My Time at the Republican National Convention

As a college student who does off-campus programs as often as possible, I am ecstatic to be doing the program through The Washington Center’s Campaign 2008 Seminar Series: The Republican National Convention.  The program is one week of class work and seminars, and then the next week is during the convention where I do fieldwork and do my best to get credentials to get inside the convention.  I’ve been assigned to do my fieldwork with CNN so I’ll be able to provide many insights and great stories once I start that work on Monday.  My program thus far has been teaching me about general political topics and also about political conventions.  The program has been 100% fantastic.  I’ve gained many insights, had an epiphany, and have become so dedicated to electing Barack Obama that I almost wish I wasn’t doing the program so I could have the free time to register voters for Obama.

First, I’ll say that if I had instead done The Washington Center’s seminar at the Democratic National Convention, I’d be pissing my pants every day out of excitement, guaranteed.  But alas, I’m from Saint Paul so getting to save money on a plane ticket and hotel rooms seemed like an easy decision.  At the Republican Convention, I’m taking everything as a learning experience and as something to put on my resume.  I’m surrounded by Republicans all day every day, college Republicans at that; those who aren’t even old enough to benefit from the tax benefits the Republican Party offers those in the top 1% of the tax bracket.  They are mainly in the pocket of Republicans and they spout off stupid Republican talking points that I cringe at.  I’ve had a really hard time turning off my politics button off and ignoring my political differences with these people so I can interact with them at a friendly level, but I’ve been trying my best to not judge them all as Bush-enablers.

One of the main professors of the seminar is a former Congressman from Oklahoma, Congressman Mickey Edwards, a founder of the Heritage Foundation.  The other is a professor from Hofstra University, Dr. Meena Bose (same school Norm Coleman went to coincidently) who has represented the left in a non-partisan way.  I’ve bitten my lip, made numerous comments underneath my breadth and also comments loud enough for everyone to hear and laugh at.  I’ve been able to learn exactly why I think Republican ideology is complete bullshit and has corrupted the American psyche.

One of the speakers I’ve been able to hear was Jo Anne Davidson, co-chair of the RNC and chair of the Committee on Arrangements, the committee in charge of putting on the convention.  I’ve learned great insight in the purpose of political conventions; to introduce ones candidate and present a message to the American electorate to convince them to vote for ones party’s candidate.  One of the best quotes I’ve heard so far was that everything that happens on stage is scripted.  Every time Obama’s kids did something cute on stage or when Hillary did the move for acclamation, scripted.  Very important thing to remember, the convention is the opportunity for the party to market and brand their candidate.

A lot of the actual class work has been discussions on the Democratic National Convention, who McCain will pick as VP, and other various topics.  One of these various topics was the make-up of the Republican Party, which former Congressman Edwards described as being made-up of libertarians, the former racist Southern Democrats, the religious right, and neo-cons.  One of my inclinations is that the Democratic Party is the reverse and made up of who these groups disenfranchise, labor unions, minorities, and the socially liberal.

I was able to go inside the Excel Energy Center where I got to see the set-up for the Republican National Conventional and I’ll tell you now, it looks good.  I was very impressed and I can’t wait to play the credentials game of getting as far inside as I possibly can.

Nothing that spectacular has happened as pertaining directly to the convention but a lot of build up.  I start my fieldwork for CNN on Monday and I absolutely cannot wait.  The list of duties I may perform that I have been given pretty much indicate that my credentials will allow to me be all over the convention and I’ll certainly write follow up diaries on how everything has been going, of course without too much detail as I don’t want to get in trouble with the Secret Service, ?.  But Saturday I’ll hopefully be attending the huge media party in downtown Minneapolis and also another event with Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and Megan McCain on youth voting.  Karl Rove is a complete douche but the bitch knows how to win so hopefully I’ll learn some insight on how organizing college students for Barack Obama.