Live Blog: Democratic National Convention, Day 1
Posted: September 4, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, U.S. Politics | Tags: Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention day 1, Julian Castro, live blog, michelle obama 104 Comments
Today is the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can watch the live stream at the DNC website. There are speeches going on right now.
The most significant speakers tonight will be Keynote speaker Julian Castro, Mayor of San Antonio, Texas at 10:00, followed by First Lady Michelle Obama at 10:30. On Castro:
Castro, 37, is in his second term as mayor of the nation’s seventh-largest city after easily winning re-election in 2011 with nearly 82 percent of the vote. The Obama campaign notes that his life story in many ways mirrors President Obama’s: He and his identical twin brother Joaquin Castro came from modest beginnings and relied on scholarships, grants and loans to attend Stanford University and then Harvard Law School.
A senior campaign official told CBS News that Castro’s keynote address will share that personal story “and reflect on the things we need to do as a country to create more Julian Castros, more Barack Obamas to ensure that every young person across this country can achieve their dreams.”
Michelle Obama will
serve as a “character witness” for her husband, according to the Obama campaign. She will speak, a senior campaign official said, “not just about who the president is, but the values that motivate him.”
Mrs. Obama will testify about the “tough decisions” that Mr. Obama made, like pushing through health care reform and backing the auto bailout. And after traveling the country and seeing tangible results, the campaign says, she can also testify to the ways in which those decisions have paid off.
Other speakers tonight will be former President Jimmy Carter (by video hookup), Rahm Emmanuel, Lincoln Chaffee (former Republican, now Independent), actor Kal Penn, President Obama’s sister, and Michelle Obama’s brother.
I plan to watch the live stream and listen to the coverage on MSNBC. I have something I have to do until 7:30, and then I’ll be live blogging. Please join me by posting comments and links. It should be a fun night.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Why did they have to have this thing in Bank of America’s back yard? That really bothers me.
Because Obama carried Charlotte/Mechlenburg County with 62% of the vote in ’08 and he would like to win North Carolina in ’12 would be my guess 🙂
My guess too. NC is a bit of a swing state at the moment.
Yeah, I get that…it just feel so slimy being held in the BOA arena…
My guess too, Dak, I can live with political shit after watching the lie fest in the RCN convention. NOTHING in the debate with Teddy Kennedy and Romney was false. I say more calling out multiple choice Twit. I was inspired.
Only reason I can think of is that 0bama still wants to be loved by Republicans — or BofA is helping to fund the DNC?
Why have the convention anywhere in that state in the first place? Reward the faithful Dems — not much.
Because Obama has a very good chance to carry NC like he did last time.
You’ve missed the person* who persuaded Obama over time to choose Charlotte for the convention — Anthony Foxx, the 37-year old black dem mayor. The BofA stadium is an embarrassment, of sorts, but the largest space (seats over 70,000 people); Michael Jordan’s Bobcat arena seats only around 20,000. Being selected for the convention is quite a coup for this new Southern city.
*(There were others like Spangler, McColl, Harris, all wealthy dems, but Foxx brought it home.)
Watching so few women elected to congress just about has me in tears, we have to stop believing that only men can govern, we must let the powers that be know we are not happy with such small representation (16% ).
We must do better, we have to.
Wow, is this a salute to Ted Kennedy or a slap at Mitt Romney?
Both.
See how much he looks like Tony Robbins? Creepy.
I loved it! Multiple Choice, I hope it makes the news. We know this, but the people don’t.
MSNBC live stream:
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbcnews.com/48756032#48756032
This is better than the Oak Ridge Boys.
Wow, BP is pushing their “fixed the gulf” crap aren’t they? I guess I should just say that I am in a bad mood. So my comments are going to reflect that. In other words, bitch…bitch…bitch.
Did anyone correct Chris Hayes when he was talking about Obama not deporting immigrants like Bush did?
I missed that. I’m surprised Hayes would say that.
I missed Harry Reid, but I guess he talked about Romney’s secret tax returns and made fun of him for saying it wasn’t worth going after Osama bin Laden.
That’s exactly what Reid talked about. He called on Romney to release he tax returns. He also spoke about the hypocrisy of Ryan the VP candidate vs. Ryan the Congressman. Harry is in a fighting mood tonight.
correction: Ryan is a senator, hopefully an ex-senator and failed VP candidate.
Ryan isn’t a Senator, just a Representative with less than a million constituents.
Oh well, right the first time, wrong the second. Usually it’s the other way around. 🙂
TPM says Julian Castro is planning to really blast the GOP ticket.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/julian-castro-keynote-dnc.php?ref=fpa
Please let it but true! I want the Democrats to show every debate they have every been caught in. I loved the Teddy Kennedy one.
I get why they are in North Carolina, Democrats really need to win it. They had to weight the odds.
The article said he’s going to ask if it’s really Ryan/Romney. That would be funny!
Here I am skybright tonight……………
YAY!!!!
Charlie Pierce compares FDR vs Obama’s first term. FDR finished with 16.9% unemployment.
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/are-you-better-off-obama-vs-fdr-12374597
I think that baby peed on Patrick’s hand…see, it is the little things I will poke fun off tonight.
Baby pee is no big deal.
I think I am just too cynical tonight to bring anything to the discussion. My mind is on other things…I will come back when MO talks…
Woman speaking about choice–says she used to be a Republican.
Yea!
I like the part whereTed said come clean Mitt – and he says I’ll show you, and Ted says, no, show everybody………and yeah Mitt is still back peddling
Yea again. I loved that part too, Fannie! He can’t show everybody.
Nancy Keenan of NARAL talking now.
Women have the right to choose a safe, legal abortion. We believe in family planning. No forced ultrasounds. Rape is rape. No room for politicians in the decisions, especially politicians who don’t know how women’s bodies work.
Yeah those were good speeches…
Not feeling well enough to help live blog tonight, but I’m here, watching C-SPAN and reading your comments. Keep it up!
Already enjoying the convention. Feels like home. 🙂
I’m glad you’re here, Beata. Feel better soon. It’s good to hear people discussing abortion rights.
Too bad Nancy Kenan had to drag god into the equation. Women should make their OWN decisions. End of story.
Late to the party, but hear, hear BB. And God has nothing to do with it – if she did, there would be no discussion.
I get to watch on TV for a change! All i had was radio last week!
Yay!!!
I know what that’s like. Went without power for 8 days during a hurricane. I have to say Dak, I feel humble to the discomfort I felt after you’re story of Karma. I still can’t stop thinking about it. I just lost my beloved Lucy a cocker spaniel.
Way cool – you must be home – with cable then.
PDgrey many “hugs” Anyone who has lost a beloved companion knows the feeling of loss and emptyness that follows. It really does get better, especially when you get another best companion from a shelter.
These people are alive. I thought the RNC crowd was a bunch of zombies most of the time 🙂
They were listening to the voices in their head.
🙂 true dat
Rachel mentioned that today Mitt said he would not approve of a woman having an abortion in order to save their her life……………….no surprise. Like Nancy Keenan said “You can’t trust Mitt Romney”…………..evah.
Tammy Duckworth is very good. I hope she beats birther deadbeat dad Joe Walsh.
Duckworth made me tear up……………to think that Joe Walsh said she wasn’t a hero…
She was great. I loved the way she talked about people pulling together and not leaving anyone behind.
Steve Schmidt was doing a great job of running down Romney/Ryan. I wish Ed hadn’t interrupted him.
Steve, but I wanted more about Duckworth…….and not the numbers on Romney/Ryan………..
Lilly’s coming up next…………………How I miss Hillary, she did alot of work for that bill.
Stacy Lihn was great on caps on health care.
Just saw this on FB,
That’s great! Thanks, JJ.
Beautiful!!
Both signs — and the women.
Grateful to the Women Before Me! Well hell yea!
With the GOP’s WAR on Women — that was the worst GOP platform in the history of political conventions.
It won’t take much to send a positive message from the Dems this week.
Me too, I voted dressed as a suffragette in 2008 primary on the anniversary of the vote in Tennessee. It happened to fall on that date in Florida. Guess who I vote for. And believe me there was no state coverage on the news about the importance of that date. I wore a purple ribbon like my grandmother, she was there.
When the tread is not moving so fast I would love to tell the story of my grandmother who spent three days to get to Nashville.
I hope you will, pd. I love family stories like that.
Please do!
where was she from?
I would love to hear about it too pd. Funny, I looked at that picture and darn it all, it could be me! I don’t often say it, but I am rather old.
Tears………………I know about those babies who need heart transplants, one of the best things I did before leaving California is help little Sophia – she did get a new heart. In my small way I helped, and was able to get my granddaughters jumping rope for little Sophia too. It really hurts to see families hurt………………..I’m totally for helping these families, these babies, I say go f…k
yourself, and your party, Mitt.
What Fannie said, Squared!!!!!
“Being a mother is no longer a liability, being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition. That’s what change looks like.” K. Sebelius
Hi all. I’m watching on CNN and eating gelato so I’ll try to comment between gulps!
Hi!!
Obama’s sister is really teeny.
Michelle’s brother looks so much like her when he smiles!
It’s amazing how much he looks like her.
Oh my, Lilly Lebetter – Wow.What a woman!
She’s talking about the pay cheque fairness act and the fact that the republicans blocked it. Wow. She’s on fire.
Wonder where the empty chair is?
I misspelled her name. My apologies.
What station are you watching on, HT?
I meant network. Showing my age!
Cspan on the internet
http://www.c-span.org/DNC/Live/
Lily, Go Go Go! My I crying !!
I love her southern accent.
OOh, Deval Patrick – re Romney, “he was a lot more interested in doing the job, than doing the job”.
“And today, in Mass we can marry whomever we love” Yay!
“What do we believe – we believe in keeping the government out of a woman’s right to decide”.
He is really a good speaker!
What an absolutely great speaker! I hope Obama can do that well.
Fantastic, first time I’ve heard him speak, and he fired it up.
Deval Patrick: As governor, Romney was more interested in having the job than doing the job. Perfect!
I love it. This is a very good speech.
We believe we can turn TO each other, not ON each other.
It’s time for Democrats to grow a backbone and stand up for what we believe!
Equal pay for equal work. I think I’m in love.
He’s really got the crowd going.
That’s what we do on this blog ,BB and why I love it!
wholly guacomaly, Patrick was amazing.
That was the best line for me, I see the pitting of people again people, and it’s damage is long term.
oops ………..people against people.
At first I didn’t like the O’maley speech – too much of 2008 rah rah razzle dazzle, but then he said “Back to when being a woman was a pre-existing condition” then I started to really listen. He’s quite good.
I have to say, so far this is far superior to the snoozefest that we discussed a few days ago, however it’s early.
Wow, what a difference from the RNC. Joaquin and Julian Castro. I have no dog in this race.
HT,
Come upstairs to the new thread!
Come over to the new thread, Sky Dancers!
That was great, Mitt Romeny says no! and letting the audience come in on health care.