Clinton in Cleveland: Welcome to Tri-C, Mr. President

“If you want to go into public policy, you must appeal to people’s optimism,” stated James Carville to a group of DePaul college students back in the early 90’s. Carville, a Democratic strategist and then campaign adviser to Bill Clinton, knew what he was talking about and he meant it. Now, at a time when, more than ever, negative campaigning wins elections against the other guy vs. for someone, perhaps today’s political candidates can learn a thing or two from this statement. Certainly no one knew it better then whoever first wrote down “Yes We Can.”

As midterm hits the White House and as the Ohio state elections approach this November, our state, a flip state, again, becomes the belle of the ball, courted by the local and national leaders. Is anyone really being sincere? Who knows? This is politics, the greatest show business on the planet. But, it’s also entertainment that hits our wallets and influences our national safety. Thus, as the country pushes itself forth towards an economic recovery from a fiscal disaster that no one has yet taken any accountability for, current and perspective officials come back to the place that can make or break them. Ohio is politics’ yellow brick road, and Cleveland its wizard.

Just last week, President Obama spoke at Tri-C’s West Side campus, addressing a simultaneously supportive and skeptical crowd, sharing both new information about the state of the country as well as rehashing information that most already knew. Our President inherited a complex responsibility. Regardless of where people stand, most agree that this is a tough time and most want things to get better. At least here, at a time of great unrest and polarity, our citizens can nod their heads, because who doesn’t want economic growth, a safe country and opportunities for all? This is America, where dreamers make things happen.

Today, Tri-C’s Downtown campus hosted a political rally for Governor Ted Strickland and everyone who is anyone in Ohio showed up: Mayor Frank Jackson, East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton Jr., Cavs new hope J.J. Hickson, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, Ohio Supreme Court hopeful Mary Jane Trapp, Mrs. Ohio International 2009 Sharon Witmer and numerous others seizing the opportunity to be seen, to the audience in the campus gymnasium as well as to the public, thanks to the dozens of reporters and camera men on premises. Everyone wants his or her fifteen minutes and today was the perfect storm to shine ones agenda light.

In the midst of this theater, the crowd – comprised of blue collar and white collar, young and young at heart, the hopeful and the cynical – received fantastic entertainment compliments of the Shaw High School Marching Band. The under 50 person ensemble performed pop music’s favorites, from “Shake Your Groove Thing,” to “Ring My Bell.” Mostly, all the musicians and dancers brought spirit. This talent and energy secured the band a spot at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Thus, it earned its coveted place today, at the rally and close to the podium.

Another high school sent its students to the rally and as the half dozen professionally dressed young people from JFK first waited outside the building, anxiously waiting to get in, one student revealed, “I’m here to see Bill Clinton. It’s a real blessing.”

This name, this President, brought all these people together today. He was the main attraction at Cinderella’s ball and by the time he came on stage, shaking hands with Strickland’s running mate Yvette McGee Brown, the crowd jumped to its feet, clapping, cheering, waving, smiling. Whatever that it factor is – call it charisma, personality, magnetism – Bill Clinton had it when he ran our country and he still has it today. Slim, white-haired and dressed as Johnny Carson often would – khaki pants, shirt, tie and dark sport jacket – the man’s energy immediately filled up the giant space around him, penetrating right into people’s cores. Few leaders have this. Reagan had it. Clinton has it. Some say Obama does, too. And, no matter how much these larger than life political rock stars give you, you just want more.

Clinton spoke for some time, giving his full support for Strickland, often referring to him as a friend and rattled off the country’s statistics like a mathematician defending his thesis. He talked about his work in Haiti (Clinton Bush Haiti Fund). He talked about how we shouldn’t blame Bush (Jr.) for everything and even said “(Bush) is probably the most liberal one (in his party).” He talked about how twenty-one months is not enough to judge a man’s progress. He also talked about the importance of education, training and being ready for the job openings that require specialized skill sets. He even acknowledged the Shaw High School Band twice, the first time giving the band a shout out, the second, addressing the students directly and telling them all that they dare not not go to college.

A great orator and metaphor master, Clinton also said, “The best way to get out of a hole is to stop digging it.” And, shortly after, nailed the point, illustrating his expertise of navigating a speech, any speech, to any audience, for any purpose: “The worst thing someone can do while they hold their hand on the bible is in the other hand to hold a shovel.” The crowd exploded in applause hearing this.

This was and is Clinton’s power: he knows how to attract and how to connect. To him, people of different races and backgrounds enrich this country and he has the communication gift to talk to anyone and make that person or that group not only feel like the most important contingency in the world, but that someone who is educated and in a position of influence knows exactly how he feels. At the time of his elections, no one accused this Oxford Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Yale Law School of being elitist. Clinton is man of the people and today, nearly a decade since he ran America, he’s still the favorite. As our country’s polarity expands into an unpredictable schism, today, if only for an hour, one man spoke for us and to us.

As people departed the Tri-C gymnasium, revved up and eager to meet Clinton, one of his first handshakes was with the Shaw band director. As the adjacent building played Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” and, on the drive home, the car in front displayed New Hampshire’s (where all presidential primaries begin) “Live Free or Die” license plate, a feeling of tremendous optimism infused the senses. This is, after all, America. Where anything is possible.

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com