Just arrived at the Sean Bielat HQ in Newton from the Obama rally today several observations:
The Unions had a lot of sign holders out across the street, there was a small tea party presence there as well but not very significant from what I saw.
I was told on the record that the fire Marshall allowed 6600 in the main room, it was full, there is also an over flow room that hold about 2400, there were 800 people or so there plus another 200-500 outside. So figure maybe 8000. That means that president Barack Obama, Deval Patrick and Barney Frank were unable on a Saturday 3 weeks before an election to outdraw Sarah Palin on the Boston Common in April on a Wednesday. Democrats be afraid, be very afraid.
I am very interested in how many congressional candidates and state office holders in contested races choose to skip this rally.
Most of the people there once they found out I was a conservative and a tea party supporter clamed up and assumed I would be a dishonorable liar. I should have resented that more but I was more amazed than resentful. When I told them I predicted that we (Republicans) will take 3 seats including ma-10 they laughed at me….
…but they also insisted the tea party was strictly astroturf and that we were being financed. To that I say, if only, IF ONLY!
I did talk to several people in line (only one would go on camera, delightful woman) and they were mixed about how much help the visit would be. I actually think it will help Patrick a lot since it’s a 3 way race and in a 3 way race your base is the most important.
Ran into Michael Graham who was at the Comic Book convention (and Magic tourney) in the same building. The comic book & magic people drew about 2500 so the prez did 3 times better than them with a free event.
For the first time ever I forgot my press credential from the Scott Brown rally, and it hurt because the Secret Service turned me away from the press entrance because of it.
The defining moment of the day for me happened just after that. One of the guys from a comic store in Lowell figured this was a great chance to move some of the Obama hardcover Spiderman comics that he can’t move. Cover price is $30, Amazon sells it at $22, he offered it for $5 and out of a dozen managed to sell…..2.
This rally has absolutely convinced me that democrats in Massachusetts are in deeper trouble than I thought and the most fanatical ones of them are in even deeper denial.
I’ll update with photos as soon as I get a chance.
Update: Here is a slideshow from the event
Also Stacy has some info on the rally
Update 2: Here is some video. The first is the spiderman video
The next one was while I was inside heading to the overflow room, I thought the line was for the president but it turned out it was for the Mayor of Quahog
In fairness of COURSE there were more people there to see the president and governer, his crew outnumbered the Magic the gathering tournament and the comic convention 3 to 1 (of course it was free to see the president).
Here was the overflow room, I got there at the end and you can see how many had flowed in:
The delightful lady who supported Deval and Obama was Natella Poladzade
If I was the president I’d take her to every rally he has.
Update 3: Via Fleming and hays Barney’s boyfriend heckles Sean Bielat at WGBH:
They ask an interesting question:
This brings an interesting element to the race when such a prominent “supporter” of Frank feels the need to try and pick a fight with the opposition. While Frank continues to promote his theory that, “According to our numbers we are up by more than 20 points no matter what we do.”, this type of action smells of desperation and fear. Not to mention, he clearly has no campaign staff to speak of, obviously, because the only person he could muster up to heckle his opponent was the antithesis of anonymous. We’ve got to give Barney a break, though, this is the first time in 30 years he’s had to campaign and he clearly doesn’t know how to go about it.
That’s a good question, I invite those who doubt my three seat prediction or my report on the trend in Massachusetts at Examiner.com to answer.
Update 4: Quick FYI to the people who talked to me and gave their first names, I’ll be writing a longer examiner column about what you said during my road trip that I’m starting tonight, do not worry you will be heard.
Update 5: Instalanche welcome pundit readers. I have a little more video I’m about to add. Also $190 away for paying for a 3 state road trip with RS McCain to cover a few congressional races in NY and Pa (and maybe va) so if you can kick in to finish paying for the rental and gas that would be much appreciated.
Meanwhile here is the crowd moving forward
and more crowd shots:
And a “bad sign” for Deval
And the info about the 6600 allowed in:
Update 6: Chris Lackey claims I’m misrepresenting facts, since he claims that I’m acting dishonorably I demand satisfaction! I put a series of questions in comments for him to answer or to put up his own account of what he saw.
Update 7: Chris answered my questions in comments and I answered his in comments, and I figured out why he thought I was BS’ing. He was counting the number of people in the hall itself. The 6600 represents the number of supporters that the fire Marshall allowed in AFTER security and people on stage etc. So naturally he thought I was lowballing the number since he of course based his number on everyone while to me the number allowed in (indicating the number of supporters willing to show up) was the story. No wonder he thought I was lying. That should have occurred to me so I’m sorry I got so angry about it, but questioning my veracity or honor is a hot button thing with me.
Also apparently they held initial people in the overflow room (when Chris showed up) so naturally it was full then. I saw it after the main hall was full and they were putting people in there to see. Both of us were right but different perspective because of different times.
Update 8: Continued the discussion here and discovered that 3000 supporters were Bussed in ahead of time all over the state. As I recall this wasn’t done for the April 14th Rally with the Tea Party express and Sarah Palin. So I guess things are even worse then I thought if they had to bus people in to make sure they had numbers.
Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog 
The President is sort of like a ghost of Carter from the past. People today don’t care to hear about hope and change, after the wipe out of 2008 was followed by the wasted money of stimulus with no jobs. Don’t expect Obama to make any money as ex prez like Clinton. Nobody will fund a museum in his name either.
I’m sorry if his supporters can’t buy 10 copies of the Spiderman Hardcover at $5 that tells the whole story.
You have to consider the novelty factor. Another group of socialists running their mouth in Boston is nothing new. A conservative who loves this country? Now, that’s something you don’t see in Massachusetts every day.
I’m sorry, but I find the report incoherent.
“I was told on the record that the fire Marshall allowed 6600 in the main room, it was full, there is also an over flow room that hold about 2400, there were 800 people or so there plus another 200-500 outside. So figure maybe 8000. That means that president Barack Obama, Deval Patrick and Barney Frank were unable on a Saturday 3 weeks before an election to outdraw Sarah Palin on the Boston Common in April on a Wednesday. Democrats be afraid, be very afraid.”
What room? What rally was this? Where was Sarah Palin?
Then a clarification later on…of course Obama’s rally outnumbered something or other by 3:1.
What?!?
I was at the comic book convention and yeah, I noticed the preprinted signs dumped in the street. Also one of the pro Deval folks was at one point holding two signs and trying to hide a counter protestor’s sign.
Allow me to clarify:
I kept inquiring with the police how many people the hall would hold, was told by the campain that the restriction was 6600 due to the setup.
The overflow room was in another part of the hall.
The 3-1 outnumbering was of the comic book and magic the gathering convention at the same location at the same time.
Sarah Palin was at the Boston common on April 14, I covered that tea party event fully on the blog.
The hurried report was because I wanted to get something up fast while I was at Bielat HQ getting ready to scoot for the road trip, had issues getting on the wi-fi so I had to use their machine and couldn’t upload the photos
Hope that helps
btw how was the comic convention, been years since I attended one
[…] draw Sarah Palin in MA? Doesn’t appear so. No […]
Wow, they all looked cold standing outside. We are still wearing shorts and sandals in Calif.
[…] First report from the Obama rally today UPDATE Photos, video and … This entry was written by Aspenegig & filed under Obama and tagged april, Barack, […]
[…] DaTechGuy and Fleming and Hayes comes forty-five seconds of amusement. For those without video access, the […]
[…] DaTechGuy and Fleming and Hayes comes forty-five seconds of amusement. For those without video access, the […]
How Stupid are those running the State GOP?
Headline from Newsmax in May: “Even in Massachusetts, 70% oppose benefits for illegal aliens” and that was from a rasmussen poll.
All 9 incumbents running, are co-sponsors of the DREAM Act!
Does anyone see any statewide ads, informing the public to this FACT?
[…] First report from the Obama rally today UPDATE Photos, video and Instalanche! Just arrived at the Sean Bielat HQ in Newton from the Obama rally today several observations: The Unions had a lot of […] […]
Well remember that the State republican party didn’t manage to run anyone against Martha Coakley, it was the Tea Party and the people that got him on the ballot.
I’m sorry but why do Liberals feel they are entitled to leave their trash everyplace. Mommy can’t always be there to pick up after you!
awesome work….very good
impressed
The con was fun, though it was mostly one big dealer’s room. I am more of a fan run convention kinda guy myself.
[…] DaTechGuy and Fleming and Hayes comes forty-five seconds of amusement. For those without video access, the […]
Most of the people there once they found out I was a conservative and a tea party supporter clamed up and assumed I would be a dishonorable liar.
No they assume you’re going to tell the truth – that’s why they ‘clamed’ up
In fairness considering what they been told from the other side, what else would they think?
They were right to worry about your coverage, Pete. A lot of this is inaccurate and misrepresented. I was there, and actually took the time to get in. There are elements that are dead wrong in this post, misrepresented to make us look bad. Very disappointed in Pete and in people willing to use this as a trustable source.
Ok Chris since you are calling me a liar, lets play.
Which photos there are faked?
Which film is tampered?
How many of the people I talked to were you standing next too so that I can misrepresent what they said?
Are you maintaining that they did not have a 6600 person limit in the hall?
Are you maintaining that I faked the overflow room?
Are you maintaining that the guy did sell the Spiderman comics?
Are you maintaining that there union signs were not on the ground?
You want to disagree with me fine, you want to say you saw something different that’s fine too, if you are however claiming I am misrepresenting facts then you’re calling me a liar and I demand satisfaction. Either answer the questions I ask, Apologize, or put up a post of your own describing what you saw. After all I couldn’t see everything and you eyewitness account I’m sure would add to the discussion.
I’m actually surprised you didn’t seem me BTW you can’t miss me and the Fedora, unless you got there REALLY early and got in among the first.
There is one thing you can clarify for me, how many and which congressmen from Massachusetts showed up to be with the Prez?
1. No photos were faked, just inaccurate jaded commentary without time stamps.
2. Film isn’t tampered – same as above.
3. I don’t think you misrepresented people’s words, and I never claimed you did. Interesting how you tried to morph my accusation into something you felt better about being held responsible for.
4. Yes. There were already over 3000 people inside that were bused in from various towns/groups that were inside at 11am (that’s what that room you were in was – a holding room before going through security). They then allowed over 6,000 ADDITIONAL people in from the thousands of the general public who were waiting in lines around the block, SIGNIFICANTLY longer than the hundreds in the Adam West line.
5. The overflow room was the area that held people past the over 10,000 persons in the actual room with the president, and held people getting ready to go through security. This room was massive, and the line where people were standing in your video was over the halfway point in the room, leading me to believe numbers were over 1K in that room when you filmed.
6. The area where the man was selling the (way overprinted) Spiderman comics was secondary and in the comic convention area which was an optional exit for the rally attendees. Did you take this picture when the rally ended? If not, those people passing through were unlikely to have been rally attendees – except for the one buying. PLUS, it was a comic book. Not every voter for Patrick/Obama wants to buy a comic book, even if it was a dollar, especially from a guy rudely and obnoxiously trying to prove a point with circumstantial evidence. The comic came out well over a year ago, so it’s not like it was new, either. I don’t think you should be using that as an indicator about how people are going to vote.
7. There were signs on the ground, left for people to use if they wish. You walking through (at a completely unspecified time) and seeing them not being used could have been before or after the speeches, or just extras – there were hundreds inside the waiting room when we got there. There were also instructions to leave any used signs on the ground and they would be picked up by cleanup crews. We were not allowed to bring signs of our own, and cleanup inside the building was quick while we were getting prepared to enter, so the cleanup crews were there to do the job. Why do you think everyone outside with signs or standing in support were union members? The signs were one of the 2 designs that were printed by the campaign, and could be found everywhere. They stated nothing about unions, and there were many groups standing outside in support. If you don’t want the Tea Party to be accused of being an “astro turf” organization, please stop claiming the democratic party is only supported by unions.
I did not see you because I was actually inside during much of the preparation and speeches, and then outside during the big name speeches, where I saw hundreds also standing outside the building watching on the giant screen with a live feed. I saw the thousands inside the room, and then the thousands outside, wrapped around the building, hoping to get in. They did not allow everyone in that showed up, showing there was even more interest than just the over 10,000 that were able to get inside.
In one photo, you mention that no one was allowed in yet, on an image of hundreds of people waiting. Buses were the first allowed in at 11am through another entrance – there were thousands of us. We were all waiting in the overflow room until about 12:15, when we were passed through security, which took well over an hour and a half, and then later they allowed people from the general public in.
I’d be interested in hearing what time you did your rounds of the area, and when pictures were taken. You make large assumptions about what was going on, without actually being where the action was taking place.
I’m also waiting for your coverage of the many Olver signs I’ve been seeing popping up around town – there was so much coverage of that one sign on this blog previously, I expected wall-to-wall coverage of each one in front of the businesses and homes I’ve been seeing! Only one small mention of 3 you saw a week ago, and it didn’t even make the headline??
Also waiting for coverage of the Central Massachusetts Tea Party groups removing the discriminatory members from their ranks that it took me only two trips to expose. Justin Brooks claimed there is a zero-tolerance policy, yet I heard some horrific anti-gay speech in Sutton, as well as was told personally that atheists can’t be good citizens. I guess I’ll just have to wait until the policy is actually enforced. I mean, my report made the paper the following day, but I guess that was only a month and a half ago…
I’ll be looking forward to your coverage of the Rally to Restore Sanity with JON Stewart from a few blocks away.
1.. Commentary is exactly that, commentary, surely I have the right to comment on what I see from my own perspective?
2. Same on the film, I never used time stamps in the past. I should point out all the initial comments came out way before the photos and uploads went up, I coudln’t get my laptop connected to the Bielat wireless (had the right key as well not really sure what was going down) So my initial commentary went up way before the images which I had to put up after I came home. Got to the Bielat HQ around say 5 or 6. Nasty traffic on the Pike at the toll booths.
3. To me it was a point of honor, to me your suggestion that I was misrepresenting fact. That’s called being called a liar,and yes I take that personally, because that’s dishonorable, note the interview with Natella Poladzade. She is absolutely delightful and a great spokesman. If it were my rally I’d have her on stage (in fact if I was Patrick’s advance people I’d have people going through the crowd like I did to find people like that to highlight them but that’s their job not mine)
If I wanted to misrepresent wouldn’t I have painted the tea party people as more numerous? Woudn’t I have left her youtube on the floor, or interviewed the tea party folk instead?
4. you will note after the Mayor West thing I make it a point to say OF COURSE the crowd was larger for the prez, I had gone to the West line thinking it was the overflow room line, that’s what make it funny to me. It’s exactly the type of “Family Guy” joke you would see on the show.
I took exception because it sure sounded like you were calling me a liar, what else would a person think?
5. the 6600 number was directly given me by the Patrick people. That is the number the fire marshall allowed in the main room to view the event and is a direct quote. The overflow room number I got from the sign on the overflow room and took a picture of it. Now the 6600 doesn’t count the candidates, people on stage or security and press but they wouldn’t be part of the crowd to “see” the president they are part of the support, the significant number is the number of people there to see the event, that number is the story.
I should have considered that you would think I was lowballing the group because naturally if you got there earlier than me (which seems to be the case) you would see the massive security etc. I’m sure between the press, security and VIP the number would be closer to capacity.
Given that difference when reading the report I now understand how you might think I lowballed the number for political reasons, so naturally you would think I was lying. That’s not your fault, if you thought I was BSing the number you might suspect me of BSing other stuff, so that explains much.
6. Since the spiderman comic cover price was $25 (and sells at amazon for $22) $5 is not overpriced. It is very possible that if you got there before me he was trying to sell it for $20 and then kept lowering his price till he could move them. (common tactic with Graphic novels) I took that picture before the governor went on as people were still coming in, I left while the president was talking, went back to the Mall, bought a book to get my parking validated. I got there around 1 or 1:30 while the drum band outside was still warming up the crowd. I spent a couple of hours outside before checking out the comic convention then trying to get in via the press enterence before being turned away.
I took that picture while the overflow room was getting people in it, I only stayed in the overflow room long enough to shoot the shot, but I immediately went outside where no more people were coming in and the pres was on the wide screen outside in the very strong wind.
I disagree about the significance, it was a souvenir of seeing the president of the US How often do you get to do that? $5 isn’t much to expect to pay and I watched at least 200 people go by him before he sold one. He only had 12, that’s not a lot to try to move. Again if I wanted to misrepresent I would have stuck with the photo when he old sold the one.
7. The sign area was across the street, the people in line were not using them. I say they were union members because I went over there and talked to them. I was also told the unions dropped off the signs for their members to hold. There were plenty of members holding signs but clearly more signs than members.
The sticker stuff for patrick was told to me by the people in the line. I didnt’ know you weren’t allowed to bring signs, that’s odd but given an enclosed space and the prez I suspect that is secret service stuff.
I’m sure the signs would have been picked up since they could be reused, but after the one nation trash debacle it was worth noting
I see you got there a lot earlier than me. I’d be interested in what you saw on prep. Again the 6600 people came directly to me from the Patrick Campaign.
I got there around 1 or 1:30 the band was still warming people up. I’m assuming that since they made you wait in the overflow room that woudl explain why nobody was getting in for a while because they were putting the overflow room people through security first.
It sounds like a question of the blind man and elephant. i spent a couple of hours outside before going in so I stayed maybe 3 hours. I was much more interested in the people than the pols because the people were the story.
I did mention more Olver signs and linked to a liberal friend who talked about more in West Fitchburg (check out the post For Sale would be winning)
I wasn’t at the Sutton event but I tell you what I’ll talk to your old friend Justin when I’m back in Mass (writing this from Maryland)
I will likely not be at the Jon Stewart rally but DaHospitalityGuy will be there so I’ll link him. If I take one more road trip the wife will kill me, but if the Stewart People will fly me down and put me in a hotel I’ll go if the wife will pass it.
8.
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People were bused into the Palin’s event as well. 2 minute’s worth of Google searching brought this reference to people from as far as Maine busing in.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/tea-party-express-rallying-in-boston-today_2010-04-14.html
I’m not accusing you of lying, just consistently getting facts wrong.
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