The mood in Detroit: intense interest in Obama

Frank Taylor, the tall, locally popular owner of the Detroit restaurant Seldom Blues, seems happy with Barack Obama being the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. In his blue pin-striped suit, he smiled and shook hands with an acquaintance outside the Compuware building in downtown Detroit on his way to a meeting: “I thought right off the bat he’d be a great leader for this country,” he said. “I’m proud that he got the nomination. Yes, it’s historic, it’s nice, but that’s secondary to the change we need, and that he’ll bring about. I think he’ll beat [John] McCain. I think McCain’s message sounds like the past eight years. Obama’s ideas are fresh.”

On a Wednesday evening in Detroit, the political mood among citizens such as Taylor was mostly positive. Some were excited, some were concerned, and some were disappointed. Michigan Messenger asked people walking around downtown Detroit how they felt about the presidential news and the upcoming campaign. Here’s what they had to say:

Continued -Mike Harris, a 20-year-old college student from Detroit was on his way to visit his grandmother, his iPod in hand: “I think that this is a monumental moment. I used to think he couldn’t win and now I don’t know what’ll happen. I’m excited about seeing the debate between McCain and Obama.”

Kayleigh Daney, 45, of Birmingham, was visiting Detroit with her two children on her way to the Hard Rock Cafe: “I still like Hillary [Clinton]. She had very innovative ideas. I’m glad she didn’t quit ’til the end. She just really believed she could do a better job than Obama. … It’s a little disappointing.”

David Billingsly, 20, a Detroiter who attends Columbia University, was grabbing a coffee at Janet’s Java in the Compuware building. With a wide smile, he was eager to talk politics. He said he thinks Clinton helped Obama: “Now he’s [Obama has] dealt with the BS he’s gonna have to deal with from McCain in the general election. His platform is to take it back to the issues, not bicker and whine, and she insisted on bringing that in and so will McCain. He learned a lot from her about what to expect from an opponent. She helped him.”

Billingsly said that he is excited to follow the national campaign over the next few months, but that he is wary of the media: “Anytime a candidate makes a speech we need to read what they said, research what they said and see how much is true: Why is he saying this, what is he basing this on? Media should be monitoring the debate. Right now they’re just sort of observing.”

At the news of Clinton’s planned concession, one Obama supporter, Tabitha Grey from Detroit, said she admires Clinton more. She joked about how hard it was to walk so far to the bus stop in heels before but was cheerful answering the questions: “She must have known a really long time ago she wasn’t gonna win. She came within three centimeters of saying she was going to quit Tuesday night. After I heard that speech I like her more now. She’s not gonna get in the way of her party.”

May Gillite, 72, of Detroit, is relieved that the primary season is behind us. Her short silver hair was combed neatly, her brow creased as she spoke: “I’m glad it’s over. The whole thing was sickening.” She attends Plymouth Church of Christ and supports Obama. “I watch the news and I hope the church thing doesn’t come up again. The whole thing was so pointless. It’s a shame Obama had to leave his church.”

Sheila Johnson, 43, of Detroit, said she never thought this time would come. She’s been a receptionist for 15 years, and her parents warned her at an early age that her race, African American, would be a setback in the real world, and up until recently she did not think Obama would stand a chance: “I’m excited for Obama. This is unreal–a black man is going to be president. I feel like he’s won already. Now [after the primary] I’m just like, do we have to do it all over again?”

Gary Brown, a middle-aged man in weathered jeans and a Jack Daniels T-shirt who said he’s from Allen Park, is cautious: “I don’t want to say how I feel yet. Nothing’s set. There’s a lot that could happen between now and November.”

Maria Hagar, 34, of Clawson, is concerned. She spoke in a soft voice and seemed almost nervous: “I’m worried about Obama. I’m worried that he will be the sacrificial figure that has to bear the fall of America as we know it — and he will be blamed for it. Who wants to be president right now? That’s why we got a woman, a black man and a geriatric in the race; no one else wants it that bad so they got a chance.”

Jack Watkins, 20, of Detroit, is not enthusiastic about the whole affair. He said he just got off his shift at President Tuxedo. In jean shorts and a bright patterned hoodie he was heading to Hart Plaza to meet a friend: “I don’t mind hearing about the debate, I just don’t like hearing the same thing over and over again. You shouldn’t try to appease everyone. Obama talks about change, but everyone talks about change. I just feel like at the end of the day the rich are going to be rich and the poor are going to be poor no matter what. That’s why I can’t get excited. Most people in the ‘hood don’t care, they’re too busy worrying how they’re gonna pay rent or get food to pay attention [to the race]. They’re gonna vote Democratic no matter what.”

Trevor Jenkins, 57, Detroit, sat at the corner of Woodward and Grand River on a plastic bucket, his head bowed, wearing a worn blue jacket and Dickie pants. At first he didn’t want to speak, then he changed his mind, and spoke quite eloquently: “I am not optimistic at all about progress of the country. When it comes to important decisions people always have an agenda. Poor people are poor, rich people are still rich, and nobody trusts each other. And the news is so much about ratings they’ll put anything on there. I’m only speaking from my inner-city prospective.”