This Tuscon, Az. service was an eerie reminder of the 2002 memorial service for Sen. Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash during his campaign.
That Minnesota service was as strange as the uninspired humor from it's NPR's 'humorist' Garrison Keillor. The service in Arizona was a reflection of a similar event.
See Paul Wellstone's memorial service turns into a pep rally.
But the solemnity of death and the grace of Midwestern humor are overshadowed tonight by the angry piety of populism. Most of the event feels like a rally. The touching recollections are followed by sharply political speeches urging Wellstone's supporters to channel their grief into electoral victory...There's a salutary practicality about many of the liberal clichés repeated and applauded tonight. But there's a creepy arrogance about them, too...
By GILLIAN FLACCUS and BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press – Thu Jan 13, 2011
Some have wondered whether it was a scripted political event, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thursday he and other aides didn't expect Obama's speech to receive as much applause as it did.
The University of Arizona, which hosted the event, insisted it was not political.
"Riiiiiiight" as the Joe Giddeon character said from 'All That Jazz' - which is what we got.
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