Meet Eric Melder
Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 3:54 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Democrats
From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
An evangelical Christian who gave money to Mike Huckabee might not be exactly who the Obama campaign initially wanted filling the seats of Invesco Field later this month for the Democratic National Convention’s acceptance speech. But now they're welcoming Eric Melder with open arms -- and a ticket backstage.
Melder, a 59-year-old counselor for at-risk youth from Carlisle, PA, was one of 10 people the campaign chose to fly to Denver, hear Obama accept the Democratic nomination, and meet the candidate backstage. He said he initially was supporting Huckabee in the Republican primaries. But he began giving money to Obama, drawn out of concern for single-parent families and others at risk.
“I like how he commands respect,” he said. “I think Barack Obama has that unique influence to get people on the same page and moving in the same direction.”
Melder’s fourth $25 donation to Obama came upon an e-mail request from David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, and with a challenge -- write a 100-word essay on why you’re supporting Obama and have the chance to meet Obama backstage. Melder said his essay spoke of his time as a YMCA director and his current work as a youth counselor. He talked about Anthony, a student he counseled in 1995 who has become both a pseudo member of his family and his literal boss at Diakon Wilderness Center, where Melder now counsels on the weekends.
Melder said he will use his opportunity with Obama to push for health-care reform. His wife survived breast cancer and he said the bills were “catastrophic to a young couple.” A recent routine hospital visit could cost him thousands of dollars, even with health insurance. “I think everybody in this country knows we’re one car crash or one disease away from ruining our families,” he said.
Melder also said he hopes Obama picks Hillary Clinton as his running mate, to increase his chances of winning.
But beyond a message, Melder said his goal in entering the contest was to expose Anthony to Obama. Anthony had recently been listening to the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and was moved himself to carry on King’s work. Melder said their work with at-risk youth connects them to Obama, who started as a community organizer in Chicago.
Disappointing his wife and three sons, Melder said he will bring Anthony to Obama’s speech. “I told him and he screamed,” he said.
