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Sometimes I love being disabled and today was one of those days. Because I was in a mobility scooter I was placed in a special line with other disabled folks waiting to get into Detroit's Hart Plaza to see Barack Obama speak at the Labor Day parade. And because I was in that line I ended up in the SIXTH ROW from the podium where he spoke! The photo you see here was taken at 50mm so that gives you a good idea of how close I was. For tens of thousands of able-bodied folks in Hart Plaza and several hundred more on the sidewalk outside the plaza, Senator Obama was either a disembodied voice heard over the loudspeakers or a figure on a large video screen. But to me and the people around me, he was real as real could be. And from that perspective I got a good sense of this man whom I believe will be our next President. He is sincere, compassionate, intelligent and totally committed to this country and its people. Yes, he's a politician, but in the best sense of the word: he is a man of the people. And let me tell you, Detroit LOVES Barack Obama!! And so do I.

CLICK HERE to see my gallery of photos from this event.