The second and final part of Al Franken's remarks:
....The truth is, if we don't fix the system most of us are gonna lose the health care because we're simply not gonna be able to afford the health care. [applause] And at the Minnesota state fair that's the question everybody was asking, Democrats and Republicans. But right now in Congress Democrats seem to be the only ones asking it. Republicans are busy asking Washington questions. They're asking, "How do we break President Obama? How do we make sure he fails?" That's what they're asking.
Tom referred to Jim DeMint of South Carolina, our esteemed colleague who is, is close friends with, well, both of us. [laughter] Good, good friend. [laughter] And Senator DeMint said this, I'm gonna quote what he said, "If we're able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo." Well I don't think this debate should be about President Obama. [applause] [cheers] It should be, it should be about the people who are going bankrupt because of the cost of health care, [applause] even when they have insurance. [applause] The number one cause, the number one cause of bankruptcy, of personal bankruptcy in this country are health care crises. More than half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are caused by health care crisis. And more than two thirds of those people who go bankrupt because of a health care crisis have health insurance....
[applause][cheers] Thank you. Thank you. Sit down, sit down. Hold, hold it, hold it for the end. [laughter] [voice: "Give 'em hell, Al."] [voice: "Yay, Al!"] [voice: "What about Rush?"] Tom, Ruth, thank you for inviting me. I, you know, this is great on a non-presidential year, it's nice and intimate here. It's just you and you're closest two thousand friends, right? [laughter] Governor Culver, let me, let me say something about your dad, your dad. I think all of us saw a lot of the Kennedy memorials and testaments to him and the funeral and there were a lot of tears. But there was also a lot of laughs. And your dad gave kind of a testimonial that was just hilarious and, and it went viral. I don't know how many of you have seen it, it's just. [applause] So here's my advice to you, Governor. If you have even half the sense of humor that your, your dad has [laughter] do not let people see it until you retire. [laughter] Just don't, it'll just get you in trouble. [laughter] I should know. [laughter]....
Senators Al Franken and Tom Harkin in Indianola, Iowa.
Both Senator Tom Harkin (D), Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, and Senator Al Franken (D) a member of the Senate HELP Committee stated to the press and in their speeches at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa today that health care reform legislation coming out of the committee would have a strong public option.
There were approximately 1500 to 2000 people in attendance at the Warren County fairgrounds. A tiny group of teabaggers picketed one of the main entrances to the event along Highway 92. They received some encouraging horn honking along with a few single finger salutes.
The crowd of Democratic Party and progressive activists and supporters heard speeches from Iowa politicians, Tom Harkin, and Al Franken. This was a very supportive audience - they liked what they were hearing.
Next Sunday we'll be heading out to Indianola, Iowa to cover the 32nd Annual Harkin Steak Fry, one of the most fun large scale outdoor Democratic events in the Midwest.
September 2003 - rain and mud and orange t-shirts. photo: Bob Yates
Senator Harkin's Steak Fry is always one of the most highly anticipated, time-honored Iowa political traditions. Every year thousands of Iowans gather in Tom's home county, and this year we are pleased to announce Senator Al Franken as the special guest!
Please join us at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday, September 13, 2009.
The Steak Fry will be from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. (Warren County Fairgrounds are located 1 mile west of the intersection of Highways 65/69 and 92)
September 2007 - sun and a band and 12,000 other people.
This won't be quite the same as 2003 or 2007 - presidential campaign years - but Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) is the featured speaker. That alone will be worth the four and a half hour drive.
Joe Biden and Barack Obama at the "photo-op", Harkin Steak Fry, Indianola Iowa, September 16, 2007.
Almost a year ago I scored my first press credential to cover the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa for Show Me Progress. Looking back through those stories and photos recently I was reminded of a brief encounter between Barack Obama and Joe Biden as their photo-ops overlapped:
...I made my way back to the public grounds. I see Joe Biden. There are three people around him. I take a few photos.
I spot a swirling crowd. It's Obama - he's surrounded by a swarm of media and supporters. I join in and and start taking pictures. The mass of humanity makes its way to the photo op-area. After Obama walks into the fenced area those of us with press passes follow.
Obama is engaged in a lengthy conversation with a grill volunteer. He listens intently.
Joe Biden makes his way into the photo-op area. He and Obama are simultaneously greeting the people in the area. They see each other and shake hands...
The Raw Story
...Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama is again facing questions about his patriotism from some conservative blogs -- this time for apparently failing to put his hand over his heart during a rendition of the national anthem at an Iowa campaign event....
In 1943, at a time when we were at war, the United States Supreme Court had a thing or two to say about "required" displays of patriotism.
The crowd had filled out to its full size of 12,000 (probably minus a few no shows).
I stopped to talk to two women who were sporting Hillary stickers. I asked them where they were from. "Grinell, Iowa." I asked them who they were supporting. "Hillary or Obama. They both have platforms we agree with." One said, "It's a triumph of American politics I'd like to see. Both are smart." I asked if they would be participating in the caucus. Both said they have in the past, and they will this time, too.
As I walked through the entrance gate a twenty-something asks me for my ticket, then sees the press pass, smiles and says, "Sorry," then motions me through. I'm wondering the same thing.
Down the rabbit hole.
There was an army of volunteers at the entrance from one campaign or another passing out campaign stickers (and still others working the crowd, handing out campaign paraphernalia and getting Iowans to fill out cards). They see my pass and don't offer me anything.
There's no mud. People stream in through the entrance. The food lines at the south east are humming with activity. The huge tents with tables are occupied. I see a big crowd to the north east.
Ah. The scheduled photo-op.
The attendance to the event is eventually announced. 12,000. A record. That's one big mass of humanity.
Well, after a day's total of nine hours of driving we just got back from the Harkin Steak Fry. As a surreal experience it certainly exceeded expectations.
When we arrived into town at Highway 92 - heading east toward the balloon field - we encountered one of the slowest moving traffic jams I have ever experienced. It took us 45 minutes to get the three miles from a highway junction to the balloon field.
Early tomorrow morning a small group of us from Warrensburg will pile into two vehicles for the 4 1/2 hour drive to that muddy (probably) balloon field near Indianola, Iowa for the 30th Harkin Steak Fry. This to hear Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson speak.
I wrote about some of my experiences at the event four years ago here.
On Sunday, September 16th the 30th Harkin Steak Fry will take place at the balloon field in Indianola, Iowa. Democratic Presidential candidates Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator John Edwards, Senator Barack Obama, and Governor Bill Richardson will be in attendance (and speak to the crowd).
I plan on attending this year.
On September 12th in 2003 I received a phone call from a friend the day before the Harkin Steak Fry. He asked me, "Do you want to go?" It'd been ages since I'd taken a road trip - I agreed to go. So, we drove the 4 1/2 hours to stand in a muddy balloon field and listen to Democratic presidential candidates. We had the time of our lives.
