Purple tickets no help in getting into inauguration

The Herald Net ^ | 1/21/2009 | Kaitlin Manry

[JRochelle]

WASHINGTON D.C. - After waiting for up to eight hours packed together outside in below freezing temperatures, thousands of ticketholders were turned away from the inauguration Tuesday.

People began waiting hours before sunrise, their bodies squished against strangers in a massive mob.

It’s unclear why so many ticketholders were denied access to the inauguration. Tickets were color-coded – and thousands of people with purple tickets gathered at their appointed gate early Tuesday morning. By 6 a.m., mobs of people had taken over several blocks around the gate. There was no line and no one directing traffic or keeping order.

Ticket-holders, including several Cascade High School students, stood in the same spot for hours without moving a foot. People were packed in so tightly they couldn’t move their arms. Several children and elderly people were caught in the middle of the crowd. Some people called 911, but were apparently told nothing could be done.

Overwhelmed, many tried to leave, but couldn’t get free of the throng. While thousands of port-a-potties lined the National Mall, there were no toilets in the mob zone. Some people urinated anyway.

Bettye Boone waited near the designated entrance gate from 5:30 a.m. until noon, when Obama was sworn in and she finally gave up hope of seeing him.

She flew from Memphis for the inauguration, spending considerable money to watch the nation’s first African American president be inaugurated. “I missed my moment in history and that really bothers me,” she said, crying by the fence she’d spent hours waiting beside. “When you’re almost 60 years old and you’ve been through some things with segregation, this is important.”

[JRochelle]

HaHa.

LOL.

[AppyPappy]

Welcome to reality, people.

[Holicheese]

Thats a complete, FAIL!

[abigailsmybaby]

They called 911 and they were refused aid? Why it’s Katrina all over again!!!!!!!!

[JRios1968]

[Snappy1MarineMom]

Let me the first to say, 0bama’s fault!

[chris_bdba]

ROFLOL! What is he supposed to do? There is no way in h#ll I’d go to any of them without a VIP ticket(seat). These people were crazy to even try!

[Roses0508]

I read somewhere that the problem was mostly security breaches at the gate....which made things that much slower.

[JRios1968]

For some reason, it made me think of this

[AppyPappy]

I don’t care who you are. That’s funny right there.

[JRios1968]

Let me the first to say, 0bama’s fault!

I am sure some Dimbulbs will say it's Bush's fault.

[Oldpuppymax]

Tickets? These were DONATIONS people! And by the way...keep the change!

[They'reGone2000]

Bettye Boone waited near the designated entrance gate from 5:30 a.m. until noon, when Obama was sworn in and she finally gave up hope of seeing him. She flew from Memphis for the inauguration, spending considerable money to watch the nation’s first African American president be inaugurated. “I missed my moment in history and that really bothers me,” she said, crying by the fence she’d spent hours waiting beside. “When you’re almost 60 years old and you’ve been through some things with segregation, this is important.”

Save your ticket, Bettye. You can frame it.

It will be worth even LESS some day.

[TankerKC]

There was no line and no one directing traffic or keeping order....stood in the same spot for hours without moving a foot...People were packed in so tightly they couldn’t move their arms...Several children and elderly people were caught in the middle of the crowd...Overwhelmed, many tried to leave, but couldn’t get free of the throng.

Witness. I was there.

[Oldpuppymax]

Purple? Ah, the same color used to wrap all day SUCKERS!!!

[MeanWestTexan]

Well, some animals are more equal than others in the Obama Nation.

It’s a lesson they had to learn some time.

[shoutingandpointing]

"She flew from Memphis for the inauguration, spending considerable money to watch the nation’s first African American president be inaugurated. “I missed my moment in history and that really bothers me,” she said, crying by the fence she’d spent hours waiting beside. "

That's right Betty: " I", "my", "me." It was all about you.

You bought a plane ticket sister, not the Magic Your Way Ticket at Disney.

[TankerKC]

I read somewhere that the problem was mostly security breaches at the gate...

Yep. Folks were jumping across the barriers and packing the area.

[MrB]

This is liberalism in microcosm.

Unable to free themselves of the group, they simply pee on themselves and anyone near them.

[Doctor Raoul]

Bettye Boone waited near the designated entrance gate from 5:30 a.m. until noon, when Obama was sworn in and she finally gave up hope of seeing him.

She flew from Memphis for the inauguration, spending considerable money to watch the nation’s first African American president be inaugurated. “I missed my moment in history and that really bothers me,” she said, crying by the fence she’d spent hours waiting beside. “When you’re almost 60 years old and you’ve been through some things with segregation, this is important.”

Obama let her down. Won't be the last time.