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Arriving at the DNC: Denver glad to be DEMver for the Democratic National Convention
Gargoyle photo by Will Fernandez (click to enlarge)Denver artist Malcolm Farley paints a portrait of Sen. Barack Obama during a media party held Saturday night at Denver's largest amusement park, Elitch Gardens.Published: Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 6:45pm
OG reporter Will Fernandez gets into the spirit of things at the American Presidential Experience traveling exhibition at Invesco Field. Gargoyle photo courtesy Will Fernandez (click to enlarge)
Banners like this one at the DNC credentials office can be found all over Denver this week. Gargoyle photo by Will Fernandez (click to enlarge)
Note: Sophomore Will Fernandez is in Denver to cover the Democratic National Convention. This is the first in a series of articles he will publish during the coming week as he reports on the historic nomination of Sen. Barack Obama for president.
DENVER — As media and delegates began arriving in the open plains of the Mile High City, Denverites were ready to welcome them with open arms. At the Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon, conventioneers were greeted by volunteers sporting cowboy hats, a smile, and a quick "Welcome to Denver."
Clearly Denverites see the convention as an opportunity for the rest of the country to recognize the majesty of their hometown. They also see it as a way to help the local economy and increase political participation in the 2008 election.
"It's phenomenal," said Francesca Kollar, a local convention volunteer. "This is a huge eye-opener for everybody to see what Denver is all about …. [It is] history in the making.”
Kollar was one of several Denver residents whom I interviewed after I arrived in town from Chicago Midway Airport.
DeeAnn Metzger, another volunteer, told me: "The country can see that it doesn't always snow in Denver, which is how some people see it during football season with blizzards and snow in the mountains. Here they get to see the real Denver — what great weather we have and what a great city Denver is."
Rob Hall, manager of the Casa Bonita restaurant, added, "Denver is slowly growing into a major metropolis, and this is something that can define what we are."
People also seemed thrilled with the potential impact on the local economy.
"They say the convention will be a boost in the economy upwards of six to 12 months," said Aaron Hickman, a small businessman from Fort Collins, Colo. "It's going to bring in tens of millions of dollars. So I think that’s pretty fantastic."
Hall said that while his restaurant, the Casa Bonita, is located several miles west of most of the convention activity, he too is banking on an economic boost.
Denver native Ann McDougal talks about the impact the convention is having throughout Colorado.
Click to listen (3:07)
"Hopefully the conventioneers will make the trek across the interstate to come here," he said. "We would like that."
Since this is a political event, it is not surprising that many in the community see Denver's first Democratic political convention in 100 years as a boost to political enthusiasm and involvement. (The Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan here in 1908 for his third and final try at the presidency.)
"What is so exciting for me is to see the excitement of fellow Coloradans," said Denver native Ann McDougal. "It didn't matter whether they were Republican or Democrat."
More than 185,000 Coloradans participated in February in party caucuses to nominate delegates to the Democratic and Republican conventions. Of that total, more than 120,000 were Democrats who turned out to caucus, or eight times the 15,000 party participants in 2004.
According to Metzger, that enthusiasm has continued right through the summer.
"They had a call for volunteers a few weeks ago to help out with the convention," she said, "and they were overwhelmed with over 80,000 people signing up within a day and a half."
Coming next: Will's first impressions of his first day at the DNC.
Official Schedule for the Democratic National Convention
Note: All events listed below will take place at the Pepsi Center unless otherwise noted.
Monday, Aug. 25: One Nation
• Headline prime-time speaker: Michelle Obama
• A tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
• Other speakers include Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, former Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
Tuesday, Aug. 26: Renewing America’s Promise
• Headline prime-time speaker: Sen. Hillary Clinton
• Keynote speaker: former Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia
• Other speakers include pay equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel
Wednesday, Aug. 27: Securing America’s Future
• Headline prime-time speaker: Barack Obama’s vice presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware
• Featured speakers will include former President Bill Clinton, former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley
Thursday, Aug. 28: Change You Can Believe In
• On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the convention and move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination
• Additional details of the program preceding Obama’s acceptance speech to be announced
Comments
D I S E N G E N U O U S N E
D I S E N G E N U O U S N E S S ...
Everyone knows that Obama disrespected Bill Clinton ...
playing the race card on him, and trying to tarnish his
record during the primaries ... but, because of the
disingenuous DNC, and Obama, and their putting party
above country, and blackmailing the Clintons into
supporting Obama ... using their debt and Hillary's
future in politics as their leverage, the Clintons have
been strong armed into supporting Obama. Why should a
successful and respected two term President like
Bill Clinton have to stoop to the ambitions of the far
left DNC, and their upstart, empty suit candidate ...
while Obama and the DNC disingenuously pretend that everybody has
kissed and made up??? Also, the PUMAS and other
Hillary supporters have had to endure the same
condescending disrespect from them as well. I say
the DNC and Obama made their bed, so let them lie
in it ... they deserve nothing more.
To One Who Wrote of Disingenousness and Made Comments Anonymous
It's interesting when someone feels they need to hide when attributing disingenousness to others.
Having been here at the convention and having met DNC insiders and people associated with the host committee, I can tell you that more of the Democratic National Committee's insiders were Clinton supporters, not Obama supporters. Historically, political insiders usually start with those candidates viewed as the favorite. A year ago Hillary Clinton led in most polls by 15% or more.
It is true that the primaries and caucuses were hard fought and that at times feelings were hurt and senses frayed. But it is in the interest of all political parties to seek unity going into a general election. Indeed, historians suggest that President Jimmy Carter lost his reelection bid, in part because of the bitter primary season with Senator Ted Kennedy and the party was not unified after the 1980 convention.
What I've seen over the last five days in Denver is that the Obama campaign is going out of its way to respect the Clintons. It could have denied both Bill and Hillary prime time speaking opportunities, and it could have prevented having Hillary Clinton's name put in nomination; but that did not happen. The Clintons on the other hand could have pressed their case further and used their air time without calling for unity and endorsing Obama. They could have even run an insurgent vice presidential campaign, but they did not.
As Hillary Clinton stated in her wonderful remarks Tuesday night, the best campaigns are about the needs of a people and not of an individual politician.
As Hubert Humphrey once said "Democratic conventions are about three things. They are about forgiving each other, redeeming each other, and moving on" The Obamas and the Clintons and the whole Democratic party seem to have done just that.
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