President draws supporters
Bertha Means, a delegate for then nominee Obama at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, said she could not miss another chance to see the President speak. Means, 91, said her first hand experience with Jim Crowe laws and her involvement in the civil rights movement in the 1960?s has entrenched her as a life long Democrat.
"After experiencing that, I told my husband I would picket until we set the town straight," Means said. She has lived in Austin since 1939.
Some attendees were present to show their support for President Obama's policy decisions during his first term. Supporters of the LGBT movement Mel Peuterey Outlet Montanez and Daniel Pacheco said the president's public declaration in favor of same sex marriage in May will be a considerable decider at the poll in November.
"It's one of the biggest factors," said Montanez. "He's the first president to ever come Nike Blazers Low Uk out in support of marriage equality."
Three men held signs countering the overall pro Obama sentiment across the street from the event. One, Bob Green, said he knew the Republican Party of Austin can not turn Travis county blue, but would work toward the reachable goal of turning it "purple."
"I wanted to let people know this president doesn't deserve to be re elected," Green said.
Secret Service approached the three men and carefully read each sign, one of which calling for voters to "take out" Obama in the same way Seal Team Six eliminated Osama Bin Laden.
"It's just in a political sense," Green said. "Voters will take him out collectively."
A Ron Cheap Polo Shirts Paul supporter, Jeremy Walker, was also among the protestors Cheap Michael Kors Bags Uk and carried a "Come Cheap Nike Roshe Run Uk and Take It" flag across the street from those waiting in line to see President Obama.
"America was founded on the principles of liberty and the idea of self responsibility and the current administration supports the opposite," Walker said. "Furthermore, this country is still supporting a modern day holocaust by continuing an illegal war in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Occupy Austin also made an appearance downtown; approximately 15 members marched around city hall bearing "We are the 99%" banners and picket signs criticizing the Obama administrations use of tactical drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
