Democratic National Convention 2012

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Charlotte politics seep into pop culture

Posted By on Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 5:38 PM

I don’t watch much television (doesn’t everybody say that?). But I try to check out “The Good Wife,” the CBS Sunday night series about the wife we always see standing beside her politician husband caught in a sex scandal. The husband, played by "Sex and the City" star Chris Noth, got a chance to rise after his very public fall. But reality intruded on fiction during Sunday’s episode when Charlotte was mentioned as a player in the show's Democratic Party gamesmanship.

The Cosbys were the Obamas before the Obamas were the Obamas.
  • The Cosbys were the Obamas before the Obamas were the Obamas.

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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Kathleen Sebelius redefines 'American Values' at a very political gala

Posted By on Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 11:16 AM

Kathleen Sebelius
  • Kathleen Sebelius
In a swing state important to President Barack Obama’s reelection, and in the city where Democrats are planning their 2012 convention, Kathleen Sebelius staked the administration’s claim to “American values.”

At a time when GOP candidates continue their party’s appeal to values voters, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary offered her own definition — a sign that President Obama welcomes the debate. “This administration strongly believes that every American should play by the same rules and have the same shot to achieve their dreams. If you work hard, you do a good job, that’s how you should be judged,” Sebelius told the 1,400 people gathered in the Charlotte Convention Center for the North Carolina gala of the Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest gay and lesbian civil rights group.

"You shouldn’t be judged for what you look like, where you live, how you worship," Sebelius said. "And, for God’s sake, you shouldn’t be judged by who you love."

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Friday, February 24, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Ready, Set, Volunteer

Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 10:01 AM

Now it’s official. The Charlotte in 2012 host committee has formally launched the volunteer management system for the Democratic National Convention; even if you previously signed up, you have to return to the convention website to fill out a personal profile. The secure system asks for skills, interests and your preferred area of volunteering. Those already in the system got a heads-up and have responded by the thousands, according to Courtney Counts,
director of volunteer operations.

About 10,000 volunteers are needed; the nonpartisan, nonprofit host committee says party doesn’t matter. Counts said on Thursday that details are still being fleshed out, but “there will be shifts all times of the day” during the Sept. 1-7 convention week, and in the months leading up to it. Volunteers, who must be 18 years old by the end of June, will be asked to identify eight hours of available time — two four-hour shifts — and to commit to a brief training session.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Leadership team faces questions about Latino vote, same-sex marriage

Posted By on Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Villaraigosa
  • Photo by Rene Min
  • Villaraigosa
In a conference call to formally announce Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's nomination as chair of the Democratic National Convention, the mayor and other DNC heavy-hitters fielded questions about Latino voters' support of President Obama and the Democratic Party's position on same-sex marriage.

The issue of same-sex marriage is particularly urgent for North Carolinians, considering the May vote on a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman — with groups aligning on both sides. That, together with recent fights over health-care coverage of contraception, has elevated social issues in the presidential campaign, particularly in this swing state.

“I do support marriage equality,” Villaraigosa said on Wednesday, but added, it’s “not for me to dictate that” for others in the party. Democratic Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose nomination of Villaraigosa will be presented to the convention rules committee and voted on by the delegates at the opening session, said the drafters of the convention platform “have a deliberative process to go through,” starting with regional meetings. She emphasized Villaraigosa’s career, which he has dedicated, she said, to civic engagement.

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Why Madeleine Albright likes Charlotte

Posted By on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Albright
  • Albright
When former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stopped by Charlotte last week, I got a chance for a one-on-one interview, which you can read at The Washington Post. But while I mentioned her “Read My Pins” exhibit — due at the Mint Museum in June through the September Democratic convention — and hit on subjects that ranged from her lifelong interest in foreign policy to her friendship with current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, I found that Albright also had a lot to say about Charlotte.

Albright wore a new pin — a crown representing the Queen City — as she made the rounds to city officials and convention fundraisers, and began planning for convention visits from foreign leaders and diplomats through her National Democratic Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that promotes democracy. They will be happy to get out of the New York-Washington orbit, she said.

The “very good Democrat” was cheerful about her visit, reminding me she made her entry into national politics raising money for Sen. Edmund Muskie. She said she had been meeting with the Charlotte mayor, Chamber of Commerce and others. Foreign visitors sometimes think of America as Washington and New York, “maybe San Francisco,” she said, adding that they appreciate seeing what’s called the “real America,” maybe dispelling misconceptions about the South in the process.

Charlotte, Albright said, “seems very friendly, which, if you live in Washington, you know is at a premium.”

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Michelle Obama, James Taylor to star in Charlotte fundraisers

Posted By on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 3:26 PM

No, thats not the first ladys hand on Mr. Taylors shoulder, but we like that it looks that way.
  • Photos by Joyce N. Boghosian (Obama), Evan Osherow (Taylor)
  • No, that's not the first lady's hand on Mr. Taylor's shoulder, but we like that it looks that way.

First lady Michelle Obama will be attending two Charlotte fundraisers on March 2 to help raise money for the 2012 Democratic National Convention here, according to a convention official.

In the afternoon, the first lady will attend a fundraising dinner with a performance by North Carolina-raised singer/songwriter James Taylor. Tickets for the event at the Ballantyne Hotel begin at $12,500 per couple and benefit the Committee for Charlotte 2012, the official name of the host committee tasked with raising $36.65 million for the convention.

In the evening, the first lady will attend a fundraising reception at the hotel that also features a performance by Taylor, with tickets starting at $250.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Marking an anniversary, planning parties

Posted By on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 6:43 PM

Skylione_carMagnet.jpg
By now, the press knows part of the Democratic National Convention mantra by heart: “open and accessible,” to describe the convention, and “right on track,” when asked how raising the $36.6 million budget is coming along.

It was a year ago today that Charlotte was announced as the site of the 2012 DNC, and as a reminder Steve Kerrigan, the convention's CEO, held a press conference on Wednesday. He listed all that’s happened over the past year and gave a preview of what’s to come.

Kerrigan ran through a few items, from the kickoff last September to the recent announcement of a presidential speech in Bank of America Stadium set for this September; he promised formal media briefings for coming attractions. Some of those expected announcements are: decisions on where each state is staying so neighborhoods will know what to expect, additional business opportunities (a chance to apply for contracts and subcontracts for transportation needs is due this month), more details on the convention layout at Time Warner Cable Arena (the DNCC gets the keys July 14) and security plans.

That last item has been a concern, especially since the city announced what will and will not be allowed for security reasons. Kerrigan deferred those discussions to the coordinating city and federal agencies, saying only that the goal is safety, with plans that are the “least disruptive.”

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Monday, January 30, 2012

Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: N.C. a focus in presidential politics

Posted By on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 7:06 PM

Perdue
  • Perdue
If you were paying attention to recent political developments, you couldn’t miss North Carolina’s starring role.

There was Gov. Bev Perdue’s announcement that she would not run for re-election. Perdue had gotten more love outside the state than in. She was praised on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show for vetoing GOP-backed bills that restricted abortion rights and introduced voter ID, but her poll numbers in the state have been dismal. This unsettles this year’s gubernatorial race, even as former Mayor Pat McCrory can’t wait and Mayor Anthony Foxx’s name is floated. Foxx, host of the Democratic National Convention in September, was not expected to be in the middle of another election battle.

The President, in a statement, said of Perdue: “For over 25 years, she has fought for the people of the Tar Heel State — working to transform the state’s public schools, improve the health care system, protect and attract jobs for members of the military and their families, and create the jobs of the future.”

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