"Spit on Me Frankie!"

[Avalux]

Obama is taking whistle stop train tour of PA today. I just read that Obama will speak from the train as it rolls by at slow speed.

Many of the small towns in PA exist because of the Pennsylvania Railroad. My hometown, Altoona, was a major hub between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. A long time ago, when my grandmother was a young woman, celebrities, politicians and such would ride the train on their way from one major city to another, with a "whistle stop" in Altoona.

As my grandmother tells it, word got one day that Frank Sinatra would be making his way through on the train. My grandmother, her friends and a lot of other people showed up at the station, waiting in anticipation. When they caught a glimpse of the train, they started cheering loudly. The train stopped for one brief moment, Frank came out onto the deck, waved, and said a few words as the train slowly pulled away from the station. Throngs of young women (including my grandmother) ran beside the train screaming "spit on me Frankie!" as far as they could go.

I've always loved that story; not sure what the spitting was all about; but to the people of PA, this sort of thing harkens back to the days when a town like Altoona PA was a growing, prosperous city.

This train tour is a good move by Obama and is very symbolic in the minds of proud Pennyslvanains.

I expect Obama's supporters will run alongside the train as it slowly pulls through each station, although I doubt they'll yell at him to spit on them.

;-)

[wndycty]

1. I'm not sure how Obama spitting on folks would go over. . .LOL

[Avalux]

2. LOL - probably not very well!

Just wanted to share that story; Obama on the train reminded me of it. My grandmother is now 85 and will vote for Obama.

[Schema Thing]

3. Some of the kinkier ones in the audience will be thinking it though

[Connie_Corleone]

4. I like Obama, but I don't want him spitting on me. LOL!!

[Avalux]

5. The pics of his train tour will be fantastic.

The symbolism will be heavy for folks in small town PA. Genius for him to do this right before the election.

[monmouth]

6. Ole Blue Eyes brought out the "wierd" in our otherwise staid mothers and grandmothers..lol..n/t

[livetohike]

7. I wish his train stop would take him near my house

Bill Clinton spoke in someone's back yard on Thursday. No kidding. Their back yard (in Brookville). Those yards aren't very big down in town either.