Denver Experience Part 2

Volunteering has always been the way for “regular” democrats to be included in important events. So last winter Bobbie and I signed up to volunteer at the convention. When they emailed us back and told us we could help direct traffic, I could just picture us wearing neon vests and waving flashlights. We decided to fore go this and use our traditional method of helping with our local state party, and Monday’s volunteering did not go unappreciated by Sarah, Durbin’s right hand woman. Tuesday she called to say she had 3 hard sought after tickets for the convention that night.

You have to understand the “credentialing” thing. If you are a delegate, high elected official or otherwise big wig you get this lanyard with a plastic sleeve that holds all your tickets allowing you to attend various events. The more important you are the more tickets you get. You wear this thing hanging around you neck so everyone knows you have multiple invitations. All we were wearing were Obama pins. The locals on the bus from the Motel 6 didn’t really care. All they wanted to do was argue about the merits or deficits of our candidate. The later in the night the more boisterous their opinions and if you know where most Motel 6’s are located, it will give you a better idea of the variety of riders we had on our buses.

We stopped at the front desk at the Marriott Hotel where the IL delegation was staying. Unlike our motel in the far reaches of Denver it was located centrally off of the downtown 16th district mall. The electricity could be felt in the air and it was a wonderful place for watching IL politicians in action. Jessie Jackson walked through with his entourage and Durbin’s staffers were divvying out tickets to the delegates friends and families. With no lanyard, we tightly held our 3x5 inch tickets.

Denver has a model transportation system including free shuttles down the mall, buses that stop at every corner and fast rails linking the nearby suburbs. Each mode carried distinct riders but during the main convention events it seemed that all transportation led to the Pepsi Center. Security started as you loaded the convention shuttle bus including emptying water bottles and opening purses. The people mover system efficiently streamed us though the parking lot into the center where we walked though metal detectors.

The hallways of the ringed center were lined with reporters interviewing political celebrities such as Dennis Kucinich and Rod Blogevich The higher up the center we walked the more the attendees looked like real people. Dress changed from suits and black dresses to button covered t-shirts. We climbed up and up to our seats, ending up third row from the top. The blue glow from the stage was the prime source of light and the voice of the politicians could be heard echoing around the auditorium. I wasn’t sure if I was light headed from the lack of oxygen or overwhelmed by actually standing there in person at the Democratic convention.

The big screens around the center allowed you to see the speakers but the energy of several thousand enthusiastic Democrats was a major distraction. Many were calling their friends on the cell phone so they could listen in. I was impressed by the many groups and cultures represented. I know it was Dean’s and Obama’s desire to have the convention be representative of the true America and it was.

There were several speakers but the people in the cheap seats were noisy. Those viewing it on TV at home had a better view. Several speakers were scheduled but since we got our tickets late we missed many of them. I was most pleasantly surprise by the last speaker before Hillary. I had never heard of the Governor of Montana. But the schedulers understand that he would know how to warm up the crowd before Hillary. He was humorous, spontaneous and appropriate with his support of both Hillary and Obama.

Tuesday night of the convention was really “Hillary’s Night”. I have been an avid Obama supporter since the beginning of his senate race but I recognize Hillary as a real class act. This speech was dubbed as one of the most important of her political career. Dressed in her beautiful suit she put her full support behind Obama. She didn’t disappoint any of the attendees, Hillary or Obama fans.

The streams of people exited down the circular ramps to the hundreds of waiting buses carrying their signs of “Unity” and “Reclaim the Promise”. I had my doubts that the planners of the convention could bring us to this point but Democrats certainly were.


Advice for novice conventioneers
1. Be flexible, just hang out, find out where your state delegation is staying
2. You don’t need a lot of money, it is all on the DNC and sponsors
3. Go to caucuses, that is where the highest level politicians go to thank their supporters
4. Bring both fancy and casual cloths; you may never know what event you can get into.