While we were feasting on the edifying remarks of Jesse Jackson, Jr., Ted & Caroline Kennedy, and Michelle Obama in the Pepsi Center last night, the story beneath the story was being served up a few miles away and was far less palatable.
A bunch of so-called "Anarchists"-- perhaps upwards of 500 according to unsubstantiated rumors I've heard -- hell-bent on disrupting the convention with a protest of some kind, caused a complete "lock down" of the Sheraton Hotel where the CA and NY delegations are staying. This meant no one could go in or out of the hotel from approximately 6:30 pm until 10pm. Now, they didn't disrupt the convention because most of us were already at the Pepsi Center or the nearby watch party, but it instantly led to a debate on the rights of the protesters and the role of the police.
Today's local papers suggest the police overreacted by spraying tear gas among the Anarchists and making arrests. Others ask who can blame the police in this kind of high threat, high stakes environment. Keep in mind that the police appear to have thwarted a potential Obama assassination attempt on Sunday (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/25/obama-assassination-plot_n_121293.html). With fringe wackos out there, and most of the country's Democratic leadership milling about, I have to say I'm glad security is tight.
Anarchists and wackos aside, there's another piece of protest going on with a much more mainstream group of folk -- the Clinton supporters who have not embraced the notion of unity. As recently as this morning at the California delegation breakfast there were folks including the well-known anti-discrimination attorney Gloria Allred protesting that Hillary delegates have been silenced. Allred appeared to be using a scarf as a gag in her mouth in support of this point. (I could have taken a picture to show you, but I didn't want to give her the attention she's craving. You'll have to take my word for it.)
I tell you, I just don't get it.
But I do know that if Obama had come in 2nd, I'd be feeling a little protestish (protesty?) myself right now. And others Obamans would as well. So it remains our job as Obama delegates to respect and value where the Hillary folks have been, and help bring them to the point of unity that we must achieve if we are going to beat McCain in November. So yeah, the picture I'm showing isn't of Allred, it's of the hottest button in town -- the one that reads "36 Million Votes for Democratic Unity/Barack & Hillary 2008." Geez, can't Allred and the others see that they are playing right into the McCain hands? That this is the "Nadar" issue of 2008, the issue that could end up handing the victory to the Republicans. Some say Democrats hate to win and I've never quite understood that until today.
I'm headed over to a 12:30 MDT event called "Women Count" which I hear will offer more of this type of fare. Senator Clinton will be there, and I will applaud her heartily. In my own right and as an Obama delegate I am intending to take the high road. But if I feel Barack Obama is being maligned, it could be hard for me to contain myself.
I'll try not to get arrested or sprayed with tear gas. And I'll be sure to let you know what happens.
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