious and painful. Times like these remind us why we do it!

[EffieBlack]

15. I get goosebumps just reading your description of it.

It sounds wonderful!

[SkyDaddy7]

4. Obama & his two daughters are so sweet!

They always seem to be happy...Despite the fact I know Obama has had many sleepless nights since taking office. I just hope they are strong enough to endure another 4yrs because "WE" need President Obama's cool, calm, pragmatic self!

...And President Obama needs us! Yes "WE" Can...NOT...Yes "HE" Can!!

[Whisp]

12. they are such a wonderful family.

the girls are so lucky to have a mum and dad like that and the parents are lucky to have such great kids.

I want to huggle them all.

[SkyDaddy7]

13. "I want to huggle them all" LOL! My wife says...

She wants to hug them all the time! You are correct they are very huggable family!

[enough]

5. As the parent of two daughters, I always love the Obama's way of relating to each other

physically during public events. They seem to stay conscious of each other, which isn't always easy, even when you're not in the focus of public attention.

I have so much ambivalence toward our President politically, but I can honestly say I love and admire this first family and wish them all the best.

[PragmaticLiberal]

6. Why would the crowd roar for Obama?

Apparently, they don't realize that he's a corporate puppet who hates poor people. :sarcasm: ;-)

[Empowerer]

7. What's really sad?

Until I read the text of your post, I thought you were serious.

That says alot about the tenor around here.

[Number23]

16. Well, considering that there are lots of posters here who feel that MLK Jr. would just be DEVASTATED

by this president, your confusion is certainly understandable.

I don't genuinely believe that anyone can honestly speak for the good Dr. But having said that, I'll take the word of MLK's family, friends and contemporaries any day of the week. And the response that those folks gave the president tells me all I need to know.

[EffieBlack]

17. +1

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. K & R

:kick: