DNC Delegates Do Our Biz

Delegates were instructed to be in our seats by 3 p.m. for a role call vote on the Presidential nomination. From the Convention Center I got in line for the delegate shuttle to the arena at about 2:30. I could have walked, but that means going through public security which I hear is incredibly slow.

There’s a snarl in the shuttle line and those of us in the front have to wait for about half an hour to board a bus while those behind us board and depart. This puts me dangerously late for the vote. As the bus pulls up to the convention hall security tents at 3:40 I get a call from the convention floor, “WE NEED YOU ON THE FLOOR TO VOTE!”

I freak! I breeze through security and run the roughly quarter-mile to the arena. In this altitude that is not an easy thing for me to do. From the monitors inside I can tell that the role call has not started, but I don’t know if I am too late. I am dreading missing the one thing I was sent here to do; vote for Barack Obama as our nominee.

When I arrive my fellow delegates hurry me to our DFL Director who has our delegation’s ballot. Breathing hard from exertion and excitement I put my X in the Obama column and sign. It is done.

The role call begins. It’s alphabetical. DNC Secretary Alice Germond calls the state by state roll. I swear this woman was born for this task. The hall is filled with anticipation and excitement. More than watching history be made, we know we are making it. Many delegates weep, many eyes shine with tears, all are moved.

Some delegates vote Clinton. We all know what is about to happen. When California is called they pass. Clearly there is some strategy about which state gives Obama the endorsement. CA, with it’s monster amount of votes, would tip it too early. I hear a rumor it’s New York that will do the deed.

Illinois is called on and passes. As Obama’s home state they are part of the strategy. When Massachusetts reports, their short speech hypes their ball team. There is good natured booing in the hall.

Senator Klobuchar and Mayor Rybak, as delegation chairs, give the MN report. They are flanked by or honorary co-chairs Josie Johnson and Melanie Benjamin (Tribal Chair of Mille Lacs Band). VP Mondale and our federal delegation are in the mix

Some delegates are tallying the count, but not me. I have no idea where to votes are when New Mexico is recognized. After a short/long speech New Mexico yields the floor to the Illinois delegation. They recognize their ‘native son’ then yield to New York.

Senator Clinton makes the motion to suspend the rules and, by unanimous acclamation, give the nomination to Barack Obama. The hall erupts. The convention permanent chair Nancy Pelosi takes the podium and calls for a voice vote.

The delegates shout, “AYE!” When Chair Pelosi calls for the nays I swear there is not one audible vote of dissention in this whole huge hall. Pelosi declares Obama our nominee and the hall erupts. The roar is staggering.

People are laughing, crying, hugging, high-fiving. The song “Love Train” is played. Delegates do join hands. I LOVE this song. The O’Jays version came out when I was a kid and it really made an impression on me. It always reanimates in me the sense that, yes we can be one people united.

Things settle down. The program leading up to the headliners begins. Melissa Etheridge performed a medley of patriotic favorites like, “God Bless America” and “Born in the USA”. The pattern of having these ‘regular people’ continues. These stories are very moving.

Tonight the young wife of a man serving in Iraq talks about her challenges of coping. She is disables with MS. Her theme is about health care and veteran benefits – good ones considering how lame-ass McCain is on these issues. Military, vet’s benefits and health care are major themes of the evening.

There is a strong military component to the evening’s program. I guess it’s the Commander-In-Chief thing. Two retired senior military officers speak, and admiral (a lifelong Republican and Obama supporter) and a general (a woman). They express huge dissatisfaction with current administration.

Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA), an Iraqi vet, backed by eight or nine young fellow veterans are introduced as heroes. These men and woman look sharp in dark suits. Really, like movie stars. Murphy spoke of the need for change in our approach in Iraq and the need to better care for returning soldiers.

Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth told the story of her rescue from the burning helicopter. Obama visited her in the hospital without cameras, not as a media event but because he cared. Her presence on her metal legs is very powerful.

A video was played that contained grim footage of war and solemn interviews of veterans who support Obama. Many of those being interviewed were moved to tears as they told their stories. A young delegate sitting near me who is an Iraq veteran was overcome by this video and wept. This was not happy-time stuff. It was good for us to see this and to, in some small way, gain some understanding.

Bigger name speakers led up to the headliners Clinton and Biden. In the hall we are becoming very adept at passing the ever-shifting signs and coordinating them with the messages from the stage. It feels almost like we are professional extras in a show.

President Clinton’s speech is covered broadly in the media, so I won’t go into detail. I do like Bill Clinton and I think he was a very good president, but I don’t have the adoration for him that he clearly inspires in most delegates. People LOVE him, it’s clear.

I am impressed by his ability to talk to tens of thousands of people in this almost intimate way. It definitely feels like he is talking just to me, like a one-on-one conversation. His messages are “Hillary and I fully support Obama and so should you”, “Barack is ready, remember when people said I wasn’t ready” and especially “Biden is a great choice”.

A constituent of Senator Biden's take the stage to nominate him for VP. We vote. He's in.

Everyone goes nuts when Bidden is introduced by his son Beau. Beau Biden is the Attorney General of Delaware and a Captain in the National Guard he will be deployed to Iraq this fall. Poignant. The huge response in the hall reinforces how spot-on this choice of VP is.

Bidden gives a great speech, I’m sure you’ve seen it. What impressed me the most was that he actually emoted. This is something rare and refreshing in an American politician of Biden’s stature. A rumor went through the delegation that Obama was going to appear. Barack electrified the crowd when he was coyly introduced by Jill Biden.

At the end Biden was joined onstage by his mother and entire progeny. The Pointer Sister’s song “We are Family” played with a slight change. Instead of “I’ve got all my sisters with me” it went “I’ve got all my Biden’s with me. Good humor.

All in all, a great night. One for the books.