Posted on 08/21/2004 3:46:46 PM PDT by listenhillary
The "Mother" of All House Parties
The East Bay for Kerry/MoveOn House party on December 7th combined the forces of two grass-roots organizations based in San Francisco East Bay Area. We had 200 guests eating, drinking, and watching the MoveOn Documentary “Uncovered” featuring Joseph Wilson and Rand Beers from the Kerry campaign.
When Teresa Heinz-Kerry arrived, she handed me a pin that read in the center: “Asses of Evil” with “Bush”, “Cheney”, “Rumsfeld” and “Ashcroft” surrounding it. She met, greeted and talked to a jam-packed room of Kerry supporters and others who came for the MoveOn documentary. Many were curious, others undecided, or belonging to other candidate camps.
Teresa talked about her life as the daughter of a physician in Africa, about life during a repressive regime, to life inside Washington DC, and a brief intimate glimpse into her courtship with John. She told a rapt crowd about how they met and their first date, and that he did not call again for six months, adding, “He was slow on the uptake”. Just as she was about to add more to the story, the phone rang. It was the Senator.
The synchronicity of this call was not lost on the crowd. We all laughed. John then spoke about the Medicare Bill recently signed by the president that effectively forces people into expensive HMO plans and prevents Medicare from using its formidable consumer base to drive the bulk purchase of expensive prescription drugs down. He also spoke about the recent Bush Thanksgiving visit to our military in Iraq, carrying a platter laden down with a fake turkey, smiling for a photo op.
People were hungry for the food we had prepared, but more so, hungry for John’s message of hope. After the call, Teresa took questions from the crowd. One of the questions was about grass-roots organizing, and the effect it had on the current presidential campaigns. Teresa responded that grass-roots has to happen at EVERY level, from the Internet, to canvassing and meeting people, to letter writing and phone calling. She reminded us that this was the way to connect with others and to get the message out.
A PBS producer working on a documentary on MoveOn interviewed Teresa. He asked, “Just as radio was for Roosevelt, and television was for Kennedy, the Internet has been defined as the new political grass-roots organizing tool for this era. What is your reaction to that?”
Teresa said, “The Internet is a great grass-roots organizing and political tool; but it is still an adjunct.” The producer asked her to clarify. Teresa responded, “Until EVERYONE has access to a computer and knows how to access the Internet, it will still be an adjunct political grassroots organizing tool”.
It was hard for Teresa to stay on schedule. The lovely voice of opera singer, Susan Gundunas was on hand to sing a few tunes, and that kept Teresa with us a while longer than expected. Before saying goodbye, she took with her some “Condoleezza Rice Crispies Bars” and “No Child Left Behind Chocolate Chip Cookies”, sold to generate donations to the cause. She left with a lilt to her step, a warm smile, and some new converts, some of whom were uncommitted and undecided, and some who were definitely committed, but came over to our camp. Because of her.
She gave us a bit of what she does best, connecting us as a community with her heart, compassion, and willingness to fight throughout all her life for the good of all of us. As her husband, John Kerry has throughout his life. Teresa completed the picture many people had unfinished about John Kerry. Now they know they have a “Real Deal”. From baking cookies, gathering food donations, staying up late cooking chicken wings, putting up artwork, and decorating that beautiful rambling modern home in the Oakland Hills, we at East Bay for Kerry did our job because we believe grass roots efforts include all of these finer, human details. We brought in more than 80 people to John’s birthday party the next night, bringing the room to capacity at 350 the following night.
Thanks to Teresa, we kept the party going on, and she helped us here at East Bay for Kerry, throw the Mother of All House Parties.
Fe Bongolan - December 11, 2003 East Bay for Kerry - Berkeley, CA
Posted by Pamela Leavey on December 11, 2003 at 11:30 AM
California | Entry link | Comments (14)
Comments: This was exactly the reaction Dianne and I experienced when Teresa was in Seattle a few weeks back. This is exactly what we want residing at 1600 Pennsylvaia Ave.although I wouldn't mind one bit if Teresa took on Santorum. She'd beat him but good. I still see that smirk on his face when all those men signed that bill against women. Back to the party,go K-TEAM ! These events always bring out the best of JK supporters. I can hardly wait for the dance!
Posted by: Patti Ferschke on December 11, 2003 11:51 AM Patti:
How about a "Draft Teresa" movement in PA?
Posted by: Fe on December 11, 2003 12:29 PM ***** of **** pins?
Come on, tell us where to get them!!!!
Posted by: kerry4me on December 11, 2003 12:41 PM HEY CAMPAIGN!!!!!
Let's get some "***** of ****" pins for the ground crews--what do you say?!
Posted by: Fe on December 11, 2003 12:53 PM
Real Deal fans.
We do need some more cool gear. Someone in the campaign take note.
Posted by: Aaron Loyd on December 11, 2003 01:19 PM Big thanks to everyone in the Bay Area for putting on one heck of a party. The SF Bay Area's Kerry Kountry, baby!!!
Posted by: Matt on December 11, 2003 02:24 PM A friend suggested to me - how about some combination of Teresa & Hillary for a ticket for 2008?
Posted by: DiAnne on December 11, 2003 08:12 PM Speaking of secrets, how 'bout them sealed records?! & 9-11 files? There are a couple of people with big secrets around!!!
Posted by: DiAnne on December 11, 2003 09:43 PM how bout that leaker? & the hacking of Kennedy's records on court nominees - by Hatch's hackers? & what about that Kelly guy in England?
Those are REAL secrets
Posted by: DiAnne on December 11, 2003 09:44 PM Fe Just clicked on the link & read the rest of this wonderful article!!! I'll be you had a great time & she is so inspiring! Wear your button proudly!!!
Posted by: DiAnne on December 11, 2003 10:18 PM Don Your email isn't working but the buttons were brilliant!
Posted by: DiAnne on December 11, 2003 11:10 PM I am proud to say the A**** OF E*** buttons were my doing. If you want those pins, I'll send you some for a couple bucks each. I think that will cover postage too. Send me an email!
Don Madison, WI
Posted by: Don on December 11, 2003 11:25 PM OK, got it fixed.... E-me for the pins!
Don Madison, WI
Posted by: Don on December 11, 2003 11:32 PM Don:
Just sent you an e-mail. The pins were a HUGE hit in the SF Bay Area. Is there a price break if we ask for more than 100?
BUMP for posterity
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