If you are a movie buff, I want you to imagine being in the same room with all your favorite movie stars talking about all your favorite movies. If you like music, imagine an arena with every one of the singers and groups you've grown up loving all singing your favorite songs live in concert. This is just a taste of what I have experienced the last two days. I know few can appreciate the level of interest in politics, government, and policy that I have, but for me...it doesn't get much better than this.
Tonight, I was able to shake the hand of the Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, on whose campaign I worked when I was a college student in Southeastern Ohio and he was running for congress. I also had my picture taken with Charles Rangel, one of the most well-known and powerful congressmen in the House of Representatives. I even got to watch the filming of a spot on the Daily Show, one of my favorite shows on television (those of you in middle school probably aren't able to stay up late enough to watch it and if you did, you probably wouldn't find it that funny...but I sure do!).
Most memorable for me tonight, however, was the opportunity to watch Hillary Clinton offer one of the most eloquent, well delivered, and heart-felt speeches I have ever heard. I first met Senator Clinton as a young college student in Ohio. Her husband was three days away from being elected president for the first time. It was 1992. I was a volunteer for the event. Those of us who volunteered got the opportunity to shake hands with her and have our pictures taken next to the soon-to-be-First Lady. Since that event, I have admired her intelligence, resilience, and dedication to issues about which I also care. Tonight, my admiration of her came full circle.
For those students who may not understand the controversy over delegates, votes, Hillary's relationship to and with Senator Obama, allow me to clarify in the most simple terms I can what is happening and why it is so important to look at this convention from a different lens than the media has presented (this obviously is my perspective).
Presidential candidates in the United States run to be elected as the nominee of their respective political parties. This process is a long and arduous one that spans several months, requires millions of dollars, and includes every state in the nation. Each candidate picks up what are known as "delegates" for the percentage of votes they receive in each state (This is not true in the Republican party; most if not all of the states for Republicans are 'winner take all.' However, the Republicans do have a delegate system very similar to the Democrats). Because the candidates are running to be the party's nominee, the rules are determined by the national political party and the party in each state. It is a confusing process, but one that the US has followed for many generations.
The Conventions occur after each state has held their primary. The Conventions serve to bring all of the "delegates" that the candidate received based on his/her performance in the primaries in each state. I am one of those "delegates." Before radio and television (I know that seems impossible for some of you to imagine), it was common for Conventions to be raucous events with controversy and conflict between candidates and their delegates, but conventions were seen as 'family meetings' and an opportunity for each party to coalesce around one single candidate. It wasn't always pretty, but the process was honored and expected. Since the advent of television and particularly cable television news, the parties have moved to more tightly control what happens at the conventions. Conventions are now seen as the primary means to send the common themes that the party wants people to believe about their candidates.
This shift in the purpose of the political convention has usually not generated controversy. Why? In most primary election cycles, a clear favorite has emerged and the members of each party get behind the presumed candidate in a show of unity. This usually occurs within the first few primaries even before a majority of states have even conducted their primaries. By the time the conventions come around, there is no controversy as to who will be or should be the nominee and who everyone will support.
Well 2008 has been a major exception. Senators Clinton and Obama both ran historic and tough campaigns. As the primary season evolved, each of them continued to carry very similar numbers of delegates, thus making drama for the media and headlines about who would be the nominee. The unusually long length of the primary season and the passion with which volunteers and supporters lobbied for their respective candidates created great concern that the Democratic Party would not be able to come together.
I don't speak much about the fact that I was elected as a delegate for Hillary Clinton because I don't want this blog to be about politics, but rather the process of being elected President; however, I think many of you are interested in knowing what it must be like to be a delegate who supports Clinton in a Convention that will elect Barack Obama as the presidential nominee.
I have shared with friends, fellow delegates, and many of the media outlets who have interviewed me that one's support of Clinton at the Convention does not take anything away from Senator Obama or diminish one's support of him in the general election. For those Clinton delegates who want to vote for her in the Roll Call vote later this week, they express a desire to honor the historic nature of the first serious female presidential candidate--one who received 18 million votes in the primaries. I have not met one Clinton delegate who does not plan on voting for Obama and Biden in the election in November. For many Clinton delegates, their desire is that the Convention not be solely a media event; they want the original design of the convention process to be followed, even if it is a little messy. However, the media likes a fight and they will cover votes for Hillary as a contentious issue when it doesn't necessarily need to be.
I hope this explanation helps some of you who may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Remember, this is just my perspective.
Tonight, I was honored to be associated with Senator Clinton and am honored to support Senator Obama as the Democratic party's nominee for President of the United States. I still can't believe that I am getting to live a life's dream as a delegate. It truly is an honor of a lifetime.
On a completely different note, I had my picture taken with Biff Henderson from the Late Show with David Letterman. It may not air, but if it does, it will be on Wednesday or Thursday night. Hopefully none of you will be awake then. You can see a picture of us up top. Hint: I'm the one with the silly hat.
Until next time...
P.S. I might be in the SF Chronicle on Wednesday. Check it out.
P.S.S. Parents...I've used some 'academic vocabulary' in this blog. Encourage your student to look up a word if they don't know the meaning. It will develop important skills!
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