Funday Tuesday.


Daddy Yankee: Not Feeling Obama.

by Henry Burton

I do not have immediate access to a laptop and I cannot download photos immediately simply because I do not have press credentials and I am involved in real politiking that leaves me no time to take pictures with/of Omarosa, Bun B, Hill Harper, Suzanne Malevaux (she is sooo bad yall dont even know), Spike Lee, Cindy Lauper, Wyclef, Slicky Willy Clinton, or Barry’s wife and two children (amazing fam).

Tuesday morning’s buzz was of course about Hill’s speech but for some it was also about Daddy Yankee’s salute to John McCain in Phoenix. When given the chance to discuss this with a few Latino delegates, some called him a sellout and an artist who may have just committed career suicide. I just thought it to be par for the course when it came to Latino-Moreno relations.

What I have seen and experienced is a delegate pool that is nervous and apprehensive about what it is they are supposed to do on Wednesday. Many have been steadfast supporters of Bill and Hillary Clinton. And many state leaders do not have firm control over what their independent delegates may do. Remember, the Clintons have dominated and controlled the Democratic scene since 1991. Many of their initial leaders have gone on to teach and mentor Clinton disciples, who carry on the Democratic Party tradition. So many of these disciples have gone on to work in Obama, Edwards, Richardson and even Biden campaigns. The root of the tree is strong.
When DNC convention staff are walking around or working with active white female, older, middle-aged delegates, you o=hear and get the distinct feeling that they may want to cause a lil ruckus. It/s like walking into a room where four of your younger cousins have congregated and they automatically stop talking when they see you. and you ask “ummm, whhhattt are you guys up too?” and you give em all that side eye look.

Tuesday morning Emily’s List held a women’s event where Ellen Malcolm, its president, spoke. Emily’s List is one of the most powerful PACs in the United States. Their mission is to get women elected into office. Ms. Malcolm was a Clinton financial supporter — no, she was prolly amongst her strongest supporters —  and served as her national co-chair. During her speech she mentioned that though she has been a long-time Clinton backer she is a proud supporter of President Barack Obaka. Ordinarily this would produce outright cheers, but that morning it produced not only cheers but spots of boos. Yeah, boos. I heard em.

Many delegates were seen wearing buttons that read “Hillary Clinton Supporter for Barack Obama,” still wishing and wondering what should be done on Wednesday. There was discussion of how great a speech Michelle Obama gave and how Sen. Ted Kennedy moved them, and yet they still mentioned how different this convention would have been if Senator Clinton were somehow on the ticket. The Democratic Party leadershipis still unsure as to what will happen. They are taking every single precaution to head off any monkey business. There have been rumors and actual petitions distributed calling for a full roll call vote for every state for the first ballot. This scares the party leaders because it relinquishes control to the nicely scripted convention they have set out to produce. The democratic leadership’s dream is to simply count delegates of assured Obama-backed states and call it a night. If that is forcibly changed, madness could ensue and cripple a democratic mandate, giving the Repuplicans more ammunition. Can’t win for losing.

Yes, Hillary has publicly said she supports Obama. She has publicly said we need to elect a Democrat into office and that Obama is best chance but many delegates want to show that their voices can be heard. President Clinton has also said the same things however many get the sense that he feels a way about how this all went down (you know how Billy is with his legacy). He’s not feeling the love from Sen. Obama, so now he’s all ornery. MarkWarner, the keynote speaker, was ignored not only cause he’s just damn boring but because delegates and their family members and friends rushed into Pepsi Center to find space to see Hillary Clinton. The crowd grew so large fire marshalls shut down access to everyone only allowing secret service to roam if need be.

True the Obama campaign has done a better job of out-organizing and out-strategizing the HRC campaign (I mean he is the presumptive nominee, no?) Hell, during the Convention Obama staffers should be commended on their diligence and attention to state delegates and coordinating convention speeches and signage. During Sen. Clinton’s speech Obama campaign staff (I am sure with a new infusion of Hillary Clinton for President staffers) worked hard to organize and distribute “Hillary, “Obama,” and “Unity” campaign signs to be raised during specific moments of her speech (though that may may sound stupid, you try doing that with just 50 people — let alone a packed crowd — who don’t want or feel the need to listen to what you tell them to do).

From what I hear (I have not been able to watch much TV) this convention has not played well on television. Many cable news networks have negatively and incorrectly voiced their opinions as they sit in detached booths talking to producers, cursing at production staff, and primping their caked-up makeup and/or out-of-season suits. But in the “bowl,” those who have run and won the honor and responsibility of being a delegate there is an overriding vibe of apprehension and nervousness because history is being made. Fuck, it is being done in Denver’s mile-high, thin air. Old people dropping like flies, security measures that make you travel (and by travel I mean walk) farther than you need to, and in weather conditions that are opposite to what you think Denver should be (yo, the sun is crazy close…shit be hot). Add that with delegates walking, sitting, and chilling with random celebrities and invitations to attend Will.I.Am’s or Moby’s party — AND seeing hacks like Guiliani and Romney walking around while your state leader reminds you that you need to make sure the delegation is prepared and ready to vote the next day — .shit can happen.

Conventions are not as unpredictable and contentious as they used to be when you had wild card candidates like Harry Truman. During the 1948 Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, President Truman was kept waiting until nearly 2 a.m. on a sweltering night in July before being reluctantly nominated for a full term. Harry Truman walked in, wearing an ice-cream suit that only a haberdasher from Missouri would choose for the occasion — and brought the dispirited convention cheering to its feet.

Oh, and Bill Clinton is in Denver (he may just be black cause my dude be holding a grudge–why you so aggy?)…yet delegates are not sure if he will speak at the convention. Will he do so after or before Obama is the nominee? If he doesnt, which would be very telling, what would that say? Slick Willy gotta speak. Right?

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