Rain couldn't put out fires that Bell lit
By Bob Ray Sanders
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
At a campaign event in Fort Worth on Sunday afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell was all wet -- from the beginning of his speech to the end.
And he and his audience loved every minute of it.
The scene on the south side reminded me of another historic moment in Fort Worth history.
I hesitate to mention it lest I be accused of outrageous exaggeration or deliberately overdramatizing a happening that others might describe as insignificant in the overall scheme of big-time state politics.
State Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, had sent out invitations for Tarrant County residents to meet the Democratic nominee for governor. He scheduled the event for the new Evans Avenue Plaza, an outdoor venue that beautifully recounts the history of African-Americans in Fort Worth.
It was clear from the starting time (4 p.m.) that organizers had checked whether the Dallas Cowboys game would be early or late that day, ensuring that football fans would have at least an hour for the political rally.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast is not as certain as the NFL schedule, so there was no way rally planners could know that it would rain much of Saturday night and into Sunday morning, the rain becoming a gentle but steady downpour by Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, I kept expecting a call that the Bell campaign event was canceled or postponed or, at the very least, moved inside.
But that call never came. So I went, expecting to find the place empty except for a few local politicos. But as I approached the plaza, I noticed that cars lined both sides of the street. Then I saw a sea of umbrellas.
As Bell was introduced to the cheering crowd, he was obviously buoyed by their enthusiasm and affection. He was also obviously surprised, but delighted, that so many were willing to stand in the chilly rain to hear him.
Immediately, I was reminded of a rainy day back in November 1963.
President Kennedy looked out the window of his Hotel Texas suite that morning and was amazed to see more than 2,000 people -- many of them working-class men in their uniforms -- standing in the rain waiting to see him. The president was said to have been moved by that sight.
