The Morning Sessions

The morning sessions were briefings and Q & A’s from the Departments of Education, Health, Energy and Environment, and the Small Business Administration. Each session had high-level officials, including Under Secretaries and Directors of departments. These men and women gave us a great deal of information, then took notes on our comments and questions. I have already received feedback from one of them!

After a delightful tour of the East Wing of the White House, I was thrilled to be invited to meet with the Secretary of the Office of Public Engagement, Jon Carson, in the Roosevelt Room (one door away from the Oval Office!). He told the 12 of us that he was there to listen to our concerns, and he did! This group was made up of people representing many areas–from education and immigration reform to health care and the space program. I left feeling that my concerns about the future of public education and charter schools were heard.

Next, the entire group met with officials from the Dept. of Commerce, Economic Affairs, NASA, and OPE. After they spoke, they took comments and questions from the entire group. Then, most exciting moment came, when, much to our surprise (we thought the debt ceiling talks would stop him), our President came to speak with us!

Our Presidential Visit

President Obama told us that, although much had been changed in the first two years of his administration, they had not really changed the way things were done. The purpose of these briefings is for the government to better listen to the people of this country and to engage us all in our government.

Bringing Information Back to Our Community

Each of us was given materials and information to help us help you! I learned about programs and web sites that I didn’t know existed to help people in my community. Steve Hart and I plan to share what we learned as often as possible and with as many people as possible.

Please comment or message me on Facebook to let me know what YOU would like to know from our briefings.

So, despite the two hour bus rides back to the hotel every night (forget the infamous “convention parties”!), the long lines, the four dollar diet sodas and the 45 minute wait to go to the bathroom due to the Secret Service (we think it was because John Kerry was only yards away from our section for a while), I feel certain that I have just been a witness to an extraordinary turning point in the life of our country. Last night, I was surrounded by young people, including Ashley Judd (okay, she was across the isle in the “important people section”–but only about 15 feet away) —young people who have been inspired to not only Believe and scream, “Yes, We Can”, but to work to help make their vision of what America should be into what America really is.

Last night was quite simply a historical moment in America. After Hillary Clinton’s gracious and rousing speech to suspend the rules and proclaim Barack Obama as our candidate by acclamation, there was not only ear-numbing cheering, there were people of all races and religions crying, even sobbing with joy. I was seated between a Haitian-American man and an Irish-American woman. Both had tears streaming down their faces while they took pictures and video-taped!

Then Melissa Etheridge rocked the house! Everyone from the children to the elderly in wheelchairs were their holding hands up in the air and singing with Melissa. I have to tell you—I was watching the CNN coverage after I got back to the Red Lion at 11:00 last night and and happened to see the performance of Melissa; try as they may, the TV doesn’t come close to conveying the real energy in the room. I’ve only seen a few minutes of the coverage all week, but many times, it has been electrifying in the Pepsi Center and I’m not sure there is any way to even show you on TV how exciting it is!

There were many other wonderful and moving events last night, including Steven Speilberg’s Salute to Veterans. As the daughter, wife and mother of Veterans, I was one of the many in tears. Another thing that I realized watching TV last night is that you don’t get to hear many of the speakers. Yesterday, an Asian-American helicopter pilot, who was pulled from her downed chopper by her crew in Iraq, spoke very eloquently about what has been happening to Veteran’s benefit’s under the Bush administration, what Sen. McCain has planned (need I say, “not good”) and why we should vote for Barack Obama to secure the dignity and benefits that our nation’s heroes deserve and have earned!

When Bill Clinton walked out onto the podium, I do believe the rafters actually shook! He took back his legacy of intelligence, wit and wisdom (I, personally, thought he’d lost it a bit during the primary campaign), honored his amazing wife, Hillary, and made it very clear that he is supporting Barack Obama as our next president!

Joe Biden did a remarkable thing—he changed the hearts and minds of many of the “Die-Hard” Hillary supporters! Not that they don’t still love Hillary and believe that she should have won this nomination or, at least, been the VP—but, after watching the video and listening to this outstanding, long-term servant of the public and hearing all that he has done for us as middle-class citizens, many were willing to accept Hillary’s call to support both him and Barack Obama. For me, the final confirmation that this is a man of honor and integrity was when his grandson wanted to he carried by his grandfather and was so obviously comfortable in his arms. Those of you who know me well, know that children are near and dear to my heart. If I child loves you like that little boy loves Joe Biden, you’ve done something right in your life.

Well, I have to go catch the shuttle to Invesco now. Tomorrow, I’ll check my photos and movies and see if my son thinks any are worth posting!

August 27, 2008

Denver, CO

What a great time to be a Democrat in America!  Monday night one of the true heroes of social justice and civil rights demonstrated the bravery and strength that has served him and our nation for so many years.  Teddy Kennedy ignored his struggle with brain cancer and focused all of us on the importance of truly changing from a government for the few to a government that actually helps ALL of its people—not just the wealthy and powerful.  It may sound corny, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the Pepsi Center when Senator Kennedy finished his speech.  His sincere belief in Barack Obama gave all of us hope that we can again be a nation that the world admires and wants to emulate!

Tuesday afternoon, I attended two Faith Caucuses at the Denver Convention Center.  This Convention is the first time ever that a Faith Caucus had been held at any political convention in America.  Both caucuses were moderated by Sojouners’s Rev. Jim Wallis.  Certainly the panelists, Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Rabbi David Saperstein, Congressman Tim Roemer and many others were outstanding and their presentations were thought-provoking and challenged all of us to work to help our congregations understand that, 1. it is the very separation of church and state that allows us true religious freedom, and 2. that religions should not control the state or be controlled by the state, but we must be the “conscience” of the state.  In addition to the distinguised panel, many members of the audience were in Rev. Wallis’s words, “a remarkable group” including one of my personal favorite theologians, Dr. Tony Campolo (whom I got to meet when the meetings were over!)

Then on Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton asked her supporters the hard questions:  Did you do it for me or did you do it for the woman with cancer and no health insurance?  Did you do it for me or did you do it for the little boy and his single Mom?  Her obvious strength, intelligence and grace earned a standing ovation that went on and on and on.  Every time she put her arms up to stop us, we got even louder.  She showed that she is a woman of  integrity and that she truly does care more about the people of this country than she does about winning this election herself.  Her “die-hard” supporters were joined by all of us in showing appreciation for all that she has done to advance the causes of all women in America.  She graciously gave her support and her supporters to Barack Obama.

It’s time for me to leave to attend another caucus.  I’ll try to find time to write again tomorrow!