Written by: Jessie Halpern, News Editor for NCSU’S The Technician
The Democratic National Convention kicked off Tuesday evening with its opening ceremony of speakers, video presentations and caucus meetings.
Supporters and distinguished speakers gathered at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday afternoon, preceding first lady Michelle Obama’s evening speech.
The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee and representative from Florida, opened the evening’s activities with a call to order.
An invocation by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas made way for the presentation of colors, followed by the national anthem, sung by Amber Riley, who currently stars as Mercedes on the popular television show, Glee.
Remarks by DNC officials and a welcome video gave state delegates time to move through the security lines, soaked by rain and eager to find their seats.
Following the trend of party support for GLBT issues, Andrew Tobias, treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, spoke of his personal experience as a homosexual in his youth.
“People killed themselves over being gay,” Tobias said. “Sadly, they still do.”
Tobias continued to talk about the recent marriage of Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank to his partner.
“Love that had been unspeakable 24 years ago was being celebrated by senators and congressmen,” Tobias said.
Tobias’ anecdotal contributions to the convention were followed by an order of business and party support by Alice Germond, secretary of the DNC, who began by asking all the delegates to officially check in.
“We are a convention that really looks like America — every race and every background,” Germond said. “We fight for the middle class and the American dream and that is why we support President Barack Obama.”
Germond noted that since Obama’s inauguration, the country has added 4.5 million jobs in the private sector, had 29 straight months of job growth and given 18 tax cuts to small businesses. She also brought light to the recent passage of the Affordable Care Act.
“When others said it couldn’t be done, President Obama passed the Affordable Care Act, which is already preventing the worse insurance company abuses,” Germond said. “As we gather as one convention, we stand together, women and men, the young, the young at heart, the gay, the straight…united by our love of America, determined to fight for the middle class and determined to create an economy from the middle out, not the top down.”
By the end of Germond’s speech, all 56 delegates were in the hall.
Though the focus of the evening’s speeches was on building up the Obama campaign, mention of his opponent, Mitt Romney, was not absent.
California Rep. Barbra Lee rose loud boos and hisses from the audience when she spoke of the Romney campaign.
“We will move forward, not backward,” Lee said. “Together we can overcome the greatest challenges that come our way…we can provide opportunity for those aspiring to join the middle class.”
Former Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy brought attention to Obama’s action with the troops, saying “[The president] brought [them] home and took care of them after.” In addition, the president’s abolition of our nation’s former Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was discussed.
After Kennedy left the stage, a short video paved the way for mayor of Newark, N.J., Cory Booker, to take the stage and excite the crowd.
“We choose American might and American muscle standing strong on the bedrock of the American ideals,” Booker said. “It is our fundamental, national aspiration that no matter who you are, no matter color or creed, how you choose to pray, or who you choose to love, that if you are a citizen of the United States of America…one who is willing to work hard, play by the rules, and apply your God-given talents, you should be able to find a job that pays the bills, afford health care for your family, to retire with dignity and respect, and give your children the kind of education that allows them to dream even bigger, go even further…this is our platform.”
Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio R. Villaraigosa moved to adopt the 2012 Democratic National Platform, and the crowd seconded with no discussion.
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Obama did “add” 4 million + jobs… Problem is, we lost 4.3 million or so in his first year. That means we still have fewer jobs available to us. I also wonder how many of them were new jobs rather than previous jobs returning. Fact checking is fun!