Saturday, September 22, 2012

 9:17 PM 

Obama's Milwaukee speech draws thousands to lakefront

Obama was met Saturday by an enthusiastic crowd officials pegged at roughly 18,000 at the Summerfest grounds.

The large crowd was undeterred by a line that stretched from the south gate of the grounds past the north gate. As they waited in line, rally-goers were met by more than a dozen vendors selling t-shirts, buttons, hats and even Obama-Biden cell phone cases.

One of those in the crowd was Marvin Spivcy, 42, of Milwaukee, who said the biggest issue he sees is the job market. Spivcy is currently unemployed due to the “tough economy,” he said. “It is hard out here right now.”

Spivcy said Obama has been trying to create jobs during his first term.

“He tried with unemployment even though it is stagnant right now,” he said. “Hopefully, in the next four years, he can turn it around.”

Another issue in Spivcy’s life is access to health care. Since he is unemployed, he is currently not covered. “I feel greatly for ObamaCare,” he said. “I support what he is doing.”

A pair of educators criticized Mitt Romney as they waited.

Retired Milwaukee Public School teacher Mary Jakubiak knocked him over his taxes.

“My income tax percentage of 26 percent was higher than his was,” she said.

“Obama supports the middle class,” she said. “He stands for women, workers and unions.”

Cynthia Schmechel, a teacher’s aide for MPS, said Romney doesn’t connect with the average person

“Mitt Romney is a phony,” she said. “He is a rich businessman and cannot relate to the real world.”

After the event, Harvey and Lynn Goldstein of Bayview said the rally was "inspiring."

Both Goldsteins work as volunteers for the Obama campaign and said they looked forward to voting for him again.

When asked what they thought the highlight of Obama's term was they both agreed it was the health care law. "The Affordable Care Act extends health care to Americans who cannot afford it on their own," Harvey Goldstein said.

They also said they weren't fans of the GOP ticket.

"I don't like Paul Ryan," Lynn Goldstein said. "I don't think his plan, the voucher system, will work."

"It puts the elderly in the hands of insurance companies," Harvey Goldstein added.

-- By Miranda Rosenkranz
For WisPolitics.com

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