August 26, 2008

My First Day at the Democratic Convention

Alex Woods gives his first person report

By Alex Woods

DNC: DAY 1

My plane landed around 12:40 PM in mile-high Denver, Colorado, where there's an almost-always-visible view of the Rocky Mountains. At the Pepsi Center, the site of the Democratic National Convention. The whole convention hall had a common feeling of energy. There were busy reporters everywhere. All of the big television news channels, newspapers and magazines were hard at work covering the day's events. Throughout the whole city, everywhere you turned, there was something interesting. Many of the delegates wore silly hats and outfits. There were also lots of protesters, some of them even wearing superhero, pirate and Dracula costumes.

The Convention

From TIME's press seats, closest to the Iowa, South Dakota, and Vermont delegations, I heard some fairly well known speakers. Ted Sorenson, President John F. Kennedy's speechwriter and adviser, spoke about how Obama and JFK were alike, saying that is why he endorsed Obama. David Paterson, the Governor of New York, also spoke. He is legally blind in one eye, and completely blind in the other. His speech was about how Obama could help people with disabilities. The Congressional Black Caucus also presented a tribute to the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a representative from Ohio, whose sudden death last week shocked and saddened her many supporters.

Senator Clinton's Speech

The main event at the Pepsi Center, though, which took place later in the evening was Senator Hillary Clinton's speech. I was not there for the event live, but I was able to see it on television. Within the first minutes of her speech, Senator Clinton made her support of Barack Obama very clear by calling for party unity, and praising him on many levels. "Whether you voted for me, or for Barack, it is time that we should join together as a party," she said to great applause.

Clinton also told moving stories about the ordinary Americans that she met along the campaign trail. She urged her supporters to vote for Obama for the sake of those ordinary Americans facing big struggles. Apart from that, Senator Clinton challenged the Democratic Party to do what she thought it did best, which is to help those in need, to give those in need good health care, a good environment to live in, and fair wages. "I cannot wait until Senator Obama signs that bill giving every single American universal healthcare," Clinton also said to great applause. Clinton posed an attack at John McCain by calling him President Bush's "twin." Overall, I think Senator Clinton gave a rousing speech. The response from the audience was very strong.

It was a great first day at the Convention, and I can't wait until tomorrow.

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