Watch those spectators sitting behind debate stars (re-blogged)

Commentary, politics, This and That, Writing and Blogging

Some of the most interesting fans, or supporters, or spectators–whatever you call them–are the people sitting in the stands directly behind the speaker’s podium at televised speeches.

A case in point is the woman who ended up more or less trapped at a Donald Trump rally recently.  She happened to be black…which she said was perhaps not at all coincidental…and she was escorted to the VIP seating right behind the candidate.  http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/12/1449095/-It-s-hard-not-to-laugh-about-this-woman-reading-during-a-Trump-speech-but-her-reasoning-is-legit?detail=email

Her name is Johari Osayi Idusuyi, a community college student, has achieved a certain amount of fame or notoriety on the telly.  Apparently she was not seeking anything more than just getting a peek at the famous Trump, but when she and some friends were turned away from the first rows, which were empty at the time, they were told the area was reserved for only VIPs….which (if there is anyone who is not familiar with that term,) means “Very Important Persons.”

Ms. Idusuyi accepted when the VIP rule was lifted, and she and her friends were ushered to the middle of the row of seats, right behind The Donald.     How fortuitous was that!

Anyway, she sat and read a book throughout the speech, much to the dismay of “older” people in the crowd that hassled her about being rude…telling her she should leave if she didn’t like what was going on and being said.   She wisely pointed out that it would be even more rude to stand up and leave.

I love watching these crowds.   The VIPs are obviously either “Very Important Local Republicans,” or staffers that are required to fill in the rows.   The reason I say that is because many of the people are obviously not paying attention.   They are whispering to their neighbors, looking at the ceiling, and apparently either ignoring, or otherwise not engaging with what is being said.

To be fair, it isn’t uncommon to see crowds at VIP speeches whose eyes are glazed-over, yawning, clapping gratituously–even when the spectators are members of the military, university students, Congress–I might call these “Mandated Crowds.”   These are often show-up-and-try-to-stay-awake  appearances.  Professors sometimes give class credit for showing up at these occasions, or there are consequences for NOT showing up.  The crowd should be reacting…laughing, nodding their heads, shaking their heads, cheering, jeering… showing signs of being awake.

In my opinion, just watching the people in these crowds is entertaining.

 

 

17 thoughts on “Watch those spectators sitting behind debate stars (re-blogged)”

    1. I love people watching! and eavesdropping…some of my best ideas come from such encounters. Bob and I always used to play a game of “who does that person remind you of” in airports or restaurants, etc.

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  4. Reblogged this on SOMETIMES and commented:

    The crowds at the Trump rallies have evolved since I wrote this post last November. …now there is punching and cussing, and general chaos…which I happen to think is staged (but what do I know?) For me the crowds who sit behind the candidate (especially Donald Trump) are the most interesting part of the speech. I LOVED the stage-sitters at the town hall meeting two nights ago in Wisconsin! I don’t know who they were but they were very entertaining as The Donald demonstrated his complete lack of knowledge about topics such as NATO,,,and the entire basis for US “protection” policy of the world. It was embarrassing (almost…) watching Trump trying to give an impression of familiarity with world affairs.

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