Dem Convention Blog

The Democratic Convention: Up Close and Very Personal

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A Philly Guy Takes Pride In His Host City, Warts and All

By Andrew Goutman

(July 29, 2016) The Democratic Party holding its big convention in Philly? Fugetaboudit.

As a Philadelphian born and bred (well, I was actually born in the Main Line ‘burbs, but…close enough), I got a lot of pleasure watching people practicing the art of politics. It seemed the whole city took a four-day seminar on political science. It was right in my wheelhouse.

I even got a gig driving around party delegates, leaders and elected officials. At least it got me inside the steel fencing surrounding Wells Fargo Center, the convention site. I had to pass a Secret Service background check, and how I passed it, God only knows.

The perimeter around the Wells Fargo Center was like a fortress.

The perimeter around the Wells Fargo Center was like a fortress.

Most Philadelphians weren’t so interested in getting “credentialed,” so they swarmed Center City to check things out. The typical Philadelphian is a loyal Democrat who doesn’t think a lot about politics until a local elected official is jailed for corruption, which occurs about every year or so. Hopefully, a political convention with a positive message and free souvenirs could have a cleansing effect on the local populace.

It seems on every street corner, there were people with colorful takes on some political ax to grind. Some of them weren’t even about Bernie Sanders.

2016-07-27 00.25.09At the Pennsylvania Convention Center located in the middle of town, folks could experience PoliticalFest, a supposed non-partisan celebration of our political history, with displays running the gamut of presidential profiles, the Air Force One fuselage and a replica of the Oval Office. For Philadelphia and visiting families, there were lots of displays for kids in an area called Future leaders Zone.

PoliticalFest display

PoliticalFest display

Famous Deli

Bars and restaurants around town had their game faces on for the visiting hordes. One of my favorite lunch spots, the Famous 4th Street Deli in Society Hill, continued an election day tradition by setting up a “speakers’ corner” of sorts in the middle of its restaurant on each day of the Democratic convention.

WPVI-TV, Channel 6, set up shop.

WPVI-TV, Channel 6, set up shop.

The local ABC affiliate filmed the more livelier political debates for its 5:00 news program. When I stopped by for lunch on the convention’s first day, I agreed to take up Hillary’s mantle against a Bernie supporter. That’s me on your right in a convention t-shirt.

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Man, It Was Hot

Temperatures hit the mid- to upper-90s for the duration of the convention. This was not a time to be outside. The cops had their hands full with Bernie Sanders protesters, who were a constant presence outside of the fencing that separated credentialed convention workers from the populace.

I remember being constantly yelled by protesters at as I walked inside the fence from the subway to the motor pool during the first two days of the convention. But after Bernie released his delegates on Tuesday night, there was not a peep from them when I got to work Wednesday morning. It was like they disappeared into thin (hot) air.

It calmed down considerably by Wednesday.

It calmed down considerably by Wednesday.

The Hierarchy of Credentials

I suppose it was the heat that made the police to be a bit jumpy even to convention workers moving to and from the site (one very depleted officer yelled at me to slide my monthly subway pass through a particular slot…not a necessary command for this life-long subway rider).

But our cops were fine. It was the Democratic National Committee (DNC) who took security precautions to a bizarre level.

Our credentials told us exactly where we were allowed, but more importantly, not allowed to go inside the steel gates. There were layers of credentials that were baffling to most of us: podium, floor, arena, hall-light, hall-dark, perimeter, suite overlay, backstage…security overload?

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Mine.

The press, all 15,000 of them, probably had it the worst. Most reporters were jammed into a “Hooverville” (thanks to Marketwatch) of media tents that were set up in the parking lots surrounding the arena. Half of them never made it inside the arena, but rather “covered” the convention by watching a big-screen TV inside the tent. Some journalism.

Coda

We take these things so seriously, but the Democratic convention, like most political conventions, was a staged affair with outcomes preordained. it was all for show. It reminded me of those shots of the New York Stock Exchange with men with clipboards and pinned numbers on their lapels grimacing when the stock market fluctuates.

Most stock trades are made on computers feeding the transactions to large servers–exchanges–in nondescript buildings in North Jersey. It’s all for show.

Nevertheless, this Democratic convention had a lot to show: Many speeches inspired me and gave me a sense of renewal.

And they did it in my town. Fugetaboudit.


Sunday Protests Uncover Stubborn Discontent Over Democratic Party Establishment

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Get used to it, Philadelphia!

Despite Unrest, Not One Poster Touting Donald Trump

By Andrew Goutman

(July 24, 2016) A clean energy rally at Philadelphia’s City Hall on the Sunday before the Democratic convention diverged into a march down Broad Street in support of insurgent candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The crowd of over 3,000 concluded its march in FDR Park, across the street from the Wells Fargo Center, the convention site.

The rally and march were said to be larger than any protests last week at the Republican convention in Cleveland.

Bernie rests at FDR Park.

Bernie rests at FDR Park.

The festivities were spirited but peaceful in stifling 97 degree heat. Bicycle cops rode a solid wall on both sides of the marchers. The Wells Fargo Center itself looked like a border between two unfriendly countries. Hundreds of police stood watch inside a tall steel-grated fence that surrounded a wide perimeter of the convention site.

Essentially, there were more cops than protesters on a Sunday afternoon at FDR Park. The City of Philadelphia expects 35,000 protesters during the four-day convention.

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Apparently, the anger on the street at Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party establishment is still palpable, despite the fact that Bernie Sanders endorsed Clinton two weeks ago. I stopped interviewing people when it became clear that all marchers had the same message: The primary election was rigged, the political system is corrupt and Bernie Sanders is the only leader who can shake up the status quo.

Many marchers were still hoping for a contested convention.

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(As I am committed to working at the convention, I will file a summary feature on Friday, 7/29 or Monday, 8/1.)


The Streets of Philadelphia:

Here’s Your Guide to Progressive Events Outside the Democratic Convention Site

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courtesy Philadelphia Magazine.

By Andrew Goutman

(July 22, 2016) Plan to be in Philly for the big convention? Well, unless you’re a delegate, elected official, a celebrity or member of the press, there’s virtually no chance you’ll gain access to the convention floor at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.

Not to worry. There’ll be plenty of activity for progressive folks outside of the convention site. In fact, the daily fare listed below can be experienced in its totality as a complete alternative convention (sans coronation). You might not see Hillary, but you will likely be enriched by meaningful dialogue and calls to action.

The list was compiled with help from our friends at Philly for Change.

Saturday, July 23, 10 am-9 pm:
DNC Freedom School, Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St., Philadelphia
On its Facebook page, the group defines its mission: “Those preparing to protest at the DNC will come together in the spirit and truth of the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Schools. Protesters will be taught the spirit of resistance and the strategies of non-violent protest.” The page suggests over 500 people attending, or interested in attending. Here’s more information.

Sunday, July 24, 12 noon, convening at Philadelphia’s City Hall:
March for Clean Energy
Activists will muster at noon and march to demand “Environmental Justice for All.” Marchers will call for an end to America’s reliance to fossil fuels and to pivot to clean renewable energy. A large anti-fracking group called InFRACKstructure will make its presence known. Here’s the link to the group’s website.

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Monday, July 25, 3 pm & 5 pm:
March for Our Lives, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign
The march, from City Hall to FDR Park, is being organized by Cheri Honkala, a well-known Philadelphia political activist (she once ran for sheriff). At the conclusion of the march at around 5 pm, the group will muster in FDR Park, which is in proximity to the Wells Fargo Center. There will be music and speakers, most notably Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. More information is here.

Monday through Wednesday, July 25-27:
Progressive Central in Philadelphia, William Way Center, 1315 Spruce St.
This is a three-day progressive alternative to the Democratic National Convention. Several members of Congress will speak: Tulsi Gabbard, Raul Grijalva (briefly in the running for vice president), Donna Edwards and Keith Ellison. The on-going discourse will be moderated by Andrea Miller and noted journalist John Nichols. You can check out their website.

Tuesday, July 26, 10 am:
Progressive leaders Pushing for Change, Ethical Humanist Society, 1906 South Rittenhouse Square
Scheduled speakers: Cong. Keith Ellison (D-MN); Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Council; Andrew Gillum, mayor of Tallahassee, FL; and Melissa Mark-Viverito, speaker of the New York City council. Order your ticket here.

Tuesday, July 26, noon – 2 pm:
Women Speak Out at the DNC, Broad Street Ministry, 315 S. Broad St.
Their Facebook event page is here.

Tuesday, July 26, 4 pm:
Calling on the DNC to End the Drug War and Legalize Cannabis, Municipal Services Building, 1401 JFK Blvd.
Here is their Facebook event page.

th7H0XXZC2Wednesday, July 27, 6:30 pm:
Ride the DNC: Broad Street Bicycle Ride, N. Broad & Cheltenham Ave.
This is a 12.5 mile ride from the northern border of Philadelphia down Broad Street (the main north-south artery) all the way to the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. There’s some sort of street party at the end of it. Please go to their Facebook event page.

Finally, during the vice president’s and Hillary Clinton’s nominating speeches, folks will be meeting at a friendly Center City bar called Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St. Facebook event pages are here and here.

Have fun!