Actor Kal Penn ('House') was one of a handful of speakers supporting Barack Obama at the Student Union Friday.

Penn, Politicians Rally For Obama

By: Kala Kachmar

Posted: 2/4/08

About 300 students, faculty and local residents rallied with local politicians for democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at the Student Union Friday.

The guest speakers, including TV and movie star Kal Penn, Stamford Mayor and former Senate candidate Ned Lamont and Connecticut Senate Pro Tempore Donald Williams, endorsed Obama and spoke of the need for change in this coming presidential election.

Lamont, who won the 2006 senatorial primary against Joe Lieberman in part because of UConn students, encouraged students to get out and vote for Obama in Tuesday's primary election. He said he was going to spend the next four days trying to get Connecticut residents to vote for Obama.

"Connecticut can make a big difference," Lamont said. "This is our chance to say loud and clear that Obama could be an extraordinary president both here and abroad."

Some students were drawn to the rally by Penn, who had a popular role in the movie "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" and has made appearances on TV shows like "House" and "Law and Order."

"In the past, I've voted for as many democrats as republicans and third-party candidates," Penn said. "But I've never been as motivated by anyone as I am by Obama."

Penn told a story about his friend from Texas who had to choose between working a minimum wage job to save for college or working for Halliburton making $90,000 for driving a truck in Iraq for one year.

"It's sad that in the richest country in the world, a student has to either work a minimum wage job or in a war zone to pay for college," Penn said.

Penn has been traveling around the country endorsing Obama on college campuses in recent weeks, he said.

"I just wanted to hear what a famous movie star - a younger one - had to say about politics," said Matt Palmer, a 4th-semester pathobiology major. "I feel like he can relate to our generation better than a politician can."

Williams stressed the importance of recognizing Obama's national and public service to America. He said Obama has the unique opportunity to bring change to America in a non-partisan manner.

"Young people can change the course of history," Williams said. "And Obama has the widespread support of the youth vote."

The Obama campaign is active on five Connecticut college campuses, including UConn, Southern Connecticut State University, Wesleyan College, Quinnipiac University and Yale University, according to Max Rothstein, director of Connecticut Students for Obama and a student at Wesleyan. There is also a small amount of Connecticut high school students involved with the campaign.

"Obama brings something to the table that no other candidates have," Williams said. "He can inspire and motivate people and bring them into the political process. He'd make a great president."

At the time of the rally, Obama and Clinton were in a dead heat in Connecticut polls, Rothstein said.

"Obama cares about regular Americans and will restore middle America," said Brian Anderson, a Windham resident who came to the rally to support Obama. "He gives me hope."

Anderson said it's crucial for students to vote because of the financial aid problem students face today.

"Pretty soon, if you're not rich, you won't be able to go to college," he said. "Obama could turn things around. I hope everyone votes for him on Tuesday."

Contact Kala Kachmar at

Kala.Kachmar@UConn.edu.