Fans say Clinton worth the wait

By Tyrone Beason
Seattle Times staff reporter

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Former President Bill Clinton listens to a member of the crowd yesterday while signing copies of "My Life" at Costco in Issaquah. The line to see Clinton had begun forming the night before.

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True to form, Clinton was an hour late arriving at a book-signing event at the Costco wholesale warehouse in Issaquah, where more than 1,500 people turned out to have him autograph their copies of the new book. Another 1,700 fans lined up hours ahead of time for an evening autograph session at The Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle's Pioneer Square district.

At Costco, some people arrived more than 12 hours early, driving from as far as Spokane and Oregon to spend a few seconds with Clinton.

When he finally appeared at an autograph table set among shelves of coffee makers, vacuum cleaners and power toothbrushes, the crowd broke into cheers.

Clinton, tan and dressed in a dark suit with a bright-blue tie to match his eyes, shook hands with his admirers and squeezed as much of his famous Southern charm as he could into the few seconds he had with each of them.

For some, the charisma proved overwhelming.

One woman performed something of a cheer all by herself when it was her turn to meet Clinton — jumping, clapping and pumping her fists. She tugged on the end of her T-shirt so the president could make out the lettering on the front of it.

"It's all about Bill," the shirt read.

	JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Bill Clinton autographs a few more copies of "My Life" as he prepares to leave Issaquah Costco after a book-signing there yesterday. He met more fans last night at Seattle's Elliott Bay Book Co.

Moments later, the woman could still be heard hooting as she walked through the cavernous store.

A young woman wearing a tennis dress suggestively took off the jacket she was wearing when her turn at the autograph table came up.

Another overjoyed fan kept telling the president, "I love you. I love you," until being escorted away.

A few people held back tears when they met Clinton.

"It was just unreal — two thumbs up," said Ladan Homayoon, an native of Iran who lives in Bellevue. She joined the Costco line at about 3 a.m. yesterday.

"I told him it was worth the whole 12 hours. He said, 'Thanks.' And I said, 'No, thank you for the greatest eight years.' He said, 'Bless you.' "

Anita Brackensick, along with her husband, sister and friend, were the first four people in line at Costco. They left Portland at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, dined in the Costco parking lot that evening and got in line at 9 p.m.

By the time they were rushed into place in front of Clinton, they were gratified but exhausted.

	JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES Candy Brooks wore a special shirt for the occasion, and made sure the former president saw it when she got her turn to meet him.

Clinton's charm was evident in the five seconds she got to spend with him, Brackensick said.

"He knows how to use it, whatever it is," she said.

Anntiana Sabeti and Nina Timberlake, two high-school students from Bellevue, had planned to say something truly meaningful when they met Clinton, but when the friends approached the autograph table after waiting in line since 12:30 a.m., all words vanished.

"When you're standing in front of him, he's like, larger than life," Timberlake said. "It was so amazing. We were just happy we got to shake hands with him."

In addition to the celebrity worship, many who turned out for Clinton yesterday came to make a point. They wanted Clinton to know there were no hard feelings from the Monica Lewinsky scandal and subsequent impeachment. They wanted him to know he represented qualities they feel are lacking in the current administration.

Chris Arrau, who lives in West Seattle, said he made a vow to Clinton that he would do whatever he could to help put the White House "back where it belongs" — in the hands of a Democratic president.

"Admiration brought me here," said Judy Cowans, a Boeing employee from Everett who made it to Costco at 5 a.m. "I love this guy. Despite his flaws — he's human, OK? — I love him. You always got the sense he put the people first."

"He was a common man" who rose to great heights, Cowans said. "He exercised and lived the American Dream."

"I don't get up at 3:30 for just anybody," she added.

Tyrone Beason: 206-464-2251 or tbeason@seattletimes.com. Staff reporter Beth Kaiman contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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