Impressions from a Convention 3…..David Mixner
By David Mixner
Cross-posted at www.DavidMixner.com
Last night I wept as I watched the Democratic Party nominate Barack Obama for President of the Alan_convention United States. All those trials and tribulations of the 1960’s in the struggle for freedom seem to have new meaning and new purpose. As Democrats we should be bursting with pride, as Americans we should celebrate our progress and as human beings we should all stand a little taller.
-Senator Clinton certainly wowed the Convention on Tuesday night and proved that she is committed to the Democratic Party and its principles. In a powerfully delivered speech she stuck to her journey while making a powerful case for supporting Barack Obama. Her supporters must be extremely proud and the party is very grateful. I believe her best line of the evening was:
Most of all, I ran to stand up for all those who have been invisible to their government for eight long years. Those are the reasons I ran for president, and those are the reasons I support Barack Obama for president. I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?
-Speaking of Hillary supporters, the press seems to be having a field day interviewing those supposed “Hillary Supporters for McCain” outside the Convention Hall. There is not a doubt in my mind that they are NOT real Hillary supporters but McCain plants. Listening to them is like listening to the inmates who escaped from the asylum in the movie “King of Hearts”. They are nuts. Why the media keeps giving them time is beyond me. Are ratings really that important?
-The press seems to be desperate to know what the Republicans are thinking of our Convention and giving them enormous amounts of time to comment on our proceedings. Do we really need a commentator from the Christian Broadcasting Network being given tons of time? Give me a break, and please, God, give them the hook!
-The most sought-after couple at the Democratic Convention is Jeremy Bernard and Rufus Gifford. They are business partners and a couple in real life. The duo are the stars of the Obama fundraising machine in California. Every Democratic candidate is attempting to sign these talented fellas for the 2010 elections. Handsome, talented and sought after for business, somehow it is just not fair. They should have to struggle more!
-Speaking of the dynamic duo, Gifford and Bernard were seen at the MSNBC / Newsweek Party (Alter Party) at Scott Coors and David Harts. Tall, lanky Charlie Rose was there surrounded by awestruck fans. Howard Fineman, who appeared to be really enjoying the party, was giving opinions to anyone that would listen to what Obama must do (get nasty) to win the election. The party was filled with internet and blog people.
-Former Hillary Clinton supporter Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez says she hasn’t endorsed Obama yet because she hadn’t received a call from him yet. Will a telegram do, Loretta? Must make our troops feel good that the petulant Congresswoman is making a protocol call more important than the War.
-OK, someone has to say it and it might as well be me. John McCain’s appearance on the “Tonight Show” was disgusting. When Leno joked about his numerous homes, McCain’s answer was to go into the fact that he was a prisoner of war. Does this mean anytime there is a hot question that we will hear about his POW incarceration? No one wants to diminish that experience but it seems he is doing a good job of it himself. We should not accept him hiding behind that experience every time he makes a mistake. It dishonors him and all other POWs. His constantly played POW card is becoming dangerously close to failed candidate Rudy Guliani’s criminally self-serving 9/11 mantra. So there, I said it.
-Poor late Senator Eugene McCarthy, even in death he cannot get his due. Duing Tuesday’s “In Memoriam” segment honoring all the great Democrats who died since the last Convention, they placed the name “Senator Joseph McCarthy” next to his pictures. Joseph McCarthy was of course the horrible ‘red-baiter’ from the 1950’s!
-The Brown Palace Hotel has turned out to be the place to be seen at this Convention. Huddling in the lobby of the hotel were actor Sean Penn and Maria’s brother Robert Shriver. Would have loved to have had a hidden microphone on that conversation!
-Message to any poor pitiful gay person who is considering voting for McCain: The Republican Platform officially includes a plank supporting putting a marriage ban in the Constitution of the United States. Still feel all aglow for McCain? If so, let me suggest a therapist to deal with your self-hatred. Time for you Log Cabin Republicans to leave your back-woods and come into the light.
-On to the Speakers at the Convention – did anyone notice that Senator Mark Warner gave the keynote? It was so boring and so bad. Really Senator, you were so cautious that the delegates talked over your speech.
-Maybe the keynote should have gone to Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio who followed Warner! Strickland got the crowd going and gave a good old fashion “give them hell speech. ” The delegates came alive.
-Then there was the incredible speech and performance given by Montana’s rancher Governor Brian Schweitzer. The “prairie populist” hard-hitting, funny, sincere and intelligent. Where has the Democratic Party been hiding this man? He should be hitting the circuit for Obama this Fall! In some ways, he reminded me of the Texas Democrat Jim Hightower.
-Finally, one of my favorite speeches was by Congressman Dennis Kucinich. It was an old fashioned stem winder that had the crowd chatting, cheering and laughing to his “Wake Up America” theme. Strickland’s and Schweitzer’s speeches were in prime time but Kucinich was early in the day. In case you missed his speech, take a look at in the youtube.com segment below!
Tags: Barack Obama, David Mixner, Democratic Convention, DNCC, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, LGBT rights
