Obama to Attend Butte Parade
June 30th, 2008 by KateFor years, I have been telling friends and family that Butte, Montana is the only place to be on Independence Day.
The third of July fireworks display over the “Big M” is spectcular. Straight out of Mayberry, the parade is filled with over one-hundred floats and marching bands. And when the American flag rolls by, everyone from the very old to the very young stands.
Yes, a Fourth of July in Butte is Norman Rockwell poster perfect. Perfect enough for a DNC approved Barack Obama photo op.
This Friday, Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama will attempt to shed his big city elitist image by joining Baucus, Schweitzer and the rest of the Montana Dems at the Butte Fourth of July parade. I guess that abandoning his convictions and shedding public financing in favor of a huge campaign war chest makes these kind of sput of the moment outings possible.
Personally, I’m not sure how to feel about Obama’s decision to come to Butte for the 4th. On the one hand, it’s kind of cool. But on the other, there is the real possibility that his presence will ruin the very idyllicism that his campaign is trying to harness.
Police officers who would have had the Fourth off, will now be working security. Thousands of out-of-towners will invade the parade route. And journalists of all sizes and stripes will be working Harrison Avenue for B-roll and man on the street interviews. Yes, it is going to be Mansfield-Metcalf part deux.
So, whether Obama’s presence will add to my love of a Butte Fourth of July or detract from it, remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain, should anyone from outside the S.B.C. limits attempt to steal a seat in my family’s usual parade viewing spot, I’ll have to throw down Butte style. Because some things (like your regular church pew, counter seat at Matt’s Drive-In and parade watching spot) are sacred.
